NRG Stadium is a retractable-roof, multi-purpose stadium located in Houston, Texas, United States. It was completed in 2002 at a cost of $352 million and has a seating capacity of 72,220. It was the first NFL facility built with a retractable roof.

The stadium is part of a larger complex known as NRG Park, which also includes the Astrodome. The complex is named under a long-term naming rights agreement with NRG Energy signed in 2000.

The facility is designed to accommodate both American football and large-scale events such as rodeos, requiring a total floor area of around 1.9 million square feet (180,000 m²). Its design reflects the need to support multiple event types within a single structure.

Construction and design features

Groundbreaking for the stadium took place on March 9, 2000, and the structure was topped off in October 2001. Construction was completed in 30 months, and the venue officially opened on August 24, 2002.

One of the most distinctive features is its retractable fabric roof, which consists of two large panels that split at midfield and rest above each end zone when open. The roof runs on a rail system supported by long trusses and is controlled by a computerized system located in the press box.

The roof can be opened or closed in approximately seven minutes, moving at speeds of up to 35 feet (11 meters) per minute. The system provides live monitoring during operation, tracking the movement of all components in real time.

Events and sporting history

The Houston Texans play their home games at the stadium, which opened with a preseason matchup between the Miami Dolphins and the Houston Texans in August 2002. The first regular-season NFL game hosted there featured the Dallas Cowboys against the Texans.

The venue also hosts the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Texas Bowl, and multiple international soccer matches, including fixtures involving the United States men’s national team and Mexico’s national team.

Major sporting events held at the stadium include Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 and the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship. It is also scheduled to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Houston parks and outdoor spaces

Discovery Green is a 12-acre downtown park featuring lawns, a small lake, a concert stage, and recreational areas, including fountains and games spaces.

Eleanor Tinsley Park stretches along Buffalo Bayou and is known for its green spaces, walking and cycling trails, and views of the city skyline. It also offers a popular evening bat-watching experience near the Waugh Drive Bridge.

Memorial Park is a large urban park with trails, sports facilities, golf, tennis courts, and cycling and running routes. It is set within a heavily wooded area west of downtown Houston.

Miller Outdoor Theatre hosts free performances throughout the year on an outdoor stage located within the Houston Museum District, with seating on a grassy hillside.

Museums and cultural venues in Houston

Houston Museum District includes 19 museums spread across several walkable zones, along with additional attractions such as parks, a zoo, and performance venues.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, features art from different eras and cultures, including European and American works, photography, and sculpture gardens with free public access.

The Houston Museum of Natural Science showcases exhibits on dinosaurs, gems, minerals, ecology, ancient Egypt, and rotating scientific displays.

The Menil Collection offers free admission to collections spanning ancient, African, surrealist, and contemporary art.

Houston Zoo is a 55-acre facility featuring habitats for a wide range of animals, including primates, birds, reptiles, and large mammals.

Houston Symphony performs at Jones Hall and other venues across the city, presenting orchestral concerts throughout the year.

Space Center Houston provides exhibits and tours focused on NASA’s space exploration programs, including spacecraft displays and tram tours of operational facilities.

Entertainment and shopping highlights

The Galleria Houston is a large shopping complex with hundreds of stores, restaurants, an ice rink, and hotels, attracting millions of visitors annually.

Water Wall is a 64-foot-tall U-shaped water feature located in a landscaped park with oak trees, serving as a popular photography and leisure spot.

Alley Theatre is a Tony Award-winning venue offering a variety of plays across two stages, ranging from classic works to contemporary productions.

Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens is a historic estate featuring American decorative arts and landscaped gardens once belonging to philanthropist Ima Hogg.

AT&T Stadium is a retractable-roof venue located in Arlington, Texas, in the United States. It functions as the home field for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). The facility was finished on May 27, 2009, and replaced Texas Stadium, which had been used by the team from 1971 through the 2008 season.

The complex is also commonly called Jerry World, a nickname linked to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who originally planned it as a large-scale entertainment space. Ownership belongs to the City of Arlington.

