|
Throughout
the New York Jets history, they have never had a stadium of their
own. Although that is still the case, the Jets and Giants
collectively have one of the best stadiums in the NFL. In
September 2005, both the Giants and Jets announced that they had
reached an agreement to build a new stadium in the Meadowlands.
For nearly five years, both teams had been exploring options of
having separate stadiums built, the Jets on Manhattan's west
side, and the Giants in New Jersey. After the Jets failed to get
a new stadium built in Manhattan, they decided to team up with
the Giants to build a new stadium adjacent to Giants Stadium.
n September 2007, renderings and details of the new Meadowlands
stadium were released. Although site work began in April 2007,
official groundbreaking was held on September 5, 2007. The
stadium has a seating capacity of 82,500 in four levels that
enclose the stadium. This includes 9,200 club seats and 117
luxury suites. Fans sitting in the front row along the 50 yard
line seats are the closest to the action in the NFL, 46 feet
away. The stadium features two club areas, the Coach's Club and
the mezzanine level clubs. The Coach's Club features a 20,000
square foot bar and lounge on the field deck just five yards
from the team's bench. On the mezzanine level are the east and
west side clubs where fans can enjoy a climate controlled
atmosphere and a variety of food and beverages. Fans can see
replays from the gridiron on four 40' x 130' HD
video/scoreboards that are located in each corner below the
upper deck.
 Since the stadium
is home to two teams, individualization is an
important concept of the stadium. Interior illumination of colors switch depending on
the home team. Outside, giant
red pylons at the North and East entrances show videos
of whatever team is playing at the facility. The signature
feature at the stadium is the Great Wall. In the shape of a
rectangle, this 400' x 40' high wall displays murals of players and moments in team history outside the stadium. Both the Jets and Giants are committed to
staying in New Jersey for the next 99 years. This is the first time two
teams have developed a partnership to build a stadium.
Originally known as Meadowlands Stadium, the
Giants and Jets played their first games at the stadium on the same weekend, the Giants
on September 12, 2010 and the Jets on September 13, 2010. In August 2011 the
stadium was renamed MetLife Stadium after the company purchased
the naming rights to the facility for 25 years at a rate of $17
to $20 million a year. Although the
stadium just opened it has already been awarded the 2014 Super
Bowl. The game will mark the first time
the league brings its showcase event to an outdoor stadium in a
cold-weather climate.
|
