East Rutherford, NJ – Fans heading to MetLife Stadium this season may need extra patience — not because of the Jets’ or Giants’ play on the field, but because of the gridlock off it.
A new analysis by Pickswise, a sports predictions and betting site, ranked MetLife Stadium the second-worst NFL venue for gameday traffic, scoring just 30.3 out of 100. The study measured congestion levels, travel time during rush hour, and local pollution levels around each stadium.
According to the data, it takes fans an average of 38 minutes and 56 seconds to drive just 10 kilometers around the East Rutherford stadium during peak gameday traffic — the slowest rate in the entire NFL and more than 10 minutes longer than any other location. Congestion around the stadium spikes 31 percent on gameday, significantly above the league’s 25.3 percent average.
Pollution near MetLife ranked in the middle of the league, with an IQAir index of 40, slightly better than the NFL average of 42.4.
The only stadium to fare worse overall was Soldier Field in Chicago, which finished last with a score of 20.3. Other stadiums rounding out the bottom five included Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium, Seattle’s Lumen Field, and Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium.
By contrast, the most fan-friendly stadium for traffic was Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, which scored 85.2 and recorded the fastest gameday travel times.
“MetLife Stadium’s ranking as one of the worst NFL stadiums for gameday traffic highlights just how challenging visiting New Jersey can be for fans and tourists,” said Andrew Wilsher, managing editor at Pickswise. “With the slowest peak travel times in the league by more than 10 minutes, Giants and Jets supporters face a significantly tougher journey to the stadium compared to most other NFL fans.”
The Jets are preparing for their second home game of the season against the Buffalo Bills, while the Giants have yet to host a game, meaning thousands of fans are set to experience the long waits firsthand.
Key Points
- Pickswise study ranks MetLife Stadium the second-worst NFL venue for gameday traffic, scoring 30.3/100.
- Driving 10km near the stadium on gameday takes nearly 39 minutes, the slowest rate in the league.
- Soldier Field in Chicago ranked last, while Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium ranked best.
For Giants and Jets fans, the toughest opponent on gameday may just be the traffic.