If you’ve ever sat in the upper deck of Highmark Stadium in December, you know that "outdoor football" isn’t just a phrase. It’s a survival test. Your beer freezes. Your toes go numb. You start questioning every life choice that led you to Orchard Park, New York. But for a specific breed of fan, that’s exactly how the game is supposed to be played.
Football was born in the mud and the snow. However, as we head into the 2026 season, the landscape of the league is shifting—literally. The "frozen tundra" vibe is becoming a luxury item. If you're wondering exactly how many NFL teams have outdoor stadiums right now, the answer is 20.
But that number is on a countdown clock.
The Current Count: Who is Still Braving the Elements?
Right now, 20 NFL teams play in 18 different outdoor stadiums. Why 18? Because the Giants and Jets share MetLife, and the Rams and Chargers share SoFi (which is technically "indoor-outdoor," but we’ll get to that weirdness in a second).
Here’s the thing: "Outdoor" in the NFL usually means a completely open-air bowl. No roof. No climate control. Just you, the wind, and whatever the clouds decide to dump on the field.
The "True" Outdoor Strongholds
- Green Bay Packers (Lambeau Field): The holy grail of outdoor football. They will never put a roof on this place.
- Chicago Bears (Soldier Field): Currently outdoor, though their moving plans involve a dome.
- Kansas City Chiefs (Arrowhead Stadium): Loud, open, and often freezing.
- Buffalo Bills (Highmark Stadium): They are currently building a new stadium for 2026, and shockingly, it’s staying open-air. Bills fans are just built different.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (Acrisure Stadium): Hard-nosed football in the Pennsylvania humidity or cold.
- Philadelphia Eagles (Lincoln Financial Field): Purely open-air.
- New England Patriots (Gillette Stadium): Known for those iconic snowy playoff games.
You’ve also got teams in warmer climates like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Carolina Panthers who stay outdoors because, well, it’s 75 degrees in November. But even that is changing. Jacksonville is currently knee-deep in a "Stadium of the Future" project that will eventually add a massive canopy to protect fans from the Florida sun.
Is SoFi Stadium Actually "Outdoor"?
This is where the semantics get kinda annoying. If you look at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles or Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, they aren't traditional domes. They have "translucent roofs."
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SoFi is actually open on the sides. You can feel the breeze coming off the Pacific. However, the NFL considers it an "enclosed" or "fixed roof" venue because the playing surface is never touched by rain. For the purpose of the how many NFL teams have outdoor stadiums tally, SoFi and Allegiant are checked off as "Indoor/Covered."
Hard Rock Stadium in Miami is another "tweener." It has a massive canopy that covers 90% of the seats to keep fans from melting, but the middle is open to the sky. Since the field is exposed, it’s still technically an outdoor stadium. It’s basically a giant sun hat for 65,000 people.
Why the "Outdoor" Number is Shrinking
Honestly, it comes down to money. It always does.
An outdoor stadium is used maybe 20 to 25 times a year if you include a few concerts and preseason games. A domed or retractable roof stadium is a 365-day revenue machine. You can host the Final Four, the Super Bowl, Wrestlemania, and Taylor Swift’s next 40-show residency without checking the weather forecast.
Take the Tennessee Titans. They’ve played outdoors since moving to Nashville. But their brand-new stadium, set to open in 2027, is a fully enclosed dome. Why? Because Nashville wants to host the Super Bowl and high-profile indoor conventions.
The Cleveland Browns are also looking at a move to Brook Park to build a dome. Even the Washington Commanders are leaning toward an enclosed or translucent roof for their next home.
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By the time 2030 rolls around, the list of outdoor teams might be down to 15 or 16. We are witnessing the slow death of "weather games" in the NFL.
The Competitive Edge (Or Lack Thereof)
There’s a long-standing myth that "dome teams can't win in the cold." For a long time, the stats backed it up. Peyton Manning’s Colts famously struggled when they had to travel to Foxborough in January.
But modern sports science is kind of evening the playing field. Heated sidelines, better base layers, and high-tech turf mean the "home field advantage" of a blizzard isn't what it used to be.
Still, ask any Ravens or Bengals fan—there is something about a rainy, muddy AFC North battle that just feels like real football. You lose that atmosphere the second you put a roof over the field. You replace the smell of charcoal and damp grass with the smell of expensive air conditioning and $18 nachos.
What to Watch for in 2026
The biggest story in 2026 is the New Highmark Stadium in Buffalo.
The Bills are the last "cold weather" team to double down on being outdoors. Their new home will have a massive canopy to keep the snow off the fans, but the field itself will be open to the elements. They want the wind. They want the lake-effect snow. They want visiting teams from Florida and California to feel miserable the moment they step off the bus.
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If you’re planning a trip to see an NFL game, here is the breakdown of what you need to know about the current outdoor venues:
- Bring a Poncho: MetLife (NY), Lincoln Financial (PHI), and Lumen Field (SEA) are notorious for rain.
- The Sun is the Enemy: If you go to a 1:00 PM game at Hard Rock Stadium (MIA) or State Farm Stadium (if the roof is open), the sun will cook you.
- The Shared Stadium Loophole: Remember that the Jets/Giants and Rams/Chargers pairings mean that even though there are 32 teams, we only have 30 stadiums.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're a purist who loves the outdoor game, your window is closing. If you want to experience the "Old School" NFL before every stadium looks like a glowing spaceship, here is what you should do:
Visit Lambeau or Arrowhead sooner rather than later. While Green Bay isn't going anywhere, the Chiefs have already discussed the possibility of a new stadium in Kansas (potentially with a roof) if renovations don't go their way in Missouri.
Check the "Roof Status" apps. For retractable roof stadiums (like Dallas, Indianapolis, or Atlanta), teams usually announce whether the roof will be open or closed about 90 minutes before kickoff. If the temperature is between 45 and 80 degrees, you usually get an "outdoor" experience in an indoor building.
Prepare for the "Canopy Era." Most new "outdoor" stadiums (like the Bills and Jaguars projects) are moving to a European soccer-style design. You'll be outdoors, but you won't get wet. It’s a compromise that keeps the "football weather" on the field while keeping the high-paying ticket holders dry.
The era of the purely exposed, 100% open-air stadium is definitely peaking. We're currently at 20 teams, but that's likely the highest that number will ever be again. Enjoy the mud while it lasts.