Football fans are a group like no other fan base. Fans of other sports do not tailgate, dress, or behave like fans of the National Football League. They truly put the “fan” in fanatic. But not all fan bases are equal. Some are much more vocal than others, and a few have reached decibel levels that are quite high.
Dive in as I attempt to rank the Loudest Stadiums in the NFL: From Worst to First.
(30) Carolina Panthers – Bank of America Stadium
Simply put, Carolina Panthers fans haven’t had a lot to cheer for recently. Six straight losing years with 4 different head coaches during that span results in a defeated fanbase. The poor on-field product and empty seats at Panthers home games in the 2023 season places Bank of America Stadium last on our list.
(29) Washington Commanders – FedEx Field
Like many teams on our list, fans in Washington have not had a lot to cheer for recently. Coaching and management issues, 5 winning seasons in 15 years, and a team name controversy. It’s no surprise the fans have stayed away. That beaten-down feeling that Commanders fans feel has led to a quieter FedEx Field.
(28) Atlanta Falcons – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
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It’s surprising to see a domed stadium this low on the list as they usually enhance sound better, but the Falcons have been dismal lately. There just hasn’t been much for the fans to root for. Perhaps one day they will blow the roof off of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but that day is in the future.
(27) San Francisco 49ers – Levi’s Stadium
The 49ers are one of the best teams in the National Football League. They are an exciting team that is capable of going on a multi-year Super Bowl run. The problems with Levi’s Stadium have nothing to do with the product on the field or the fans themselves, the low mark here is for the stadium itself. For some reason, it’s just not as loud as its predecessor.
(26) Tennessee Titans – Nissan Stadium
There’s trouble brewing in “Music City”. It’s clear that the Titans are heading for a rebuild, and that will certainly impact the loudness of the crowd. Titans fans are a proud bunch, and as the team improves, so will their ranking.
(25) Miami Dolphins – Hard Rock Stadium
It’s such a shame that the Miami Dolphins rank this low. They have a beautiful stadium, nice weather, and a talented team. What they don’t have are loud fans. Look no further than the 2023 home finale against the Bills. It seemed as if Buffalo fans had overrun Hard Rock Stadium, and that should never have happened.
(24) Jacksonville Jaguars – EverBank Stadium
The promise that the Jaguars showed in the 2022 and early 2023 seasons, was ripped away by the team’s collapse in the second half this past season. Watching a playoff appearance disappear certainly led to declining morale and vocals at EverBank Stadium.
(23) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Raymond James Stadium
Tampa Bay was ranked 28th in the league in home attendance. Sure, they had a winning record in 2023, but the post-Brady effect is in full swing. It’s clear that Bucs fans either have fatigue that kept them from showing up or are hoarse from cheering for Brady.
(22) Los Angeles Rams & Los Angeles Chargers – SoFi Stadium
SoFi Stadium is one of the newest and most state-of-the-art stadiums in the NFL, and the teams that share show promise. Injuries and poor play derailed the season for the Rams and Chargers, but that is not the reason for their low rank. No, the relative quietness has more to do with the laid-back, casual attitudes of Southern California.
(21) Houston Texans – NRG Stadium
The Texans had a heck of a run in 2023 and may have discovered a gem in quarterback CJ Stroud. The future in Houston looks bright and their fans will have a lot to cheer for. At times NRG Stadium was rocking, but it wasn’t hitting the heights it will eventually reach.
(20) Cincinnati Bengals – Paycor Stadium
If I had done this list a couple of years ago, the Bengals would’ve ranked higher. Despite the late-season surge in the wake of Joe Burrows’s injury, things weren’t quite the same at Paycor Stadium. That “off” feeling contributes to Cincinnati’s ranking in the lower third of our list.
(19) Las Vegas Raiders – Allegiant Stadium
It’s clear that the move to Las Vegas has not gone as smoothly as everyone had hoped. The product on the field had been middling at best and the Raiders were almost last in home game attendance in 2023. An empty stadium is a quiet stadium.
(18) Cleveland Browns – Cleveland Browns Stadium
Browns fans are a passionate bunch, but for some reason, they don’t rank in the top half of our list. Maybe it’s the current run of mediocrity following years of bad football, the Browns didn’t have a winning season from 2008 to 2019. It’s a shame, as Cleveland is a great sports town.
(17) Detroit Lions – Ford Field
In 2023, Lions fans were loud, but is the team’s success sustainable or a one-year anomaly? During Detroit’s many years of failure, their fans have not been terribly vocal, but can you blame them? If the Lions repeat their success next year, they’ll also see a rise in the rankings.
(16) Chicago Bears – Soldier Field
Soldier Field is an iconic structure and one of the oldest stadiums in the National Football League. The Bears might be in the middle of a prolonged rebuild, but that doesn’t stop their fans from being heard. At times, the home of “Da Bears” can rock and shake with the best stadiums.
