The NFL spends a lot of time shaping and reshaping its public perception. As a billion-dollar corporation, ensuring that it is being properly received in the eyes of its consumers is critical. Unfortunately, there is an element to the NFL experience that can’t really be contorted in the same way that narratives in the media can…And that is the safety element for fans that are journeying to the NFL stadiums on game day.
In fairness, it has largely improved over the last couple of decades, but there are still some NFL stadiums that you really ought to be careful leaving—especially if it is a night game.
Let’s take a look around the league at the ten most dangerous stadiums to go to.
Which NFL stadiums are infamous for the dangers that lurk during game nights?
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas Raiders)
The NFL putting a team in Las Vegas was a seminal moment in league history.
It represents a massive shift in public opinion and, well, strategy because not only did they uproot a legendary franchise from an area that was filled to the brim with diehard fans, but they also did so after years of rebuking Sin City for all of its deep gambling ties.
The move obviously wasn’t received well in the Bay Area, but beyond the region’s borders, it has ultimately been accepted. And with good reason Allegiant Stadium emerged as the crown jewel of Las Vegas, offering state-of-the-art facilities and a prime location near the Strip.
Well, at least it was until The Sphere quickly usurped it!
In any case, it is a beautiful place to see a game in an exciting destination, but with that comes some very legitimate safety concerns.
Las Vegas is a city that never sleeps, and the mix of game-day excitement with the city’s vibrant nightlife can lead to unpredictable situations.
Fans leaving Allegiant Stadium at night should be aware of the high volume of people, transient people at flowing through the areas surrounding the stadium.
These kinds of areas can and have become hotspots for rowdy behavior and potential crime. While the local authorities are adept at managing large crowds due to the city’s tourist-heavy nature, the sheer volume of people can still pose risks, which are even greater come gameday because local criminals know that a large influx of susceptible visitors will be injected into the area near the NFL stadium.
Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia Eagles)
Philadelphia fans are known for their passionate and sometimes aggressive nature—and in many ways the Eagles diehards that call Lincoln Financial Field their home lead the way.
The venue itself has seen its fair share of incidents over the years. It is located in South Philadelphia, an area that can be particularly challenging to navigate after dark. The city as a whole’s crime rate is higher than the national average and the Southern section where the stadium was stood up is a notable hot spot.
The area around the stadium can be particularly dangerous if you are a visiting fan, especially one with a tendency to run your mouth a little bit…
Because Eagles fans really don’t take kindly to that sort of behavior and, unfortunately, have resorted to violence in the past. In 2019, a visiting fan was hospitalized after being assaulted by a group of Eagles fans in the parking lot. The organization did act swiftly, installing additional lighting and increased security patrols, but incidents still occur.
The results from this survey are particularly damning; 63.2% of NFL fans surveyed who have been to a game there have witnessed a crime, with the most common infraction seen there being physical violence.
Yikes.
The best course of action for anyone attending a night game at Lincoln Financial Field is to stick to well-lit, populated areas and avoid engaging with overly passionate fans who may or may not have had too much to drink.
Ford Field (Detroit Lions)
The Motor City doesn’t exactly have the best reputation in recent years for its infrastructure, safety, and… you know the other sort of modernities that we have come to expect from most American metropolises.
Unfortunately, it seems that Ford Field, home of the beloved Lions is more of the same. The area around the stadium is definitely sketchy and there have been a number of issues reported over the years.
And the fans that go to the games there know it! Check out these telling results from a survey conducted by the Sportsbook Review, where 73 percent of both men and women aren’t okay with leaving female fans by themselves and over 77 percent of parents said that they wouldn’t be comfortable letting their children attend games at their team’s home stadium alone.
That is a far departure from the family-friendly environment that the league tries to propagate!
We have actually seen some pretty scary incidents take place there over the years… Think back to 2016 when two men were literally robbed at gunpoint outside of the stadium.
Just scary stuff.
Ford Field is definitely one of those NFL stadiums that should you attend – you ought to exercise an extra degree of caution when you are coming and going. Especially if it is a night game!
Empower Field at Mile High (Denver Broncos)
Empower Field at Mile High offers breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountain landscape and a fantastic game-day atmosphere. However, there are some risks for fans who venture out to Denver to see a game there.
The surrounding area can become a bit sketchy… particularly after dark because Denver, like many urban areas, has pockets that can be unsafe, especially for those unfamiliar with the city—and unfortunately, their football stadium is right in the heart of that risk.
Broncos fans are generally friendly, but the mix of alcohol and the raw emotion of football fandom can sometimes lead to conflicts… though… that isn’t the major risk factor here.
In 2023, a report surfaced that shared some fairly damning information about the area, detailing that there are 70 crimes per 1,000 residents in the zip code where the NFL stadium is located.
The team puts a lot of measures in place to try and combat this, but they still have their work cut out for them!
