There’s nothing quite like watching your favorite team live. From the tailgates and pre-game rituals to the roar of the crowd as the players take the field, the energy builds long before kickoff. A lively crowd doesn’t just watch the action, it elevates it, turning every play into an unforgettable experience. And with each season, fans seem to get louder and prouder, taking the excitement to new heights.
Case in point, last year’s Stanley Cup finals had the loudest crowd in recorded NHL history, when the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, recorded a crowd roar of 130 dB. And this got us wondering – which stadiums and arenas have the best atmosphere for sporting events?
To find out, we researched each venue in the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL to find out which crowds are the most electric on game day, which we calculated by assessing TripAdvisor reviews, social media sentiment, crowd safety, and the number of sell-out games at each venue.
Read on to find out where your favorite team’s home turf ranked.
The most fan-fueled stadiums in the NFL
With millions of fans across the country, the NFL has some of the loudest crowds in any sport. If you’re looking to attend a game with a great atmosphere, these stadiums are your best bets:
- Lambeau Field (Green Bay Packers)
- Levi’s Stadium (San Francisco 49ers)
- Highmark Stadium (Buffalo Bills)
- Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Dolphins)
- Ford Field (Detroit Lions)
1. Lambeau Field (Green Bay Packers)
Green Bay Packers fans can take pride in their home stadium having the best atmosphere in the NFL, scoring 93.06 out of 100 on our rankings.
As well as topping our overall list, Lambeau Field is the highest-rated NFL stadium on TripAdvisor, with reviews averaging 4.8 out of 5. These reviews were also more likely to mention a great atmosphere in the venue than any other stadium, with 210 people bringing up the stadium’s energy when recounting their experiences.
We also registered 150 tailgate mentions, which makes Lambeau Field the second-most discussed venue in the NFL for tailgate parties (GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, the Kansas City Chiefs’ home ground, saw 166 mentions).
Some venues have actually banned tailgating, but if you’re looking to enjoy a party outside the venue before your game, Packers fans have plenty of options.
2. Levi’s Stadium (San Francisco 49ers)
The home turf of the San Francisco 49ers, Levi’s Stadium, ranks as the second-best NFL venue for crowd atmosphere on our list. Not only is the stadium hosting Super Bowl LX in 2026, but it has the most positive fan sentiment of any NFL stadium on social media, with 87% of discussions mentioning the venue in a positive light.
You can always rely on a 49ers game having a great turnout, too, as our data shows that Levi’s Stadium had the second-highest attendance in the league last season. With an average sell-out rate of 94%, only the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium saw better ticket sales. This helps give 49ers fans a second-place finish overall, with a total score of 92.50 out of 100.
3. Highmark Stadium (Buffalo Bills)
The Bills Mafia has a reputation for being one of the NFL’s most vocal fanbases, so it’s no surprise to see Highmark Stadium take a spot on our list of the five best stadiums in the league for atmosphere. With an average TripAdvisor rating of 4.4 out of 5 and 83% positive fan sentiment on social media, the Buffalo Bills have one of the most popular venues in the NFL.
Another factor in Highmark Stadium’s success on our list is its safety, as it has the lowest crime rate in the whole league. Our data shows that the local crime rate is just 884 incidents per 100k people, which is lower than in any other NFL city. Scoring 82.99 out of 100 overall, Highmark Stadium earns a podium finish at #3 on our list.
With the Bills having started their final season at Highmark Stadium before moving into a brand-new home in 2026, one question remains: Will the fans’ electric energy seamlessly carry over to the new venue?
4. Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Dolphins)
Not only is Hard Rock Stadium a popular venue among Miami Dolphins fans, who are one of the most loved teams in the NFL, but visitors from other stadiums seem to enjoy their away games in the Magic City, too. With 85% of social media discussions being positive, Hard Rock Stadium is one of the most popular NFL venues among attendees across the entire league.
The Miami Dolphins’ home turf also boasts a low crime rate compared to many other NFL cities, as 2,095 incidents are reported per 100k people – that’s lower than half of the average across all venues (4,323). Its popularity and safety combine to give Hard Rock Stadium a total of 82.06 out of 100 in our rankings for a fourth-place finish.
