After having had a chance to visit CITYPark for last weekend’s match, I wanted to share a long overdue piece ranking the league’s stadiums and fan support in it. Unlike some of the other pieces here, I tried to write it from a more neutral perspective rather than a super biased Verde faithful.
Tier 1: Elite
- CITYPark-St Louis (2023)
Stadium Itself: 10
Stadium Location: 10
Supporter Groups: 9
Non-SG Stadium Support: 10
Total: 39
I had high expectations prior to my first visit to CITYPark last week, and they were exceeded. It’s the perfect stadium with the right capacity in the proper location. I love the fact that the lower bowl, not just the supporters, stand the entire match (well except for the VIP sections). Having both an upper and lower concourse to the stadium makes traffic flow well. The supporters have been committed to St. Louis well before this club, and it shows. Their chants are not the most creative in the league, but they are very easy in both English and Spanish to get the fans involved. I would love to see chants in Bosnian, but that’s probably too much to ask (Balkan Treat Box is an awesome stadium concession!). This city should have had an MLS team well before this season.
- Q2 Stadium-Austin (2022)
Stadium Itself: 10
Stadium Location: 8
Supporter Groups: 10
Non-SG Stadium Support: 9
Total: 37
When the biggest problem with this stadium is that it’s too expensive but yet every MLS match has been sold out here in the stadium’s 2.5 seasons, you know the league has something special in Austin. The supporters are among the loudest in the league with the largest band (in La Murga de Austin) I have heard in the league. The stadium isn’t downtown, but is accessible by a train that will stop directly in front of the stadium next year and a half-dozen breweries within walking distance. Compared to the next entry on the list, this stadium has the largest bathrooms I have ever seen in a stadium of this size. Too bad, there aren’t many venues to get free water during the Texas summers that are constantly delaying kickoff to 8:39.
- TQL Stadium-Cincinnati (2021)
Stadium Itself: 9
Stadium Location: 10
Supporter Groups: 9
Non-SG Stadium Support: 8
Total: 36
Another one of the league’s newest stadiums, TQL is a gem that has been the cornerstone of the redevelopment of Cincy’s west end. It’s crazy that a place where I was volunteering at a food kitchen in high school now has a beautiful stadium surrounded by a vibrant cultural scene. The only problem inside the stadium is that the bathrooms are not large enough. They added on thousands of seats near the end of the stadium design and did not account for adding enough restrooms, which is a silly mistake for an otherwise beautiful venue.
- Providence Park-Portland (2022)
Stadium Itself: 8
Stadium Location: 10
Supporter Groups: 10
Non-SG Stadium Support: 8
Total: 36
Providence Park is the closest thing MLS has to Fenway/Wrigley style venue. As an old ballpark converted into a soccer stadium, it has obstructed view seats but also some character that most MLS venues lack. The stadium is right in central Portland near a ton of bars nearby and right on their light rail. They do have a slight deduction for having a turf pitch (Cincy gets a tiebreaker here) even though it’s probably the best turf in the league. While the Timbers Army is fantastic, the support has dropped off in recent seasons, in part due to their ownership, but it’s still a great MLS venue.
- BMO Stadium-Los Angeles FC (2023)
Stadium Itself: 10
Stadium Location: 8
Supporter Groups: 10
Non-SG Stadium Support: 7
Total: 35
BMO Stadium, or the Banque as I like to call it, now that this sponsor switched from a banc from California to a bank fromQuebec, is home to the 3252, which is the best unified supporter group in the league. Having 10 different SGs spread across 3252 standing places creates an impressive level of support in the north end. Sadly, that support is not as strong in the rest of the stadium, which can often feel like a Hollywood selfie zone with lots of gray, empty seats, unless it’s a big match. For the defending champions, it’s crazy to me that they don’t sell out every match. The stadium’s location near the USC campus isn’t bad but could use some more restaurants and bars nearby. There is a decent tailgate scene and the bacon wrapped hot dogs post match are a classic California touch.
