MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is one of the most impressive and versatile venues in all of professional sports. Home to both the New York Giants and New York Jets, it stands as one of only two NFL stadiums shared by another team: it does so while ranking as the league’s highest-grossing stadium year after year.
From Giants Stadium to MetLife
Before MetLife Stadium, both the Giants and Jets played at Giants Stadium (originally called Meadowlands Stadium), which opened in 1976 at the same East Rutherford site. For decades, the two franchises shared the venue, but by the 2000s the aging facility was showing its age. The Jets, in particular, had long sought a new permanent home of their own.
Rather than building separate stadiums, the two teams agreed to jointly construct a new facility adjacent to the old Giants Stadium site. Construction began in 2007, and MetLife Stadium opened on September 10, 2010, with the Giants hosting the Carolina Panthers. The old Giants Stadium was demolished in 2010 after nearly 35 years of service.
Capacity and Design
MetLife Stadium seats 82,500 fans, making it one of the largest venues in the NFL. Unlike many other oversized stadiums, however, the design keeps fans close to the action with steep seating angles and excellent sight lines from nearly every section. The venue can also expand its capacity for special events like concerts and WrestleMania.
One of the stadium’s most distinctive features is the massive video boards hanging over each end zone, providing crystal-clear replays and real-time stats. The exterior features a sleek, modern facade that changes color depending on which team is playing: blue for the Giants, green for the Jets.
The Two-Team Arrangement
The Giants and Jets jointly own the stadium through the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, each holding a 50% stake. This ownership structure is unique in the NFL; no other stadium is equally shared between two franchises. The teams split revenues, alternate game-day operations, and each maintain their own locker rooms and practice facilities within the building.
Despite the shared arrangement, each team has carved out its own identity within the venue. Giants fans and Jets fans rarely overlap on game days, with each franchise hosting roughly 10 games per season including preseason.
On-Field Records
Since moving into MetLife Stadium, both teams have had their ups and downs on the home turf:
- New York Giants: Regular season 58-73-1, Playoffs 1-0
- New York Jets: Regular season 59-73-0
The Giants famously won Super Bowl XLVI in the 2011 season, though the championship game was played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis rather than at home. The Jets, meanwhile, continue their pursuit of a championship, with the 2026 NFL Draft class nearly complete and all 32 first-round picks signed ahead of training camp.
More Than Just Football
MetLife Stadium has hosted far more than NFL games. The venue has been named Billboard’s “Highest Grossing Stadium of the Year” nine times and ranked #1 in overall attendance in the U.S. in 2025. Major events include:
- Super Bowl XLVIII: The first outdoor, cold-weather Super Bowl in NFL history (2014)
- WrestleMania 29 and 35: WWE’s flagship event drew over 80,000 fans each time
- Copa America Centenario Final: Hosted the 2016 tournament final
- Army-Navy Game: Hosted the 2021 edition of the historic rivalry
- FIFA World Cup 2026 Final: Selected as the host venue for the tournament’s championship match
Concert headliners have included Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, Kendrick Lamar, and Metallica, among many others.
Travel Options to MetLife Stadium
Reaching the Meadowlands sports complex is simple due to direct rail and road connections serving the New York and New Jersey metropolitan areas. Visitors can select from multiple travel methods depending on their route and preference. The primary public and private transit options are detailed below:
By Train: NJ Transit operates the Meadowlands Rail Line during NFL games and major concerts. Shuttles run frequently from Secaucus Junction directly to the Meadowlands Station, which sits right outside the stadium gates. Commuters coming from Manhattan can board trains at Penn Station to Secaucus for a quick transfer.
By Bus: Coach USA operates the 351 Meadowlands Express bus service on event days. This shuttle provides direct, round-trip transport between the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan and the stadium parking lot. Additionally, local NJ Transit bus Route 160 stops nearby along the highway corridors.
By Car: Motorists can access the venue via the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) using Exit 16W, or via Route 3 and Route 120. The complex features multiple color-coded parking lots surrounding the gates. For NFL games, parking permits must be purchased in advance as cash is not accepted at the toll booths.
By Uber and Lyft: Rideshare drop-off and pick-up zones are situated at Lot E, located just outside the Verizon Gate. Visual signs and local police guide passengers along the pedestrian pathways toward the rideshare lane. This provides a direct option for visitors who want to avoid parking search times.
By Airport: Newark Liberty International Airport sits approximately 12 miles south of the sports complex. Travelers can ride NJ Transit rail lines from the airport terminal to Secaucus Junction to transfer to the stadium shuttle. JFK and LaGuardia airports are also accessible via rideshare or connecting NYC Subway lines.
Safety and Sustainability
MetLife Stadium was the first NFL stadium to receive SAFETY Act certification from the US Department of Homeland Security in 2013, and it has ranked #1 for safety in Security magazine’s “Security 500” for nine consecutive years. In 2021, it also became the first NFL stadium to join the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s Sports for Climate Action Framework, committing to global greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.
A Landmark of the New York Sports Scene
Situated just eight miles west of Manhattan in the Meadowlands sports complex, MetLife Stadium has become a landmark of the New York metropolitan area’s sports culture. With the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final on the horizon, the stadium is set to host its biggest stage yet: welcoming the world to one of the greatest venues in American sports. For more details, visit the official MetLife Stadium website.
If you want to coordinate travel routes through the area, reading our guide on New York City provides helpful regional tips. You can check similar stadium designs in our post on Levi’s Stadium. Alternatively, you can browse details about the neighboring One World Trade Center complex.
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