Like all leagues, the NFL is fighting to get more people off the couch and out to watch a game in person, which is why upgrades and new attractions such as “friend zones” and “bubble bars” are coming to stadiums this fall to improve the fan experience.
“The modern fan wants to have the best of both worlds in a good way,” said Buffalo Bills COO Bruce Popko, who estimates that New Era Field now features as many as 500 TVs in premium areas. “They want to have all the amenities they would have if they are sitting at home.”
Here are the improvements nine teams have made as the new season begins.
buffalo bills
Buffalo Bills
• Venue: New Era Field
• Projects: Pegula Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Bills and the NHL’s Sabres, embarked on $18 million in renovations at the stadium. New bars and video display walls are among the improvements, and Popko said bar areas in the club section have been opened up for better traffic flow. In addition, the Bills have secured naming rights for three renovated clubs areas with Toyota, Pepsi and Dunn Tire Club.
san francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
• Venue: Levi’s Stadium
• Projects: The 49ers have new on-the-field luxury seats, are getting a new Topgolf suite, and have renovated the outer concourse at the Santa Clara stadium.
New field seats with reclining leather chairs are available in both end zones. A box of four seats costs $50,000 per season. The premium seats also will have personal video monitors and fans will get in-seat food and beverage deliveries. There will be 24 seats and six boxes in the south end zone. Those fans will have access to the new IdentoGO by Idemia Green Room premium lounge under the grandstand. That area is adjacent to the tunnel used by players. There also will be 40 field seats in 10 boxes in the north end zone. Those fans will have access to premium food and drinks in the stadium’s Michael Mina Tailgate area. Mina is a James Beard Award-winning chef.
los angeles chargers
Los Angeles Chargers
• Venue: StubHub Center
• Projects: The Chargers have added new features to the End Zone Field Club, as well as full bars on the southwest and northwest field areas with a sideline view of the game.
“Now you can socialize on the field level,” said Josh Rupprecht, vice president of public relations for the Chargers.
The team has a new 20,000-square-foot Chargers Beer Garden in the northeast corner of the stadium. Team cheerleaders, the drum line and the dance teams visit the beer garden, which has $5 beers and $6 hot dogs and opens three hours before kickoff.
A 17,000-square-foot Bolts Block Party area is also new and features live music.
jacksonville jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
• Venue: TIAA Bank Field
• Projects: The Jags hope fans will like being in the “friend zone.” The team has rebranded field-level areas of the south end zone as the Bud Light [Fri]End Zone, a social space that was previously a standing-room-only section. It now includes five private tables and 21 bar rail seats.
The Jaguars are also opening Pet Paradise Dog Park in the south end zone, a first for an NFL stadium. Season-ticket holders and winners of a sweepstakes put on by the Jaguars and Jacksonville Humane Society auctions will be able to take their dogs to the game.
houston texans
Houston Texans
• Venue: NRG Stadium
• Projects: The Texans renovated their premium Champions Club and Houston Luxe areas. The latter is an ultra high-end premium spot with membership benefits such as access to special culinary and networking events as well as meet-and-greets with players and coaches. It has new LED lighting, design colors and back splashes, and refurbished bar stools. The 4,500-square-foot Champions Club has an all-inclusive food and drink package including crab claws and sushi. The Texans are also offering in-suite merchandise carts and special visiting team menu items in the Houston Luxe area this season.
pittsburgh steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
• Venue: Heinz Field
• Projects: The Steelers expanded the Bud Light Pub 33 dining area in the stadium’s Great Hall. The renovations created outdoor seating for fans including on non-game days. The Steelers are adding another new food venue, Franco’s Pizzeria, as part of the $2.5 million project.
seattle seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
• Venue: CenturyLink Field
• Projects: A new club area bubble bar has been built and will be offered this season. It includes champagne, beer, sparkling wines and oysters.
The Seahawks — who handle their own concessions — are also debuting technology stadiumwide from Clear that allows fans who sign up to buy food and beverages with a fingerprint swipe. Clear is the same company that does fast-track fingerprint security screenings at airports.
arizona cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
• Venue: University of Phoenix Stadium
• Projects: The team has added an art-deco lounge called The Tail Feather, and there is a new bar and food buffet called The Bird’s Nest. There are also new bars and food service areas in all four corners of the club level.
tampa bay buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Venue: Raymond James Stadium
• Projects: The Bucs continue their $160 million renovation of Raymond James Stadium with East Stadium Club makeovers that feature new bars, large video displays, 162 televisions and a new sound system.
East Club members get early entrance into the stadium and chances to meet cheerleaders and former players. The Bucs are also opening a premium-level lounge called Bar 76 (below) with large video walls and 60 HDTV monitors. The 10,000-square-foot space will have 76 varieties of beer, a nod to the year the franchise joined the NFL as an expansion team.
tampa bay buccaneers
