While every single NFL football stadium on this list might be long and gone after being demolished. All of these stadiums still live on in history as the home for some of the greatest, worst, and most interesting Super Bowls. History was made in these stadiums, records were set and broken in these stadiums, and all of these stadiums would continue to live on because of it. Here are all the NFL stadiums that hosted Super Bowls but no longer exist. While the stadium might be gone, sports fans will always remember these moments in NFL history.
Miami Orange Bowl
The Miami Orange Bowl earned its name from being the home of the college Orange Bowl for many years. From 1938 to 1966 the stadium hosted the college football bowl game, but that wouldn’t be the only huge football event that would take place in this stadium throughout its tenure. The Miami Orange Bowl was the home for five Super Bowls before it was closed down on January 28, 2006. The first Super Bowl hosted at the stadium was Super Bowl II between the Green Bay Packers and Oakland Raiders. This Superbowl wouldn’t be a forgettable one, and it really didn’t have to do anything to do with the teams themselves. The Packers went into the championship game as the favorites to win. No one believed the Raiders would stand a chance against the Packers, and they didn’t. The end score was 33-14 with the Packers coming out on top. What made this Super Bowl so memorable was the Green Bay Packers making history. They were the first NFL team to win back-to-back Super Bowls, and to have a quarterback win the Superbowl MVP award back-to-back.
Going onto the next Superbowl at the stadium set another record for the Miami Orange Bowl because Superbowl III would also be played at the stadium, probably making it the first stadium in NFL history to host back-to-back Super Bowls. This game was between the New York Jets and the Baltimore Colts, and the game is considered to be one of the biggest upsets in football and sports history. At the time a lot of sports analysts and fans believed the AFL was just significantly less talented than NFL teams. So no one was expecting the New York Jets to be able to defeat the Baltimore Colts, but the Jets did come out on top by defeating the Colts 16-7. The Jets quarterback at that time Joe Namath showed at Miami Touchdown Club three days before the game, and declared his team would win. He and his team backed up his word, putting up 16 points by the fourth quarter while holding the Colts to 0 for the majority of the game. This Superbowl is also another focus point in NFL history played at the stadium, because this matchup is no longer possible. Because both of these football teams now play in the same conference today.
The NFL championship game would skip a year and be played elsewhere before returning to the Miami Orange Bowl in 1971 and the Super Bowl V would be the next one played here. This Super Bowl made history by being the first NFL-modern era championship game, and the first Super Bowl to be played on artificial turf. It was also the first Super Bowl to be played after the merging of the AFL and NFL. The matchup was between the Baltimore Colts and the Dallas Cowboys who were making their first appearance, and people often refer to this Super Bowl as Blunder Bowl or Blooper Bowl simply because it was filled with many penalties, turnovers, missed opportunities, and other mistakes. The Baltimore Colts ended up coming out on top winning 16-13. This is regarded as one of the worst Super Bowls in history, but a lot of people respect it because the Colts were able to redeem themselves after losing Super
Bowl III just two years ago in the same stadium. Till this day this is also the only Super Bowl to award a player on the losing team with the Super Bowl MVP award. Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley won the award after making two interceptions. Orange Bowl wouldn’t host another Super Bowl until four years later in 1976 Super Bowl X would be hosted at the stadium. The matchup being between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys. This was one of the most popular Super Bowls in history being played between two teams with such different styles. The Steelers dominated teams through the year with a “Steel Curtain defense, and a strong running game. While the Cowboys had to push through as a wildcard team to make it to the championship game with their offense and “flex defense. The 1976 Cowboys were the first wildcard team to ever make it to the Superbowl, but they ended up losing to the Steelers who won their second Super Bowl that year. The end score was 21-16. Lynn Swann became the first wide receiver to win the Superbowl MVP award, ending the game with four receptions, 161 yards, and one touchdown. The Cowboys tried to rally back at the end but Glen Edwards made a game saving interception in the endzone as time expired.
The next Super Bowl to be played at Miami Orange Bowl Stadium would be a repeat, and would top the last one in every way. Super Bowl XIII in 1979 was a rematch between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys who were both trying to become the first teams in NFL history to win three Super Bowls, and this was the first rematch in Super Bowl history as well. The Dallas Cowboys were coming off a Super Bowl winning season from the previous year, and were defending their title. While the Pittsburgh Steelers were coming off an impressive football season where they went 14-2. It was a hard fought win with the Steelers being on top most of the game, but the Cowboys were never too far behind. In the end the Cowboys just made too many mistakes which would cost them the game. In a close matchup the Steelers won the game 35-31. The Dallas Cowboys were the first defending Super Bowl champions to lose the Super Bowl the following year, and the first team to score thirty points or more and still lose. The Miami Orange Bowl held some of the best and worst Super Bowls in NFL history, and no doubt there were a lot of missed opportunities. This stadium was the home of the 1972 Miami Dolphins who are the only team in NFL history to go undefeated, but their Super Bowl wasn’t played in the Orange Bowl. But despite all that this stadium still had a pretty good run with the championship game.
Tulane Stadium
Tulane Stadium was the third Tulane stadium to exist replacing the second one, and was located in New Orleans. The stadium was the home of three Super Bowls before being closed down August 3, 1975.