Lumen Field (Seattle Seahawks)
Seahawks fans are some of the most dedicated in the league, and the stadium is always packed. As much as people on the internet have grown a little bit tired of the attention that “the 12th man” in the Pacific Northwest gets, they do ultimately deserve some of the credit for their loud and rowdy ways.
However, this also means that the surrounding areas can become chaotic after games, as most of the fans have been sufficiently worked up into a frenzy.
Other people attending games at Lumen Field should be particularly cautious of their belongings and avoid wandering into unfamiliar areas when they are leaving the venue, particularly at night.
Lumen Field was actually reported to be the second most dangerous stadium in the NFL in terms of crimes per 1000 residents living in the stadium zip code, just a handful behind Mile High.
Most of it is believed to be property crime rather than violence… which… I guess is good?
Either way, the fact of the matter remains that fans should definitely have their guards up when going in and out of Seahawks games!
Also Read: Ranking All 30 NFL Stadiums Fan Experience From WORST To FIRST
Cleveland Browns Stadium (Cleveland Browns)
Cleveland Browns Stadium, formerly known as FirstEnergy Stadium, is positioned nicely on the shores of Lake Erie, providing a picturesque backdrop for football games.
Only improving the atmosphere is the fact that the venue is often filled with diehard fans and, thus, has a rather electric environment.
Unfortunately, Cleveland’s downtown area can be somewhat deserted at night, increasing the risk of encountering unsafe situations.
According to the aforementioned NFL Stadium crime report, the Cleveland Browns Stadium ranks second behind Ford Field with 17.16 crimes per 1000 residents in the zip code.
And again… that is a violent crime. We aren’t just talking about pickpockets and drunken disorderlies—though… both of those do definitely exist there.
Either way, Cleveland Browns Stadium is definitely one to be careful coming in and out of after a night game!
M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore Ravens)
Baltimore is a city with a rich history and a passionate sports culture, but also one that has been notorious for its struggles in sufficiently addressing the significant crime challenges it faces.
M&T Bank Stadium is located near some of Baltimore’s more troubled neighborhoods, making it a place where fans need to be particularly careful after night games. All in, Baltimore’s crime rate, particularly for violent crimes, is among the highest in the country, which means that the stakes are even higher—because of the nature of the crimes that are committed in the area.
There was a terrifying incident that took place back in 2019, where several fans were mugged at gunpoint while walking to their cars after a night game.
This stadium is definitely on the shortlist of places to be super careful at if you do choose to go to see an NFL game.
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans Saints)
Caesars Superdome still stands as a very meaningful building to the people of New Orleans and as an iconic symbol of resilience and community spirit for the city.
It played a huge role during Hurricane Katrina, when it served as a refuge for thousands of residents, giving the Superdome a special place in the hearts of locals. However, its central location in the heart of New Orleans—and the fact that it is a stone’s throw away from Bourbon Street, also places it near areas with high crime rates and opens visitors up to major risks.
Tourists going to and from the Superdome are regularly targeted by pickpockets in the crowded streets after a night game.
This is certainly a fun place to catch a game, but one that anyone with good sense would be particularly cautious about should they choose to do so!
AT&T Stadium (Dallas Cowboys)
The Arlington area, where Jerry Jones sprouted up AT&T Stadium, admittedly has just a moderate crime rate, but the areas around the stadium can become hotspots for incidents on NFL game days.
This is because the games have become a huge tourist attraction, and local criminals know that every Sunday, the Cowboys are home, which is a prime opportunity to target some susceptible people.
The location of the stadium further complicates things for fans, especially those who are visiting for the first or second time… While the stadium itself is state-of-the-art in every way, the surrounding area can be a bit challenging to navigate after dark. Arlington is a sprawling suburban area that lacks the feel and infrastructure of a dense urban environment.
Definitely a cool place to check out for visiting NFL fans, but we strongly recommend keeping your wits about you venturing to and from the stadium, especially if it is a night game.
MetLife Stadium (New York Jets/Giants)
MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Jets and Giants is—contrary to popular belief—located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, not actually in New York.
We call this out not just because of the hilariousness of the two named “New York” franchises not even playing in the Big Apple but because of where they actually built the stadium to sidestep the city’s astronomical development costs and crowded areas.
The stadium is surrounded by large parking lots and highways, which has the side effect of isolating fans in this bubble around the venue that ultimately leaves them as sitting ducks for criminality.
The issue is exacerbated because while you might think of mass transit when you think of New York… MetLife is far from being known or respected for the ability to get to these games via mass transit… meaning that a significant number of people end up driving to the stadium.
This not only poses a risk for drunk driving and other motor vehicle related issues in the parking lots after games, but fans have regularly had their cars broken into during the games, as thieves have made a habit of breaking into vehicles in the more remote areas of the vast parking lot… particularly at night games – where they can more easily get away with their transgressions.
Unfortunately, we have also seen some violent outbursts over the years, including an incident that took place about a decade ago involving a fan bringing a taser into the game!
The Jets and Giants have both beefed up their security measures since then, but the fact remains that fans need to be hypervigilant if they go to a game at MetLife.