5. Ford Field (Detroit Lions)
Rounding out our top five is Ford Field, the home of the Detroit Lions. The venue enjoyed near sold out crowds throughout the 2024 season, with an above-average TripAdvisor score of 4.4 out of 5. Its low crime rate (2,714 incidents per 100k people) also helps to give it a place on our list.
Scoring 81.64 out of 100 overall, Ford Field in Michigan ranks at #5 in our rankings of the NFL stadiums with the best atmosphere. It beats stiff competition from the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium at #6 (80.13) and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Acrisure Stadium at #7 (77.26).
The most fan-fueled stadiums in the MLB
There are a few notable omissions from our top five best MLB stadiums for atmosphere. For example, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ PNC Park is the highest-rated MLB venue on TripAdvisor, but it appears at #8 on our overall rankings with a score of 64.97.
Similarly, Angel Stadium (home of the Los Angeles Angels) landed at #9 with a score of 64.44, despite having a positive fan sentiment of 88% – the highest of any venue in the league. So, which venues beat them in the overall rankings?
Here are the top five most fan-fueled MLB stadiums:
- Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs)
- Fenway Park (Boston Red Sox)
- Petco Park (San Diego Padres)
- Oracle Park (San Francisco Giants)
- Yankee Stadium (New York Yankees)
1. Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs)
With an overall score of 82.83 out of 100 in our index, Wrigley Field tops our list of the MLB stadiums with the best atmosphere. While it scores highly across the board, its reputation for a great atmosphere among fans cements its position at the top of the list, with 1,000 mentions of the venue’s energy in TripAdvisor reviews.
Combined with a 79% positive fan sentiment online and an average game attendance of 89% last season, it’s easy to see why it’s such a beloved stadium.
2. Fenway Park (Boston Red Sox)
With a 4.7 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor and 1,000 mentions of a great atmosphere in reviews, Fenway Park earns a silver medal in our rankings.
The stadium boasts a low crime rate of 2,653 incidents reported per 100k people, which makes it the second safest MLB venue, and its average attendance of 90% for home games last season proves how dedicated Red Sox fans are.
Scoring 80.85 out of 100 overall, Fenway Park finishes less than two points behind first place.
3. Petco Park (San Diego Padres)
Not only is Petco Park the safest venue in the MLB, with a crime rate of 2,092 incidents per 100k people, but it also had a nearly 100% average attendance in the 2024 season.
This makes the 39,860-seater stadium the most widely attended venue in the league for the past year. With an overall score of 71.54 out of 100, it earns a podium finish on our list of the stadiums with the best atmosphere.
4. Oracle Park (San Francisco Giants)
The home ground of the San Francisco Giants, Oracle Park lands at #4 in our rankings with an overall score of 69.10 out of 100.
With 700 mentions of its atmosphere in TripAdvisor reviews, and an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5 on the site, it’s one of the most highly reviewed venues in the league. Oracle Park also saw an average attendance of 88% for home games last season, so fans could enjoy packed stands at almost every game.
5. Yankee Stadium (New York Yankees)
As one of the biggest teams in the league, it’s hardly a surprise to see the New York Yankees rounding out our top five. Yankee Stadium may only have a rating of 4.4 out of 5 on TripAdvisor, but with 445 reviews mentioning the venue’s atmosphere, and the average game reaching a 92% attendance last season, its energy is undeniable.
Its overall score of 68.12 sees it beat close competition from the likes of the Rogers Centre (Toronto Blue Jays) and Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles Dodgers).
The most fan-fueled NBA and NHL arenas
When ranking NBA and NHL arenas, we learned that venues which host both leagues made up half of our top ten, suggesting that a great atmosphere can carry over between the two sports. The NHL also ranks higher than the NBA overall, with eight of its venues landing in the top ten.
Arenas are often smaller than stadiums and typically feature a closed roof, providing a distinctly different crowd atmosphere. But which arenas ranked the best in our data?
