New Meadowlands Stadium New Meadowlands Stadium ( colloquially known as simply The Meadowlands ) is a stadium in East Rutherford , Bergen County , New Jersey , United States , as part of the Meadowlands Sports Complex , in the New York City Metropolitan Area . It is the home of the New York Giants and New York Jets of the National Football League and is adjacent to the site of the former Giants Stadium , which was home to the Giants from 1976 until 2009 and the Jets from 1984 until 2010 . Like its predecessor , the new stadium is the only NFL stadium shared by two teams . However , unlike Giants Stadium in which the Jets were a junior partner , the new stadium is a 50 / 50 partnership between both NFL teams , and while the stadium is owned by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority on paper , the two teams jointly built the stadium using private funds , and administer it jointly through New Meadowlands Stadium Corporation . New Meadowlands Stadium opened on April 10 , 2010 when it featured the Big City Classic lacrosse event . At a construction cost of approximately $ 1 . 6 billion , it is the most expensive sports stadium ever built . It is the largest stadium in the NFL in terms of seating capacity . On May 25 , 2010 , it was announced that Super Bowl XLVIII was awarded to this stadium , the first time a Super Bowl would be played in the New York metropolitan area , and the first time that a non - domed stadium in the northern United States would host the biggest American football game in the professional ranks . Capacity . The new stadium has seating for 82 , 566 fans , including 10 , 005 club seats and approximately 218 luxury suite s , making it the largest NFL stadium in total seating . Design . The stadium is distinguished by an outer skin of aluminum louver s and by interior lighting that switches colors depending on which team is playing at home . Essentially , unlike Giants Stadium , New Meadowlands can easily be converted from a Giants game to a Jets game within a matter of hours or vice versa . This is a technique originated at the Allianz Arena in Munich , Germany , which is shared between the city ' s two major futbol teams , Bayern Munich and 1860 Munich . The special louvers and the associated hanging system were custom designed and manufactured by Architectural Wall Systems of Des Moines , Iowa , and Overgaard Ltd . of Hong Kong . The total linear amount of louvers is exactly 50 , 000 meters ( 50 kilometers ) or 163 , 681 feet ( 31 . 1 miles ) . Front row 50 yard line seats are away from the sideline , which is the shortest distance of all NFL Stadiums . The actual changing of the field decorations is about an 18 hour process that involves two 4 - man crews rolling up 40 sections of FieldTurf that make up the teams ' respective endzone s . Unlike a number of other new NFL venues , New Meadowlands Stadium does not have a roof , as proposals to include a roof failed due to a dispute over funding . Thus , indoor events such as the Final Four cannot be held at the facility , which runs counter to the original aims for a new stadium in northern New Jersey . Twenty giant high - definition - ready light emitting diode ( LED ) pylons designed , manufactured and installed by Daktronics at the north and east entrances display videos of each team , depending on which is playing . The pylons measure approximately high by wide . Inside , four by video displays from Daktronics , which incorporate high definition video technology , hang from each corner of the upper deck . Lease terms . The lease for the new stadium is for 25 years , with options to extend it that could eventually reach 97 years . After the 15th year of the lease , every five years , one of the two teams may opt out of the lease , giving the state 12 months notice . However , if one team leaves for a new stadium , the other team would have to remain for the remainder of the lease . Based on the teams ' histories , this clause presumably allows the Jets to eventually decide that they want to play in their own stadium and leave if they can find a way to finance it , although the high cost of the stadium and relocation of team facilities to New Jersey makes this unlikely . It is unknown if the lease starts upon construction or upon the stadium ' s opening . The teams also get parking revenue from the Meadowlands ' western parking lots year round , even when there are no events at the stadium ( this would occur when other parts of the Meadowlands host events ) . Transportation . The Meadowlands Rail Line operates on event days between the newly constructed Meadowlands Station and Hoboken Terminal via Secaucus Junction , where there is connecting service to Pennsylvania Station ( New York City ) , Pennsylvania Station ( Newark ) , and other New Jersey Transit rail operations . The line opened to the public on July 26 , 2009 . Naming rights . Allianz , a financial services company based in Germany , expressed interest in purchasing naming rights to the stadium . The proposal was for a period of up to 30 years , and was estimated to be valued at somewhere between $ 20 million and $ 30 million USD . However , it sparked protests from New York ' s Jewish community ( the largest outside of Israel ) and the Anti - Defamation League , which opposed the move due to close ties in the past between Allianz and the government of Nazi Germany during World War II . However , Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum , secretary general of the North American Board of Rabbis , agreed that although survivors ' sensibilities are understandable , a naming deal is legitimate . " I have found Allianz to be receptive , to be sensitive and a friend of the Jewish people today , " he said . Allianz already sponsors the venue that inspired the color - change technology for New Meadowlands Stadium : Allianz Arena in Munich . No agreement was reached and talks between Allianz and the teams ended on September 12 , 2008 . On June 10 , 2010 , TMZ . com reported that Ashley Madison , an online dating site marketed primarily to those already in a relationship , made an offer to rename the stadium to AshleyMadison . com Stadium . On June 27 , 2011 , it was reported that insurance company MetLife is in discussions to purchase naming rights to New Meadowlands Stadium . EPA agreement . In June 2009 , the New Meadowlands Stadium Corporation and the EPA signed a memorandum of understanding that outlines plans to incorporate environmentally - friendly materials and practices into the construction and operation of New Meadowlands Stadium . The agreement includes strategies to reduce air pollution , conserve water and energy , improve waste management , and reduce the environmental impact of construction . The goal of the agreement is to save the emission of nearly 1 . 68 million metric tons of carbon dioxide during the stadium ' s construction and its first year of operation . Under this agreement , the stadium construction must use around 40 , 000 tons of recycled steel , recycle 20 , 000 tons of steel from Giants Stadium , install seating made from recycled plastic and scrap iron , and reduce air pollution from construction vehicles by using cleaner diesel fuel , diesel engine filters , and minimizing engine idle times . Other goals of this agreement include providing mass transit options for fans and replacing traditional concession plates , cups and carries with compostable alternatives . The New Meadowlands Stadium Corporation will report the progress on its goals to EPA every six months . Based on the reports , EPA will quantify the benefits of the venue ’ s environmental efforts . Super Bowl . On May 25 , 2010 , it was announced that the stadium would host Super Bowl XLVIII in February 2014 . The NFL requires that a Super Bowl hosting stadium must have a 50 - degree climate or be held in an indoor climate - controlled facility . However , NFL commissioner Roger Goodell would waive this requirement . The stadium was allowed on the ballot because of a " unique , once - only circumstance based on the opportunity to celebrate the new stadium and the great heritage and history of the NFL in the New York region " . Other events . The first concert at the New Meadowlands was New Jersey natives Bon Jovi , who performed four shows at the venue on their The Circle Tour . The second concert at the stadium was Hot 97 ' s Summer Jam . The Eagles performed here on June 10 as part of their summer tour . U2 performed at the stadium on July 20 , 2011 on their U2 360° Tour . The show was originally to be held on July 19 , 2010 , but had to be postponed following Bono ' s emergency back surgery . The show will be the third in the New Jersey / New York area on the U2 360° Tour , the first two being at Giants Stadium on September 23 and 24 , 2009 . The stadium hosted a friendly soccer match between the United States and Brazil on August 10 , 2010 . Brazil won 2 - 0 in front of a near - sellout crowd of 77 , 223 ; the game was played on a temporary grass field . The stadium also hosted a friendly soccer match between the United States and Argentina on March 26 , 2011 . The match was tied 1 - 1 in front of a sellout crowd of 78 , 926 .