Structure, capacity and technological features

The stadium can seat about 80,000 spectators and may expand to more than 100,000 people when standing areas are included. These additional spaces come from Party Pass sections located behind seating areas in each end zone, arranged across multiple elevated platforms connected by stairways. In 2009, it recorded an NFL regular season attendance peak of 105,121.

Its roof is supported by two massive arches, each nearly 300 feet (91 m) tall, stretching across the structure and anchored at both ends. The building also contains extensive digital infrastructure, including more than 3,000 Sony LCD screens placed throughout suites, corridors, and concession zones.

A center-hung Mitsubishi video board was once the largest HDTV screen in the world at the time of installation. Later, a larger Panasonic “Big Hoss” board at Texas Motor Speedway surpassed it. The stadium also includes large glass doors that allow both end zones to be opened.

Events and multipurpose usage

Beyond NFL games, the venue hosts a wide variety of events. These include the Cotton Bowl Classic, the Big 12 Championship Game, and, previously, the Southwest Classic until 2024. It has also been used for concerts, basketball, soccer matches, college and high school football games, rodeos, motocross events, Spartan Races, and professional wrestling.

Its flexible design allows it to operate as a broad entertainment hub rather than a single-sport arena.

Shopping, arts and entertainment spots in Arlington

Arlington Highlands is a major retail and entertainment area featuring more than 50 stores, around 250 dining options, a cinema, and a comedy club. It is located at 1-20 at Matlock Road and Center Street.

The Arlington Museum of Art presents rotating exhibitions of paintings, sculptures, and illustrations. Works by artists such as Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, and Pablo Picasso have been featured there. It is located at 1200 Ballpark Way.

Arlington Music Hall offers performances ranging from symphonies to jazz and country music. It also serves as the home of the Arlington Symphony and has hosted well-known performers, including Ricky Skaggs and Willie Nelson. Its address is 224 N Center Street.

Levitt Pavilion is an open-air venue in downtown Arlington known for free summer concerts, where visitors can bring their own food and drinks (glass containers are not allowed). It is located at 100 West Abram Street.

Lincoln Square Shopping Center provides additional retail and dining options near the Arlington Entertainment District. It includes various national retailers and sits close to major attractions like AT&T Stadium and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. Its location is 1500 N Collins Street.

Outdoor spaces, breweries and unique museums

Division Brewing is recognized as the first locally owned brewery in Arlington, offering a variety of craft beers, including stouts, IPAs, and sour styles. It is located at 506 East Main Street.

River Legacy Park spans more than 1,300 acres along the Trinity River and includes hiking, biking paths, picnic areas, and wildlife viewing opportunities. The park is home to hundreds of wildlife species and bird types. Its address is 701 NW Green Oaks Boulevard.

The International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame explores the history of bowling through exhibits and interactive displays, including mini lanes. It is located at 621 Six Flags Drive.

Amusement parks and water attractions

Six Flags Over Texas is a large amusement park in Arlington offering rides for all ages, including high-speed roller coasters, water rides, and family attractions. It is located at 2201 E Road to Six Flags.

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is a 50-acre water park featuring slides, pools, and lazy river areas. It operates seasonally from May through September and is located at 1800 E Lamar Boulevard.

SoFi Stadium is a covered, multi-use arena situated in Inglewood, California, in the United States, a suburban area of Los Angeles. It stands on the grounds that previously held the Hollywood Park Racetrack and is positioned next to both the Kia Forum and the Intuit Dome.

The surrounding Hollywood Park development is a large mixed-use district built on the old racetrack site. Within this complex, the Hollywood Park Casino was reopened in a newly constructed building in October 2016 and became the first operational venue in the redevelopment area.

Design, capacity and usage

The venue opened in September 2020 and features a translucent ETFE roof system that allows natural light while supporting climate regulation. Its standard seating capacity is 70,240, but it can be expanded to accommodate more than 100,000 people for major occasions.