- Allianz Field-Minnesota (2022)
Stadium Itself: 10
Stadium Location: 8
Supporter Groups: 7
Non-SG Stadium Support: 8
Total: 33
For a cold weather outdoor stadium, there is no better venue in America than Allianz Field. Unlike some southern venues that are designed to allow air to pass through to cool down the stadium, Allianz Field is designed to keep the heat in. That doesn’t mean it’s pleasant on a -3 night in February, but it’s great for midseason matches. The Wonderwall has seen better days, but they are still very solid supporters. The stadium is in the parking lots of St. Paul but does have great light rail access to Minneapolis and St. Paul along with the Black Hart, across the street, which is America’s preeminent (and probably only) queer soccer bar.
- Mercedes Benz Stadium-Atlanta (2019)
Stadium Itself: 8
Stadium Location: 9
Supporter Groups: 8
Non-SG Stadium Support: 8
Total: 33
When Atlanta United is good, the Benz is rocking and is an incredible venue. When Atlanta United is bad, this place is a turf library. However, Atlanta United is good more often than not and the Benz is an affordable (cheap beers and good food make up for a lot), indoor venue for ATLians to enjoy a summer evening. The scoreboard is incredible and for an NFL stadium, the sightlines are great for soccer. Despite the supporter turmoil, they probably do the best job at incorporating Black voices and leadership into their SGs. They also still lead the league in attendance so that counts for some extra points in my book. I wish the stadium was in more of a neighborhood, but it’s super central and still has tailgating.
Tier 2: Impressive Venues
- Lower.com Field-Columbus (2022)
Stadium Itself: 8
Stadium Location: 8
Supporter Groups: 9
Non-SG Stadium Support: 7
Total: 32
The Columbus Crew are the first team in the league to play in two soccer specific stadiums, which is quite the feat. The new stadium is a clear improvement over the original venue with a much better location and a roof that somewhat keeps water out. Maybe it’s color design, but it feels as though it is the least impressive of the venues that opened in 2021. The Nordecke is consistently one of the loudest and largest supporter groups in the league and the non SG support has significantly improved since moving stadiums, even with significantly higher ticket prices than the old stadium. The Crew should be in a solid position with Lower.com Field for years to come, and I hear they even have mustard packets now.
- GEODIS Park-Nashville
Stadium Itself: 9
Stadium Location: 6
Supporter Groups: 9
Non-SG Stadium Support: 7
Total: 31
While I haven’t been to GEODIS Park, I have watched plenty of matches from there and planned an away day. I am glad that Nashville has a proper soccer stadium but building it away from the urban center in a city with no mass transit and making it 5000 seats too large is great for ticket prices but not great for atmosphere. The Backline seems to fill most of their large section most matches, and the seats do a good job of hiding the emptiness outside of the corner N section where the people are more likely to be hidden. In any case, GEODIS Park is a solid stadium but also an example of what happens when you build your stadium slightly too large.
- Lumen Field-Seattle (2022)
Stadium Itself: 6
Stadium Location: 10
Supporter Groups: 8
Non-SG Stadium Support: 7
Total: 31
When Lumen Field is rocking like it was for the 2022 CCL final, it is an elite venue. Most of the time the Sounders draw quite well for an NFL stadium, but unlike Atlanta where the Benz is often louder for United than the Falcons, rarely is the same said about the Sounders and the Seahawks. The seats are far from the turf pitch even if the food there is top notch. Being located within walking distance of downtown and the International District makes for a great gameday setting. ECS and the other supporter groups do a solid job, and if they had a soccer specific stadium on this site, I have no doubt it would be in the elite tier.