Here are the top five NBA and NHL venues for atmosphere:
- Madison Square Garden (NY Knicks + Rangers)
- Kaseya Center (Miami Heat)
- TD Garden (Boston Celtics + Bruins)
- Prudential Center (New Jersey Devils)
- Crypto.com Arena (LA Lakers + Kings)
1. Madison Square Garden (NY Knicks + Rangers
There’s an argument to be made that Madison Square Garden is the most famous arena in the world, so it’s hardly a surprise to see it dominate the competition in our rankings.
As well as having the joint-highest rating on TripAdvisor of any venue we researched (4.6 out of 5), we counted 678 mentions of atmosphere among its reviews, and almost every game in its sporting calendar was a sellout last year.
These all contribute to its final score of 88.88 out of 100, putting MSG head and shoulders above any other NBA or NHL arena.
2. Kaseya Center (Miami Heat)
Miami’s Kaseya Center, the home of the three-time NBA championship-winning Miami Heat, earns a second-place finish in our rankings with 75.70 out of 100 on our index.
TripAdvisor gives the venue a rating of 4.6 out of 5, with 184 reviews listing its atmosphere as a positive. Boasting a capacity of 19,600, each of the Miami Heat’s games last season bordered on a sell-out, with an average attendance of almost 100%.
3. TD Garden (Boston Celtics + Bruins)
With an average game attendance of nearly 100% last year and 186 mentions of the venue’s great atmosphere in TripAdvisor reviews, Boston’s TD Garden takes third place in our rankings.
The arena is also one of the safest on our list, with 2,653 incidents per 100k people (compared to an average of 3,518). However, given the venue’s rating of 4.4/5 on TripAdvisor and just a 60% positive fan sentiment online, it finishes with an overall score of 73.71.
4. Prudential Center (NJ Devils)
Out of all the arenas we researched, the Prudential Center in New Jersey has the most positive fan sentiment on social media, with 98% of discussions being positive. The venue also saw an average attendance of 98% for New Jersey Devils home games last season, making each of its 16,514 seats a highly sought-after commodity among fans.
Add a crime rate of 2,542 incidents per 100k people to the list, and the Prudential Center finishes with a score of 71.07 out of 100.
5. Crypto.com Arena (LA Lakers + Kings)
Formerly known as the Staples Center, the Crypto.com Arena has hosted some of the biggest names in the NBA and NHL over the years. It earns a TripAdvisor rating of 4.5 out of 5, with 242 reviews mentioning its atmosphere.
Plus, it’s one of the safest arenas in either league, with just 2,223 crimes reported per 100k people. However, the arena is brought down by having the second-lowest positive fan sentiment online (just 44% of discussions were positive), which gives it a final score of 70.77.
Did your local sporting venue make the list? Which stadium do you think has the best atmosphere? Be sure to share your thoughts, and make sure to stay tuned to Hard Rock Bet’s news section for all the latest sports betting news, betting tips, surveys, and more.
Methodology
This study set out to identify and rank the stadiums and arenas in the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL with the best overall atmosphere. To achieve this, we evaluated each venue across five key factors that reflect both fan experience and external conditions:
- Stadium rating – Average review ratings for each stadium/arena were collected from TripAdvisor.
- Fan mentions of atmosphere and tailgating – Text data from Tripadvisor reviews was analyzed for the frequency of the keywords “atmosphere” (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL) and “tailgating” (NFL, MLB), as proxies for in-venue experience and fan culture.
- Game attendance – League-reported attendance figures were compared to maximum venue capacity as a measure of fan engagement. The formula used was Game Attendance = average attendance/venue capacity. Data was gathered from:
NFL: Pro-Football-Reference
MLB: Baseball-Reference
NBA: InsideHoops
NHL: HockeyDB - Crime rate – Local crime data was gathered from the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer (CDE).
- Fan sentiment – Social listening data from Brandwatch was analyzed to assess how positively fans discuss each stadium/arena online.
Once the data was collected, each factor was normalized to a score between 0 and 1, making them directly comparable. These scores were then combined and scaled to a total score out of 100. Finally, we ranked every stadium and arena in each league from highest to lowest, revealing where fans can expect the very best game-day atmosphere.
* Note: The Tampa Bay Rays and Athletics were excluded from the MLB ranking due to having temporary ballparks.
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