The stadium is shared by two National Football League franchises: the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers. It is one of the few NFL stadiums used jointly by two teams and the first such complex outside the New York metropolitan region to operate in this way.

Major events and future schedule

Since opening, the stadium has hosted several major sporting and entertainment events, including Super Bowl LVI in 2022, the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship, WrestleMania 39, and the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup final. It also served as the venue for the LA Bowl from 2021 through 2025.

Upcoming plans include matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl LXI in 2027, and both the opening ceremony and swimming competitions for the 2028 Summer Olympics. The selection of the stadium for the World Cup replaced an earlier proposal involving the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

Local places and entertainment in Inglewood

Inglewood offers several notable attractions near the stadium district. Randy’s Donuts is one of the area’s most recognizable landmarks, known for its large rooftop donut structure and long-standing reputation as a popular donut shop serving items such as glazed donuts and cinnamon rolls.

The Hollywood Park Casino provides gaming experiences with more than 100 tables, including poker and blackjack, and also hosts tournaments and celebrity poker events. Nearby, the Residency Art Gallery highlights works by artists of color from the local community, focusing on themes of identity and representation.

The Miracle Theater, located in downtown Inglewood, hosts concerts, comedy shows, and film screenings. The YouTube Theater, with 6,000 seats, presents concerts, esports, sports events, conferences, and award shows in a modern indoor setting.

The Kia Forum remains a major entertainment arena known for large-scale music and performance events and has been recognized among leading venues in global rankings. The Intuit Dome, opened in August 2024, serves as the home arena for the LA Clippers and is designed for a wide range of sporting and music events.

New Jersey officials and FIFA are in disagreement over who should cover the cost of transporting supporters to World Cup matches this summer. The issue centres on rail travel between New York’s Penn Station and MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which is expected to host multiple tournament fixtures.

According to reporting from The Athletic, New Jersey Transit is preparing to introduce special event pricing for journeys of around 30 minutes to the stadium. The planned fares would apply during matchdays at the venue.

The stadium, which will be referred to as New York/New Jersey Stadium during the tournament under FIFA naming rules, is scheduled to stage eight games, including an England group match and the final on 19 July.

Surge in ticket prices to stadiums

The proposed pricing would see a return train journey cost more than $100, compared with the usual fare of about $12.90. This represents a multiple-fold increase for fans travelling from New York to the stadium.

No reduced fares are expected to be offered, meaning children and senior passengers would also be required to pay the full amount. Officials expect this to apply across matchdays.

Similar pricing increases have also been reported elsewhere. At Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, near Boston, train fares for World Cup matches are set to rise to around $80, while coach transport is expected to cost about $95.

Parking charges are also notably high, with a space at MetLife Stadium priced at $225, while Foxborough parking is set at $175 per vehicle.

Political response from New Jersey governor

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has publicly criticised the arrangement, arguing that FIFA should contribute to transport costs. She said the state would not allow commuters to be burdened with what she described as long-term expenses linked to the tournament.

In a post on X, she said New Jersey Transit is facing a $48m cost to move fans to and from matches, while FIFA is generating $11bn. She also stated that FIFA should fund the travel costs, warning that the state would not allow residents to “get taken for one”.

Sherrill insisted that taxpayers and regular commuters should not be left to cover the bill, given FIFA’s revenues from ticket sales and the scale of the event.

FIFA response and agreement terms

FIFA responded by saying it was surprised by the governor’s comments. The organisation stated that supporters are expected to be able to travel “at cost” and that there is no requirement for increased pricing for other major events at the same venue.

FIFA also referred to the original 2018 host city agreements, which required free transport for ticket holders. It said these terms were later adjusted in 2023 to allow access to transport at cost after concerns that the earlier arrangement placed financial pressure on host cities.

The governing body added that it has worked with host cities on transport planning for years and supported efforts to secure federal funding for mobility and infrastructure needs connected to the tournament.