- BMO Field-Toronto (2014/2023 for CFL)
Stadium Itself: 7
Stadium Location: 8
Supporter Groups: 8
Non-SG Stadium Support: 7
Total: 30
Toronto is one of the top soccer cities in North America. Walking around the city, you see kits from all over the world and TFC jerseys are as common as Blue Jay hats even though TFC’s big name signings haven’t exactly paid off as they are close to a Wooden Spoon this season. While they needed a second deck on the east side of BMO Field, I hate that it eliminated the amazing skyline view that used to exist from the west side of the stadium. The Toronto SGs are legit and bring the energy in the south end of the stadium. With easy walking and rail access to the city centre, it offsets the fact that the stadium is a little removed from the urban core when compared to Rogers Centre. Even with poor results, Toronto continues drawing decent crowds, which is more than we can say for some teams on the list. I am curious to see how the 2026 World Cup expansion works and if they will keep the 45K capacity after the tournament.
- Children’s Mercy Park-Kansas City (2021)
Stadium Itself: 9
Stadium Location: 5
Supporter Groups: 7
Non-SG Stadium Support: 8
Total: 29
Children’s Mercy Park is the nicest stadium in the world to share a parking lot with a Nebraska Furniture Mart. Considering the stadium is way out in the Kansas burbs, they have a great tailgate scene, which is way better than the plethora of chain restaurants in the outlet mall next door. Since moving from Arrowhead, KC has consistently filled the stadium, which is impressive, since moving out to the burbs has not worked well for some teams lower down on this list. The Cauldron does a good job of supporting Sporting even if their chants can feel a little vanilla at times. I appreciate that it’s a single deck stadium where there is not a bad seat in the house. If this stadium were downtown like where the Current are building their stadium, it would likely be in the elite tier.
- Bank of America Stadium-Charlotte (2022)
Stadium Itself: 5
Stadium Location: 8
Supporter Groups: 8
Non-SG Stadium Support: 8
Total: 29
Through a year and a half, Charlotte has done a great job of mostly filling the lower bowl of one of the largest NFL venues in the country. Despite having a less than ideal turf pitch and seats that are further away than necessary, their supporters do a great job of bringing the noise (even if they sing about banks!). The city has really gotten behind Charlotte FC (which should have had a more creative name-Charlotte Town was right there for the taking!), and it’s awesome to see soccer taking off in the south. If the team becomes a regular contender, they are going to be opening the upper bowl more and more frequently at Bank of America. Also, a stadium with a Bojangles outlet is always nice.
- Exploria Stadium-Orlando (2017)
Stadium Itself: 8
Stadium Location: 8
Supporter Groups: 6
Non-SG Stadium Support: 5
Total: 27
Exploria Stadium was the first stadium in the league to be built with a safe-standing section, which makes it a pioneer in the league. It’s a really nice stadium in a location that frankly is as good as possible for being in car centric Orlando. Orlando City had great initial support that has frankly declined in recent years. They used to have a decent sized waiting list for season tickets and now it’s all too common to see sections of empty purple seats in the stadium. Hopefully, Orlando City can find a way to turn around their decline in fan support, but the Central Florida summers don’t exactly do them many favors.
- PayPal Park-San Jose (2015)
Stadium Itself: 9
Stadium Location: 6
Supporter Groups: 3
Non-SG Stadium Support: 6
Total: 24
PayPal Park is an outstanding venue, and it was the first in the league to have suites on the pitch level. While Minnesota now has a larger beer hall, they were pioneers when they created a bar that is the length of the end without seats. Sadly, the supporter end at the other side of the stadium frequently has too many empty seats as San Jose has one of the smallest supporter groups in the league. They can draw more fans to Levi’s and Stanford Stadium, but often struggle to fill up their smaller home. The stadium is near the city’s airport and is fairly central, but it could be more urban. It does allow for tailgates and is the closest stadium to an In-N-Out Burger in the league. With better home support, this venue has the potential to be among the top in the league.
