About the Author

Steve Jerome is the archetypal sports fan. A geography graduate from the University of Brighton, Steve now
resides in Western Australia with his wife. His passion for the NFL has seen him travel around the US taking
in the cities, stadia and sites associated with Americas Game.

Dedication
To my wife Michelle for her support and input throughout this journey.

Steve Jerome

A Guide to the Stadia of the

National Football League

Copyright Steve Jerome (2015)

The right of Steve Jerome to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance
with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise,
without the prior permission of the publishers.
Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal
prosecution and civil claims for damages.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
ISBN 978 1 84963 797 8 (Paperback)
www.austinmacauley.com
First Published (2015)
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd.
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Printed and bound in Great Britain

ALOHA STADIUM
AFC v NFC PRO BOWL

Opened: 12th September, 1975

Address: 99-500 Salt Lake Boulevard, Honolulu, Hawaii 96818
Cost: US$37,000,000
Capacity: 50,000 (American Football)
First NFL Game: 27th January, 1980 - NFL Pro Bowl - NFC 37 - AFC 27
Pitch Type: Synthetic Field Turf

State Flag of Hawaii

Notable Features
In July 2011, the playing field was updated to a new system called UBU Sports
Speed S5-M synthetic turf. This turf featured an exclusive system called
Removable Active Panels, which encompassed 22 removable sections located
in 7 locations around the 110,000 square foot playing area. Some sections have
inlaid logos for the University of Hawaii and the Aloha Bowl and also allow the
NFL to add their own logos for the Pro Bowl, and likewise for the NCAA Bowl
games.
The other major feature of the Aloha Stadium is in its architectural design. Four
spiralling walkways are located in each corner of the stadium giving patrons
access to upper levels of the stadium. The stadium is also shaped in a broken
oval style, with small sections missing from each corner. Where these gaps
exist a lower and upper bridge allows fan access to the adjoining stands. These
bridges also allow views of the neighbouring scenary, most notably of Pearl
Harbour and the surrounding mountains behind Pearl City. The missing seats
in each corner allow small stages to be included, which during the NFL Pro
Bowl feature musical acts and other performances throughout the event.

History
Aloha Stadium was constructed in 1975 as a replacement for the ageing
Honolulu Stadium which was eventually demolished in 1976. Located just 2
miles from Honolulu International Airport and close to the tourist destination
of Waikiki, the stadium was primarily built to host University of Hawaii football
and baseball games. The stadium was built on 4 movable sections weighing 3.5
million pounds each, and uses air casters to shape the stands as a diamond,
oval, rectangle or triangle depending on the event being staged. This was the
first stadium with this capability in the United States.
In 2005, a study determined that $99 million was required to restore the stadium
and another $115 million in maintenance would need to be spent over the next
20 years to make the stadium a viable property. Due to costs and maintenance,
the stadium was permanently locked into its oval football shape. Studies into
its deterioration found that concrete contractors failed to set pads under the
stadium properly during its initial construction. The stadium has also had
concerns over rusting and corrosion, and in 2008 the state of Hawaii committed
$185 million to refurbishing the stadium, which included updating scoreboard
technology, replacing all seats and amenities and eventually closing the four
corners of the stadium.

Notable NFL Games Staged

Seating Chart

NFL Pro Bowl - AFC v NFC (1980 - 2009, 2011 - present)

10

ROGERS CENTRE
BILLS TORONTO SERIES

Opened: 3rd June, 1989

Address: One Blue Jays Way, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1J3, Canada
Cost: $570,000,000
Capacity: 54,000 (American Football)
First NFL Game: 7th December, 2008 - Buffalo Bills 3 - Miami Dolphins 16
Pitch Type: Grass 3D

Flag of Ontario

Notable Features
The Rogers Centre, formally the Toronto Skydome, has hosted Buffalo Bills
pre-season and regular season games since 2008 and brings the NFL to the
leagues Canadian fanbase. Rogers Centre has a prime location literally next
to the CN Tower and on the shores of Lake Ontario and has several features
that make it one of the most unique stadia in the NFL.
Primarily the home of MLBs Bluejays, the Centre has the distinction of being
the first venue in North America to install a fully motorised retractable roof.
After the 1982 Grey Cup game at the outdoor Exhibition Stadium, which is
now known as the Rain Bowl game, a national television audience saw
the match descend into ridicule following a torrential rainstorm. This lead
the Toronto natives to demand an enclosed domed stadium for its hometown
sports teams.
The other notable feature of this stadium is its partnership with the adjoining
Renassiance Hotel. The hotel features 70 guest rooms that overlook the
playing field, as well as restaurants with full wall to ceiling windows
allowing patrons a view of the action taking place on the field below.

Rogers Centre is also known for its artistic facades. Costing over US$5million
and commissioned in 1989, sculptures depict sports scenes and local culture
and are made from glass and stainless steel and are located around the
stadium and external walls for all to see and enjoy.

History
The Rogers Centre was constructed between October 1986 and May 1989 and
was funded by the Federal government, Ontario provincial government, the
city of Toronto and a consortium of companies costing CAN$570 million. The
stadium grew from a public desire to see Toronto with a multi-purpose,
indoor venue, primarily to host baseball and Canadian football. The eventual
design of the facility was decided upon from entries to an international
design competition, with the location chosen from many sites around the city.
The final location at Railway Lands provides easy access from Union Station
and revitalises an area of industrial land. A suspension bridge was also
constructed crossing the Union Station Rail Corridor allowing easy access
to the venue. The actual construction phase was not simple, with the
location causing many issues, such as the demolition of railway buildings,
contaminated soils from over a century of industrial use, archaeological
finds and the need to relocate the still functioning John Street water pumping
station.
The stadium officially opened on June 3rd, 1989 in a grand ceremony broadcast
live on Canadian television. Several national celebrities were in attendance
and a special song for the occasion was even written with lyrics including
Open up, Open up the Dome. Ironically it started to rain. The stadium would
soon become a problem though, losing money and requiring 600 days a year
of bookings to break even. This eventually lead to Rogers Communications,
who owned the Bluejays, buying the venue in 2005 for just CAN$25 million
(4% of construction costs) and renaming the site from the Skydome to Rogers
Centre. In late 2005 the new owners completely renovated the interior of the
stadium.

Notable NFL Games Staged

Seating Chart

Bills Toronto Series - Regular Season Games - Started 2008

11