Data reveals which NFL stadium is the safest for fans – good news for THESE teams

New data has revealed which NFL stadiums pose the lowest safety risk for fans when attending a match, with the SoFi Stadium topping the list.

Stone Injury Lawyers’ ranking scores each stadium out of ten based on performance across six key factors: seating capacity, covered seats, mobile speeds, number of entry points, first aid points, and distance to the nearest emergency department.

When all factors are considered, SoFi Stadium – home to the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers – performed best, scoring 8.7 out of 10. 

The stadium scored particularly well for protecting fans against adverse weather conditions, as the SoFi Stadium has a translucent roof – meaning 100% of fans attending a match are under a cover. 

Fans also enjoy better connectivity here than in other stadiums, as the average download speed across AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon stands at 126.9 Mbps – compared to an average of 95.5 Mbps in all NFL stadiums. 

SoFi Stadium was among the top performers for access to nearby medical care, as the closest emergency department is just 1.1 miles away, according to Google Maps. 

The second-safest NFL stadium came out as Caesars Superdome, which scored 8.4 out of 10 and is home to the New Orleans Saints. 

The stadium is also fully covered, and the nearest emergency department is just 0.5 miles away. The Superdome has a seating capacity of 73,208 and an average match attendance of 70,020, so fans have plenty of space without being left standing. 

However, connectivity is weaker here than in other stadiums, with a download speed of 95.9 Mbps –  just 0.4% above the NFL stadium average (95.5 Mbps).  

Third is the Detroit Lions’ home stadium, Ford Field, scoring 8.2 out of 10. As another domed stadium, it offers fans full protection against the elements. 

Ford Field offers good access to medical care with six first aid points. With an average match attendance of 64,850, the stadium’s 5.6 first aid points per 10,000 fans are 133% better than the norm (2.4 first aid points per 10,000 fans). 

However, the stadium could improve by having more entry/exit points, as fans use seven gates when attending a match. This could cause some congestion after the event, as an average of 9,264 fans will attempt to leave from each gate. 

Fourth is State Farm Stadium, home to the Arizona Cardinals, scoring 7.8 out of 10. Although the stadium will see more exit congestion due to 12,573 fans trying to leave from each of the five gates, all fans are able to sit for the duration of the match. 

The stadium is one of ten NFL bases with a roof, providing full weather protection.  Mobile connectivity is also strong, with an average download speed of 110.6 Mbps. 

Rounding out the five safest NFL stadiums is the U.S. Bank Stadium which is home to the Minnesota Vikings, scoring 7.7 out of 10. 

The stadium is the top performer for external medical access, as the nearest emergency department is just 0.2 miles away. However, in-stadium medical access could be improved, with just 1.3 first aid points available per 10,000 fans. 

EverBank Stadium, home to the Jacksonville Jaguars, has the best mobile connectivity, with an average download speed of 138 Mbps. The Kansas City Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium is the best for first aid points, with 9 per 10,000 fans. 

Overall, the safety factor in which the typical NFL stadium excels is the distance to the nearest emergency department, while the factor that requires the most improvement is covered seats, which leave fans vulnerable to adverse weather. 

Speaking on the findings, Jason Stone of Stone Injury Lawyers said: “When attending an NFL match, many fans don’t give much thought to their safety – but we know it’s vital that stadiums ensure visitors’ wellbeing is paramount through the provision of first aid points and measures to reduce the risk of overcrowding. 

“It’s encouraging to see that many stadiums can consistently keep fans safe – although there’s some improvement to be made. For example, stadiums without covered seats need to be proactive about other safety measures to combat the heatwaves that many states are experiencing – including providing free water and fans, deploying extra first aiders, and issuing fan warnings about the heat.”