Tier 3: Acceptable Venues
- America First Field-Salt Lake (2022)
Stadium Itself: 6
Stadium Location: 5
Supporter Groups: 3
Non-SG Stadium Support: 9
Total: 23
While I preferred it when this stadium was called the RioT (Rio Tinto), this suburban Utah stadium now sounds like it hosts MAGA events daily. Unlike some other suburban venues in the league, at least there is a train connecting it to downtown. The stadium is a perfectly fine venue with the great views of the various Utah mountain ranges. In recent years with new owners, RSL has done a great job of marketing to the local community and really filling up the stadium. Their supporter groups are improving, but are still in the bottom half of the league in terms of support in this family friendly stadium.
- Audi Field-DC (2022)
Stadium Itself: 6
Stadium Location: 8
Supporter Groups: 4
Non-SG Stadium Support: 5
Total: 23
For a newer stadium in a great location in a rapidly developing part of DC, it is a tad disappointing to rank Audi Field this low. The stadium was built on the cheap as costs ran up, so it doesn’t feel quite finished, even if it has good pupusas throughout. This stadium has a better atmosphere for the XFL (even if I am no fan of the beer snake) than it does for Wayne Rooney’s men, which speaks for itself. With better results and a proud tradition, DC United should be able to build a better supporter culture around the club, but I understand their challenges in such a transient city.
- Subaru Park-Philadelphia
Stadium Itself: 5
Stadium Location: 2
Supporter Groups: 7
Non-SG Stadium Support: 8
Total: 22
It’s kind of embarrassing that I have never been to Subaru Park considering that I have seen both the Copa America and the Gold Cup (multiple times) at the LINC. But this stadium’s location down by the river in Chester means that you really want to go out there for a match if you want to see the Union play. Once you get out, it looks like a perfectly fine stadium where the supporters do a solid job. I am really impressed at how Philly has embraced the Union to a point where the Union is really considered a major sport. For example, when I-95 recently reopened Phang (or Thicc Little Dragon, IYKYK) was there with all of the other Philly mascots. If the stadium were in the urban core (or even at the Philly stadium complex), then Philly would likely have an elite tier stadium with their current support for this successful team.
- Stade Saputo-Montreal (2022)
Stadium Itself: 4
Stadium Location: 6
Supporter Groups: 6
Non-SG Stadium Support: 6
Total: 22
Montreal is a great soccer city that at least has a soccer specific stadium, even if it’s not exactly luxurious. The bleachers there are nicer than a high school football stadium, but it doesn’t quite match the expected quality of the city. Within Montreal, the stadium is easily accessible by the Metro, but the location’s backdrop is better for TV than in reality. There are some tailgating lots, which are nice, but there are not many businesses around for a semi-central location. Montreal has multiple supporter groups, but their Ultras were banned from the stadium for over a year and stand exactly opposite 1642 and the other SGs. While there are major points deducted for violence, Montreal has solid support from their supporters and the general community. It is a major value to have a franchise in Montreal even if the current stadium is a bit under par.
- DRV PNK Stadium-Inter Miami (2023)
Stadium Itself: 3
Stadium Location: 2
Supporter Groups: 8 in Messi era
Non-SG Stadium Support: 6 in Messi Era
New Stadium opens in late 2025 in theory
Total: 19 for the Messi era
What has just started will dramatically increase the fan support for Messi and I guess Inter Miami to insane heights. That being said, outside of the legit Colombian food truck, DRV PNK Stadium is bad. At least there are mostly seats rather than bleachers (outside of the temporary ones they put in the corners to sell more Messi tickets), but there are nicer high school football stadiums in this country. Thankfully, Miami is building a new stadium actually in Miami rather than in a random office park next to a private airport in Fort Lauderdale. At least the current stadium is close to I-95 and has a Bright Line shuttle to get to the Fort Lauderdale train station for rides to Miami and West Palm Beach (and soon to Orlando). Once the new stadium opens in Miami and if they can maintain this momentum post Messi, they have the potential to be an elite ground in the league.