(15) New York Giants & New York Jets – MetLife Stadium
The Giants and Jets had disappointing seasons in 2023 and are both in need of serious examination moving forward. However, that does not stop their fan bases from expressing their thoughts. New Yorkers are known for being loud and brash, and that is evident at any Jet or Giant home game. During big moments, the sound coming from MetLife Stadium can be deafening.
(14) Denver Broncos – Empower Field
The people in Denver love their football. In 2023 the Broncos were ranked 5th in total home attendance. Even with the thin air and lower oxygen levels, the fans in the “Mile High City” let their voices be heard. It’s not just this past season though, as Empower Field typically ranks in the top half of the loudest stadiums.
(13) Buffalo Bills – Highmark Stadium
Buffalo Bills fans are a notoriously rabid fanbase, and in 2023 they drew an average of almost 70,000 spectators to their home games. That creates a rowdy environment. There’s a reason that opposing teams do not want to play in Buffalo, besides the cold, and their raucous fans certainly play a part in that.
(12) Baltimore Ravens – M&T Bank Stadium
The Ravens have mostly been a successful team since their move from Cleveland. Certainly, having Super Bowl titles and an exciting QB in Lamar Jackson helps. They also have one of the loudest fanbases, maxing out at a level of 105 decibels.
(11) New England Patriots – Gillette Stadium
Under Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, the Patriots endured one of the greatest runs in professional sports, winning 6 Super Bowls over their time together. That success has led to one of the league’s loudest fan bases. Gillette Field once reached a high of 106.4 decibels.
(10) Dallas Cowboys – AT&T Stadium
The Dallas Cowboys once anointed themselves as “America’s Team”. If a franchise is going to have an oversized ego, it helps to have an oversized stadium. AT&T Stadium can fit approximately 100,000 fans, especially with its standing-room-only areas. That large crowd helps to create an average sound level of 87 decibels.
(9) Philadelphia Eagles – Lincoln Financial Field
Philadelphia Eagles fans are a notorious bunch. They are known for being passionate, loud, and raucous, their old stadium even had a jail and courtroom located inside. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the Eagles home stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, is one of the loudest in the league, hitting a high of 93 decibels.
(8) Indianapolis Colts – Lucas Oil Stadium
Lucas Oil Stadium, the home of the Indianapolis Colts, is a domed facility that holds about 70,000 fans. Although it is not one of the league’s biggest stadiums it can be one of the loudest. While the actual decibel level does not reach the heights of some other stadiums (86 decibels), the acoustics help to make the stadium louder than most.
(7) Pittsburgh Steelers – Acrisure Stadium
The Steelers are one of the legendary organizations in the National Football League. Their fans are also some of the loudest. With an overall 6-2 record in the Super Bowl, Pittsburgh fans have a lot to cheer for. They’ve been recorded reaching upwards of 90 decibels.
(6) Arizona Cardinals – State Farm Stadium
This one seems like a bit of a surprise to be a Top 10 Loudest stadium, but it is. The Cardinals have not had a lot to cheer for lately, but when QB Kyler Murray has been healthy, the Cards fans have been loud. State Farm Stadium once reached 130 decibels, proving the fans in the desert know how to scream.
(5) Green Bay Packers – Lambeau Field
Built in the 1950s, Lambeau Field is one of the oldest stadiums still in use in today’s National Football League. It is also a major advantage for the Packers. Apparently, the Cheeseheads are a loud bunch, once reaching 123.0 decibels. Perhaps all of that yelling helps keep them warm during those cold winter home games.
(4) New Orleans Saints – Caesars Superdome
Domed stadiums are typically louder than their open-air brethren, and Caesars Superdome is no exception. The Superdome once reached a decibel level of 136.6 decibels. Watch any Saints home playoff game and one can clearly see the influence of the home crowd, as opposing teams are frequently penalized for false starts.
(3) Minnesota Vikings – US Bank Stadium
Another domed stadium in our Top 5, and US Bank Stadium doesn’t disappoint. The home of the Minnesota Vikings is easily one of the loudest in the NFL, topping out at 120.1 decibels. That loudness certainly creates a huge home-field advantage for Minnesota.
(2) Seattle Seahawks – Lumen Field
Seattle Seahawks fans refer to themselves as the “12th Man’. That moniker is extremely accurate, as Lumen Field provides a huge home-field advantage for the Seahawks. In 2013, the 72,000-seat stadium once reached a level of 137.6 decibels.
(1) Kansas City Chiefs – Arrowhead Stadium
The Chiefs have been the toast of the NFL for several years now; making 4 Super Bowls in 5 seasons will do that for a franchise. KC’s current run of success has given their fans a lot to cheer for. Arrowhead Stadium holds the Guinness Record for loudest outdoor stadium, once reaching 142,2 decibels during a game in 2014, which is equal to the sound of a jet engine.
