7 Must-See Soccer-Specific Stadiums

MLS Playoffs are here! The raucous crowds and intense action on the field show us how far the league has come in the last 20 years. Which venues should you add to your “bucket list?”

1. Rio Tinto Stadium (Real Salt Lake)

Real Salt Lake / Via rsl.com

Built in 2008 and costing about $110 million, Rio Tinto Stadium hosted the MLS All-Star Game one year after opening and has since held numerous CONCACAF matches. With a capacity of 20,000-plus, the venue offers players a pristine Kentucky Bluegrass natural surface and is equipped with an under-field vacuum and heating system to keep the surface in great shape, even when it snows. How cool is that?

2. Red Bull Arena (New York Red Bulls)

New York Red Bulls / Via newyorkredbulls.com

As the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, will the New York Red Bulls eventually host the 2015 MLS Cup Final? Sitting along the waterfront across the Passaic River from Newark, N.J., the $200 million state-of-the-art facility opened in 2010 and has conducted over 30 international soccer matches. Given its packed schedule, the grounds crew uses grow lights between events to speed up the recovery process of the natural grass field.

3. PPL Park (Philadelphia Union)

Philadelphia Union / Via philadelphiaunion.com

PPL Park has one of the most stunning backdrops in MLS, located on Chester’s waterfront along the Delaware River with the Commodore Barry Bridge visible from the southwestern corner of the stadium. The $120 million venue expands from 18,500 seats for soccer to 26,000 for concerts. The Bermudagrass field entertains more than just MLS games, such as NCAA Championships for rugby and lacrosse.

4. MAPFRE Stadium (Columbus Crew SC)

Brian A. Thomas / Via brianathomas.com

The first soccer-specific stadium in North America, MAPFRE Stadium opened in 1999 and cost only $28.5 million. With nearly 20,000 in capacity, it has hosted more U.S. vs. Mexico men’s national team games than any other venue (Dos a Cero!). The natural grass pitch won “Field of the Year” in 2010 and 2013 from the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA).

5. Avaya Stadium (San Jose Earthquakes)

San Jose Earthquakes / Via sjearthquakes.com

The newest MLS stadium located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Avaya Stadium is a $100 million park with a capacity of 18,000. As the first MLS cloud-enabled venue, solar panels allow the stadium to utilize “zero-energy” on game days. Also, the north zone features the “largest outdoor bar in North America” and the natural grass surface will host the 2016 MLS All-Star Game.

6. StubHub Center (LA Galaxy)

LA Galaxy / Via lagalaxy.com

The $87 million StubHub Center opened in 2003 and is home to the LA Galaxy (also Chivas USA from 2005 to 2014). It has hosted six MLS Cup Finals, along with the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final and 2004 NCAA Men’s College Cup. Annually, it also accommodates marquee concerts, the CrossFit Games and ESPN’s X Games on its natural grass surface.

7. Dick's Sporting Goods Park (Colorado Rapids)

Turner Construction / Via turnerconstruction.com

Opening in 2007 as the highest elevated stadium in MLS, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park cost $131 million to build and seats 19,000 soccer fans (or 26,000 for a concert). It was awarded the MLS All-Star Game in its inaugural season then STMA’s Field of the Year in 2008. It’s most renowned for the U.S. vs. Costa Rica “SnowClásico,” when several inches fell during the highly contested 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Guess who prevailed?