- Dignity Health Sports Park-LA Galaxy (2015 for MLS but more recently for the NFL)
Stadium Itself: 5
Stadium Location: 2
Supporter Groups: 7
Non-SG Stadium Support: 4
Total: 18
Well, the Galaxy have 5 stars and their supporters managed to sack their General Manager earlier this season, which was quite impressive. That being said, the current state of the Galaxy remains pretty sad, especially when compared to LAFC. The home supporter section post-boycott is not selling out and there are sections of empty seats across Carson. While the location is good for tailgating, it’s a pain to reach and park at. The stadium is now 20 years old and has held up much better than a few peers across the league. However, the current atmosphere at many Galaxy matches looks more like the defunct Chivas USA than the past Galaxy strength. Once sanctions are lifted, I expect the Galaxy to climb back up this list but LA is a fickle town that likes a winner and forgets you once you are a loser.
- BC Place-Vancouver (2021)
Stadium Itself: 4
Stadium Location: 10
Supporter Groups: 2
Non-SG Stadium Support: 2
Total: 18
Vancouver is one of my favorite cities in North America. BC Place is located in the perfect spot, and has a roof along with good food. Sadly, like whitecaps melting in global warming, it goes downhill from there. The supporters in Vancouver are some of the nicest in the league, but BC Place often sounds like a library rather than a soccer stadium. The Whitecaps haven’t sold out the lower deck of BC Place since COVID. The turf is horrendous, and is tied with New England for worst in the league in my mind. This Whitecaps team is a lot of fun and they have already won another Voyageurs Cup, so they’ll be back in CCC/L next year. I really hope the Whitecaps can find ways to engage more fans in British Columbia.
- Red Bull Arena-New York/New Jersey (2011)
Stadium Itself: 6
Stadium Location: 5
Supporter Groups: 4
Non-SG Stadium Support: 2
Total: 17
Red Bull Arena is the best soccer stadium in the greater New York City area at the moment. It’s a good soccer stadium located not far from a PATH train in Harrison, New Jersey. It’s not the most central location, but it could be worse. However, the parking situation at the stadium is awful and frequently prevents people from attending matches. But that’s no excuse for how pathetic the attendance is at the arena most of the time. The Red Bulls have some very dedicated supporter groups, who do more than the rest of their fans, but it’s not enough to make the atmosphere at RBA one of the better ones in the league.
- BBVA Compass Stadium-Houston (2021)
Stadium Itself: 5
Stadium Location: 8
Supporter Groups: 2
Non-SG Stadium Support: 2
Total: 17
Houston is such a disappointing situation. They have a great urban stadium location in the heart of Houston with plenty of parking. It might not be the trendiest neighborhood of the city, but it was the right choice for a stadium location. The stadium is nice, but needs a better roof, which is improving for the awful weather conditions (recent renovations are helpful), along with indoor passageways from other nearby venues. However, the real problem in Houston are the mountains of empty seats along with a supporter culture that is so toxic. Managing to not come close to filling up the supporter section and beating up your own fans and opponent fans is simply pathetic. The way the front office has not tried harder to end the violence coming from their own fans is unacceptable.
- Toyota Stadium-Dallas (2021)
Stadium Itself: 3
Stadium Location: 3
Supporter Groups: 4
Non-SG Stadium Support: 5
Total: 15
Despite having almost no roof or shade in hot North Texas, FC Dallas has managed in recent years to dramatically increase both their supporter and non supporter attendance. When FC Dallas moved up to Frisco, they thought they would attract lots of suburban families and develop a top youth academy. They have absolutely developed the top youth academy but the fan support had been lacking until a new marketing team took over. They still have one of the smallest supporter sections in the league but moving away from the beer garden was a smart move even if they now have a hilarious Toyota truck stage. In terms of miles, I believe Frisco is the further any team is in the league from their respective downtown (beating out New England by a half mile).
