Metlife Stadium, Home of the New York Jets 

In case you haven't already noticed, the National Football League is a money making machine. Whether it's through ticket sales, merchandise, fantasy football, television deals or corporate sponsors, the company is making money at every turn. Corporations throughout the United States have taken advantage of the league's popularity by purchasing the naming rights to the majority of the league's 31 NFL stadiums. This move nets each team millions of dollars in additional revenue each season. 

NFL stadiums with no corporate naming rights include Soldier Field (Chicago Bears), Paul Brown Stadium (Cincinnati Bengals), Lambeau Field (Green Bay Packers), Oakland Alameda Coliseum (Oakland Raiders), Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Los Angeles Rams) and Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City Chiefs). In 2017, the Atlanta Falcons will debut their new home stadium, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. Here is a list of the most expensive stadium naming rights deals in the National Football League. 

 

University of Phoenix Stadium, Home of the Arizona Cardinals

1. University of Phoenix Stadium, Home of the Arizona Cardinals.

The University of Phoenix is a Tempe, Arizona based higher learning corporation. The company purchased the naming rights to the Arizona Cardinals' home stadium in 2006. The sponsorship agreement expires in 2026 and will pay the Arizona Cardinals organization $154.5 million for 20 years or $7.7 million per season. 

 

 

M&T Bank Stadium, Home of the Baltimore Ravens

2. M&T Bank Stadium, Home of the Baltimore Ravens.

M&T Bank is a commercial bank holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. When the bank purchased Baltimore based Allfirst Bank, it wanted to expand the M&T Bank brand in the Maryland area. In May 2014, M&T Bank extended the naming rights of it's previous deal. The new sponsorship agreement will begin in 2017, expire in 2027 and will pay the Baltimore Ravens organization $60 million for ten seasons or $6 million per season. 

 

 

New Era Field, Home of the Buffalo Bills 

3. New Era Field, Home of the Buffalo Bills.

New Era Cap Company, founded in Buffalo, purchased the naming rights to the Buffalo Bills home stadium in 2016. The naming rights deal will pay the Buffalo Bills organization $35 million for seven seasons and will expire in 2023. New Era Field was previously called Ralph Wilson Stadium, named after Ralph Wilson, the team's owner.  

 

 

Bank of America Stadium, Home of the Carolina Panthers

4. Bank of America Stadium, Home of the Carolina Panthers.

Bank of America, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, purchased the naming rights to the Carolina Panthers home stadium in 2004. The naming rights deal will expire in 2024 and will pay the Carolina Panthers organization $140 million for twenty years or $7 million per season. The stadium previously operated as Ericcson Stadium, named after the telecommunications company Ericcson. 

 

 

FirstEnergy Stadium, Home of the Cleveland Browns

5. FirstEnergy Stadium, Home of the Cleveland Browns.

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company based out of Akron, Ohio. In 2013, the company purchased the naming rights to the Cleveland Browns home stadium. The deal expires in 2030 and will pay the Cleveland Browns organization $102 million for 17 seasons or $7 million per season. FirstEnergy Stadium previously operated as Cleveland Browns Stadium before Browns ownership sold the venue's naming rights. 

 

 

AT&T Stadium, Home of the Dallas Cowboys

6. AT&T Stadium, Home of the Dallas Cowboys.

Telecommunications giant AT&T purchased the naming rights to the Dallas Cowboys home stadium in 2013. The terms of the deal were undisclosed although experts say the deal pays the Dallas Cowboys organization $17-$19 million per season. AT&T also owns the naming rights to the home stadiums of the San Antonio Spurs and San Francisco Giants.  

 

 

Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium, Home of the Denver Broncos

7. Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium, Home of the Denver Broncos.

Sporting goods chain 'Sports Authority' purchased the naming rights to the Denver Broncos home stadium in 2011. The sponsorship agreement was expected to pay the Denver Broncos organization $150 million for twenty seasons through 2035. However, after Sports Authority declared bankruptcy in 2016, the Denver Broncos began pursuing other sponsors to put their name on the stadium. The venue currently operates as Mile High Stadium and was previously named Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium.  

