Five alternatives to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley for NFL games
The NFL is making another push on this side of the pond by returning to the UK for three huge games in October 2025. Two of the encounters will take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while the other clash will be at Wembley Stadium. The Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets are the designated home teams. But are Spurs’ home and Wembley the only viable options for the NFL moving forward?
Of course, most major UK events tend to occur in London. It’s where tourists go, there are great transport links, and it’s a vibrant city. However, given the array of state-of-the-art sports arenas in the country, we could see the NFL branch further out from London altogether in the future, particularly as the sport continues to grow here.
However, American football will always lag behind the beautiful game in the UK, but there is an appetite for it. An increasing number of fans now watch the NFL and attend the NFL London Games every year; they’re also looking at NFL betting lines and listening to leading podcasts, wearing team jerseys, and debates are had online. It’s growing, that’s for sure.
While Wembley Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium have been great venues for NFL games, spreading the sport around the nation would surely help the sport reach more people. With that in mind, below is a brief look at potential alternatives.
Old Trafford
Old Trafford needs a facelift. However, despite this, it’s still a wonderful place to watch any event, particularly given the rich sporting history that fans will sense as soon as they enter the stadium. As one of the largest stadiums in the country, it’s more than capable of hosting huge crowds, there are good transport links for fans to make the most of, and United’s catering facilities will more than suffice.
Anfield
While visiting, NFL fans won’t get to sample the world-famous “You’ll Never Walk Alone” during their visit to Anfield, given the absence of the city’s title-winning footballers, Liverpool’s home is still more than likely to be a fantastic venue for an NFL game in the future. For passionate NFL fans, there are great pubs to frequent, such as The Park and The Arkles, plus some top-notch tourist hotspots to sample in a warm and welcoming city. Whether or not Liverpudlians are partial to a bit of American football is hard to know, but it’s a city that could embrace it.
Celtic Park
If other English stadiums aren’t deemed suitable alternatives to Tottenham’s ground and Wembley, then Scotland can step up. Celtic Park is a viable option, with its range of amenities alongside its iconic status shining through.
Etihad Stadium
If Old Trafford isn’t suitable, Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium is probably the perfect alternative. The home of Pep Guardiola’s big spenders, this modern stadium has state-of-the-art facilities, superb food and drink offerings, and it’s a lovely place to watch a significant sporting encounter. It also offers excellent views thanks to the stadium’s bowl design. Overall, the Etihad Stadium would surely be under serious consideration.
St James' Park
A club currently on the up after a successful campaign last season, Newcastle United’s St James' Park home is a brilliant stadium. It's located right in the city's center, it’s easy to get to, it’s always known to have an electric atmosphere, and Newcastle is a fun and entertaining location to explore. For visiting NFL fans, St James' Park would surely appeal.