Tier 4: Need a New Option
- Yankee Stadium/Citi Field-New York City
Stadium Itself: 1 (for MLS)
Stadium Location: 4 (Citi Field is better)
Supporter Groups: 4
Non-SG Stadium Support: 3
New Stadium coming in 2027
Total: 12
This team won the MLS Cup in 2021 and still splits its time between two baseball stadiums. While thankfully a new stadium is coming to Willets Points in 2027, NYCFC deserves a proper football venue. Both of the pitches are way too narrow and horrendous surfaces despite being grass. While Flushing is a better location than the Bronx, neither of the current spots are able to truly tap into the culture hotbed of the sport in NYC. Hopefully, the new stadium will change that. There is decent support for NYCFC, and with the right stadium, they could easily move up into the elite tier, especially with their ability to attract global talent in NYC.
- Gillette Stadium-New England (2010)
Stadium Itself: 2
Stadium Location: 1
Supporter Groups: 3
Non-SG Stadium Support: 6
Some progress being made on a new stadium
Total: 12
Winning cures a lot, but not everything. While playing in an NFL stadium deep in the suburbs has historically not been a great recipe for the Revs, the team’s form since Bruce Arena took over has helped increase the general support for the team. The supporters are developing a better culture in recent years, but they would likely see a transformation if they could ever get an urban core stadium in Boston or one of the towns just north of the Charles. It’s so sad that they are now running more commuter rail trains right to the stadium, but won’t open up the line for almost any Revs matches, where it’s no problem for the Pats or major concerts. Forcing people to drive that far into suburbia with only one access road is simply a nightmare. At least there’s a decent tailgate scene in the parking lots in Foxboro.
- Soldier Field-Chicago (2023)
Stadium Itself: 4
Stadium Location: 4
Supporter Groups: 2
Non-SG Stadium Support: 1
Depends on the future of Soldier Field
Total: 11
When the Fire moved back to Soldier Field from suburban Bridgeview in 2020, it seemed like the Fire were maybe turning a corner. Then COVID hit and the momentum died out. Soldier Field is in a spot that is somehow central and incredibly hard to reach at the same time. There isn’t a bar within a 15 minute walk of the stadium and while the tailgate scene can be decent, the backdrop of the Chicago skyline often feels more like a green screen than reality, after a 20-25 minute walk from the L station. The Fire are invisible in Chicago outside of a random billboard. In most other MLS cities, you can at least go into Dick’s (or a similar store) and see your local’s team merch, but not in Chicago. Not winning a playoff game for 14 years has led to citywide apathy (unless Messi is coming to town) and a supporter culture that hasn’t figured it out. While there is a Murga, the divide between the English and Spanish speaking fans is sad to see and not helpful in building a better culture. Chicago deserves better than this current reality and frankly needs a real, urban soccer specific stadium and a winning team.
- Dick’s Sporting Goods Park-Colorado (2022)
Stadium Itself: 2
Stadium Location: 3
Supporter Groups: 2
Non-SG Stadium Support: 1
No plans on the stadium front but KSE wants to develop the open lands around the stadium
Total: 8
Welcome to the saddest venue in the league. While Colorado is beautiful and has a great tailgate scene, the stadium, once inside, is simply sad. It reeks of MLS 1.0 in a suburban parking lot with nothing around it. Apparently, Kroenke and his team are trying to build some other options around the stadium, which would help a lot. Most people in Denver have no clue that the Rapids play a short 15 minute drive away from downtown Denver. Nearly everyone who visits Denver sees Coors Field since it’s central and one of the best neighborhood ballparks in America. The fans in Colorado deserve something similar for MLS and it’s a real shame that the 2021 Western Champs don’t have it. The stadium is only full for fireworks nights and most of the time, it’s a library. There are good folks trying in Colorado, but they need major work in building a MLS worthy culture.