Impact on fans and fixture schedule

The higher transport costs are expected to affect supporters travelling from England and Scotland for matches in the United States. England is scheduled to face Ghana in Foxborough on 23 June, before meeting Panama at MetLife Stadium on 27 June.

Scotland are also set to play twice in Foxborough, with matches against Haiti on 13 June and Morocco on 19 June. These fixtures will likely be impacted by the increased travel costs for visiting fans.

The combined effect of higher rail fares, expensive coach tickets, and elevated parking fees is expected to significantly increase the overall cost of attending matches at both venues.

Levi’s Stadium is situated in Santa Clara, California, in the United States, just to the west of San Jose within the wider San Francisco Bay Area. It has been the home ground of the San Francisco 49ers, an NFL team, since 2014 and lies roughly 40 miles (64 km) south of San Francisco. The venue takes its name from Levi Strauss & Co., which secured naming rights in 2013.

Built as a flexible sports and entertainment complex, the arena was intended to support a wide range of uses beyond American football. It was also planned with FIFA field standards in mind, allowing it to accommodate international soccer matches and large-scale tournaments. In addition, the site includes more than 109,000 square feet (10,100 m²) of adaptable premium meeting areas located within its club sections.

Design, technology and sustainability features

The stadium was created by the architectural firm HNTB with an emphasis on modern multi-purpose functionality, fan comfort, and environmentally conscious solutions. Civil engineering responsibilities were handled by Winzler & Kelly, later absorbed by GHD Group, while Glumac provided commissioning services during development.

Known for its advanced infrastructure, the venue includes high-level cellular connectivity and Wi-Fi coverage throughout. It also became the first NFL stadium to earn dual LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, covering both construction and ongoing operations. Among its sustainable features are an organic rooftop garden and a dedicated in-venue application designed to enhance the visitor experience.

The seating layout was planned so that around two-thirds of spectators are positioned in the lower bowl, forming one of the largest configurations of its kind in the league. Accessibility improvements and upgraded seating for guests with disabilities were prioritized compared with the former Candlestick Park. The design also places most premium suites on one side, bringing upper-level fans closer to the field, similar in arrangement to Detroit’s Ford Field.

Events and major uses of the venue

Beyond regular NFL fixtures, Levi’s Stadium has been used for a wide variety of sporting and entertainment occasions. These include soccer matches such as MLS games, international friendlies, Copa América fixtures, the Gold Cup final, and appearances by the United States women’s national team prior to the 2019 World Cup.

The venue has also hosted major global events, including Super Bowl 50, WrestleMania 31, and an NHL Stadium Series matchup between the Los Angeles Kings and the San Jose Sharks in 2015. It continues to be considered for future large tournaments, including bids related to the 2031 men’s Rugby World Cup and the 2033 women’s edition.

Things to explore in Santa Clara

Santa Clara offers several attractions beyond the stadium, beginning with California’s Great America theme park. The park features high-speed roller coasters such as RailBlazer, along with water attractions at South Bay Shores, including the multi-slide Pacific Surge experience.

Another landmark is Mission Santa Clara de Asís, founded in 1777 as part of the historic California missions. It is now located on the Santa Clara University campus, where visitors can also find performance spaces, Division I athletics, and the de Saisset Museum focused on regional art and history.

Cultural and educational stops include the Triton Museum of Art, which highlights contemporary California works and offers an outdoor sculpture garden, and the Intel Museum, which explores semiconductor development. Outdoor spaces such as Central Park and the Ulistac Natural Area provide green landscapes, walking trails, and wildlife habitats along Saratoga Creek and the Guadalupe River.

The city also features a strong culinary identity, especially in its well-known Korean district, often referred to as “Koreatown Silicon Valley.” Dining options include barbecue and traditional stews at Jang Su Jang, quick-service noodle dishes at Paik’s Noodle, and chicken-based specialties at BN Chicken. Shopping and dining combinations can also be found at Westfield Valley Fair, while a curated Global Games Food Trail highlights international cuisine across the city.