 

 

Ford Field, Home of the Detroit Lions

8. Ford Field, Home of the Detroit Lions.

Ford Motor Company was one of the corporations that put the city of Detroit on the map. Martha Firestone Ford of the famous Ford family current owns the team. Ford Motor Company pays the Detroit Lions $2 million per season for the stadium's naming rights. The naming rights deal began in 1996 and expires in 2016 although many fans anticipate that the stadium will be called Ford Field indefinitely.  

 

 

NRG Stadium, Home of the Houston Texans

9. NRG Stadium, Home of the Houston Texans.

NRG Energy purchased the naming rights to the Houston Texans home stadium in 2000 before the venue opened in 2002. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas. The deal will expire in 2032 and will pay the Texans $300 million total or more than $9 million per season. The deal is one of the largest sponsorship agreements in professional sports history and was the largest in the National Football League until recently. 

 

 

Lucas Oil Stadium, Home of the Indianapolis Colts

10. Lucas Oil Stadium, Home of the Indianapolis Colts.

Lucas Oil is a California based company that distributes automotive oil and lubricants. With Indianapolis' rich history of auto racing, the company purchased the naming rights to the Indianapolis Colts' home stadium in 2008. The naming rights deal will expire in 2028 and will pay the Indianapolis Colts organization $122 million or $6.1 million per season. 

 

 

Everbank Field, Home of the Jacksonville Jaguars

11. Everbank Field, Home of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Everbank, a Jacksonville based financial services company, purchased the naming rights to the Jacksonville Jaguars' home stadium in 2014. The agreement will expire in 2024 and will pay the Jaguars $43 million or $4.3 million per season. Everbank Field was previously known as Alltel Stadium.

 

 

Hard Rock Stadium, Home of the Miami Dolphins

12. Hard Rock Stadium, Home of the Miami Dolphins.

The Miami Dolphins fan base has been through the ringer when it comes to name changes at their home stadium. The venue has been known as Joe Robbie Stadium, Dolphin Stadium, Land Shark Stadium and Sun Life Stadium to name a few. However, after receiving a major face lift, the Miami Dolphins organization secured a monster naming rights agreement with Hard Rock Cafe International, Inc. The deal will pay the Dolphins $250 million over 18 years (2016-2034) or $13.9 million per season. 

 

 

US Bank Stadium, Home of the Minnesota Vikings

13. U.S. Bank Stadium, Home of the Minnesota Vikings.

The Minnesota Vikings have the newest and one of the most immaculate stadiums in the National Football League in U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings leveraged a hefty sponsorship agreement when Minneapolis banking giant U.S. Bank purchased the naming rights to the stadium. The agreement was signed in 2015 and will expire in 2040. The 25 year agreement will net the Minnesota Vikings organization $220 million or $8.8 million per season. For three seasons, the Vikings played their home games at TCF Bank Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota while awaiting the stadium's construction. 

 

 

Gillette Stadium, Home of the New England Patriots

14. Gillette Stadium, Home of the New England Patriots.

Originally known as CMGI Field when it opened, personal care company Gillette purchased the naming rights to the New England Patriots' home stadium in 2003. Since then, Gillette has been acquired by Proctor and Gamble and has also extended the original naming rights deal with the Patriots. The terms of the new deal has not been disclosed to the public. However, the original naming rights deal netted the New England Patriots organization $105 million for 15 years or $7 million per season. The current sponsorship agreement for Gillette Stadium will expire in 2031. 

 

 

The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Home of the New Orleans Saints

15. Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Home of the New Orleans Saints.

After having spent many years known simply as "The Superdome", luxury automobile company Mercedes-Benz purchased the naming rights to the New Orleans Saints home stadium in 2011. The deal will pay the New Orleans Saints $55 million through 2021 or $5.5 million per season. Mercedes-Benz has also purchased the naming rights to the future home of the Saints' rival Atlanta Falcons; Mercedes-Benz Stadium which will open in 2017.

 

 

Metlife Stadium, Home of the New York Giants and Jets

16. Metlife Stadium, Home of the New York Giants and New York Jets.

The naming rights deal for Metlife Stadium is the largest to date in American professional sports history. The 25 year sponsorship agreement was first signed in 2011 and will expire in 2036. During that time, the New York Giants and New York Jets will collectively amass $400 million total or $16 million each season. Some would argue that it's only right that the stadium commands so much money. It is the only NFL stadium that is home to two different teams, is located in America's largest sports market and is also the largest stadium in the NFL with more than 82,000 seats. 

 

 

Lincoln Financial Field, Home of the Philadelphia Eagles

17. Lincoln Financial Field, Home of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Lincoln National Corporation of Radnor, Pennsylvania purchased the naming rights to the Philadelphia Eagles home stadium in 2002. The naming rights agreement will run until 2023 paying the Eagles organization $140 million total or $6.7 million per season. The stadium sits on the South Philadelphia Sports Complex which houses three stadiums and all four of Philadelphia's professional sports teams. 

 

 

Heinz Field, Home of the Pittsburgh Steelers

18. Heinz Field, Home of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Food processing company H.J. Heinz purchased the naming rights to the Pittsburgh Steelers home stadium in 2001. The agreement will expire in 2021 and net the Pittsburgh Steelers organization a total of $57 million or $2.85 million per season. 

 

 

Qualcomm Stadium, Home of the San Diego Chargers

19. Qualcomm Stadium, Home of the San Diego Chargers.

The naming rights deal for Qualcomm Stadium is one of the smallest sponsorship agreements in NFL history. The deal began in 1997 and expires next year in 2017. During that 20 year span, the San Diego Chargers will have amassed $18 million or $900K per season. Qualcomm is a telecommunications equipment company based out of San Diego, California. League wide rumors suggest that 2016 could be one of the final seasons the San Diego Chargers will play at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chargers organization is seeking a new home stadium in the San Diego area or will potentially relocate to nearby Los Angeles, California. 

 

 

View of the field at Levi's Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers.

20. Levi's Stadium, Home of the San Francisco 49ers.

Levi Strauss & Co is a clothing company headquartered in San Francisco, California. In 2013, the company purchased the naming rights to the San Francisco 49ers brand new home stadium in Santa Clara, California. The sponsorship agreement is set to expire in 2033 and will pay the San Francisco 49ers $220 million or $11 million per season. The agreement is one of the largest naming rights agreements in the National Football League. 

 

 

CenturyLink Field, Home of the Seattle Seahawks

21. CenturyLink Field, Home of the Seattle Seahawks.

CenturyLink is a communications company headquartered in Monroe, Louisiana. In 2004, the company signed a 10 year naming rights deal with the Seattle Seahawks. The original naming rights deal was slated to end in 2014, however, the agreement was extended until 2019.  In total, the sponsorship agreement will be paying the Seattle Seahawks $75 million for 15 seasons or $5 million per season. The stadium spent a few years known as Qwest Field before CenturyLink bought out Qwest. 

 

 

Raymond James Stadium, Home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

22. Raymond James Stadium, Home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Raymond James Financial, an investment and financial services company in St. Petersburg, Florida purchased the naming rights to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers home stadium in 1998. The original deal has since been extended until 2027 making the sponsorship agreement one of the longest running partnerships in the National Football League. The financial terms of the extended naming rights agreement have not been disclosed to the public. 

 

 

Nissan Stadium, Home of the Tennessee Titans

23. Nissan Stadium, Home of the Tennessee Titans.

After having spent a number of years known as LP Field, the Tennessee Titans reached a new naming rights agreement with Nissan Motor Company in 2015. The naming rights agreement will hold for 20 years and expire in 2035. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed to the public although experts estimate that the deal is paying the Tennessee Titans $100 million total or $5 million per season. The Tennessee Titans organization has recently given Nissan Stadium a face lift with numerous upgrades, changes of signage, brand new jumbo trons, etc. 

 

 

Fedex Field, Home of the Washington Redskins 

24. Fedex Field, Home of the Washington Redskins.

Shipping and logistics company Fedex purchased the naming rights to the Washington Redskins' home stadium in 1998. The agreement is one of the longest running naming rights partnerships in professional sports. The deal will expire in 2025 and will pay the Washington Redskins $205 million total or $7.6 million per season. Fedex also owns the naming rights to the Memphis Grizzlies home arena; Fedex Forum

 

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