Super Bowl IV played in 1970 was the first Super Bowl to be played in Tulane Stadium. The matchup was between the Minnesota Vikings and the Kansas City Chiefs. This was at the time where the AFL and NFL were still separate, and everyone considered the NFL to be the better conference. Despite the New York Jets, an AFL team winning the previous Super Bowl, no one believed the Chiefs stood a chance, and the Vikings would win. The Vikings posted a 12-2 record and the Chiefs went 11-3, and were in the first Super Bowl, but lost in an embarrassing game. Where they were dominated by the Green Bay Packers who defeated them 35-10. History would not repeat itself as the Kansas City Chiefs would be the one to dominate the Vikings this time. The Chiefs would win the game 23-7 and it was also the first time a head coach held a microphone during a Super Bowl. Chiefs head coach Hank Stram was mic’d up at some point during the game. Tulane Stadium would go on to host the 1972 championship game was played at the stadium as well. The 1972 Super Bowl was a matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins. The Cowboys entered this game with a reputation of not being
able to win big playoff games. As the Dallas Cowboys had lost not only the earlier Super Bowl V, but also notable playoff games in back-to-back years 1966-1967. The Miami Dolphins were making their first Super Bowl appearance, and they would lose to the Cowboys 24-3. The Cowboys dominated the Dolphins throughout the games setting multiple records along the way. They set the record for most rushing yards, the most first downs, and fewest points allowed. For forty-seven years the Dallas Cowboys held the record of being the only NFL team to not let their opponent score a touchdown in a Super Bowl. This was also the last Super Bowl to be blacked out on the TV market as the NFL would finally go on to change their broadcasting rules. The Super Bowl would take a two-year break before returning to Tulane Stadium where the last Super Bowl to be played here was. Super Bowl IX in 1975 between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings. Both teams had great defenses and future Hall of Fame quarterbacks, the Steelers being led by Terry Bradshaw with the “Steel Curtain” defense. The Vikings were led by Fran Tarekenton and the “Purple People Eaters” defense. It was Pittsburgh’s first Super Bowl appearance, and the Vikings second appearance. The game was a defensive battle with the only score in the first half coming from a safety in the endzone. It was the first safety in Super Bowl history scored when the Vikings downed Tarkenton in his own endzone. The Pittsburgh Steelers would win the game with an end score of 16-6. Tulane Stadium wouldn’t host anymore Super Bowls after IX, but the ones it did host will always be remembered.
San Diego Stadium
San Diego Stadium went through four name changes throughout its history, and hosted nearly the same amount of Super Bowls. Before the stadium was closed down in March 2020 it was the home of three Super Bowls with the first one being in 1988. Super Bowl XXII was a matchup between the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos. At the time the stadium went by the name Jack Murphy Stadium and it was the first Super Bowl to be played at this location. This Super Bowl came at the end of a season that was cut short because of a players strike. The strike ended up killing the defending Super Bowl champs New York Giants chance to make another appearance, because the team ended up losing all three of their last games that were played by the replacement players, causing the Giants to miss the playoffs altogether. The Broncos were making their third appearance in the Superbowl led by quarterback John Elway, and the Redskins were on their fourth appearance led by quarterback Doug Williams who entered the season as a backup quarterback. Doug was the first African American to not only start in an NFL playoff game, but also a Super Bowl. Doug Williams carried the Redskins to a win beating the Broncos 42-10, after trailing behind the Broncos in the first half. The Redskins scored 35 points in the second quarter with Doug Williams throwing four touchdowns becoming the first quarterback to do so, and he was also the first African American quarterback to win a Super Bowl.
When the time came for the stadium to once again host a Super Bowl it was going by the name Qualcomm Stadium, and it was 1998. Super Bowl XXXII was between the Green Bay Packers who were the defending Super Bowl champions, and the Denver Broncos who lost a Super Bowl in this stadium just ten years ago. It was also the second time the championship game was held in the city of San Diego. The Broncos won the game in a tough matchup 31-24 finally snapping a four game losing streak in the Super Bowl. They also ended a 13-game drought for AFC teams in the Super Bowl. The Green Bay Packers were the favorites going into the game, and kept up with the Broncos for most of the game. Until the Broncos running back Terrel Davis was able to score a go ahead touchdown putting the Broncos up.
Terrell Davis, who missed most of the second quarter with a headache, won the Super Bowl MVP. He rushed for 157 yards, caught two passes for eight yards, and scored a Super Bowl record three rushing towards. Till this day Terrell Davis is still the most recent running back to win the Super Bowl MVP award. The Denver Broncos made history by becoming the first franchise to play two different Super Bowls in the same stadium twice.
The last Super Bowl to be played in this stadium was in 2003, and it was Super Bowl XXXVII between the Oakland Raiders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This would be the last Super Bowl to be played in January as well. There were a lot of special things about this Super Bowl for starters it was the first matchup between the NFL’s number one ranked offense and the NFL’s number one ranked defense. The Oakland Raiders had the best offense in the league while the Buccaneers had the best defense. The Super Bowl has two nicknames the first one being the Gruden Bowl because the Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden had been the head coach for the Raiders just a year ago before a trade sent him to Tampa. This made the matchup a bit more interesting because this was the Buccaneers first Super Bowl appearance, going up against their head coach’s old team. People also refer to this Super Bowl as the Pirate Bowl because both teams have pirate-themed mascots, and logos. The saying that offense wins games while defense wins championships couldn’t be more true in this story. The Buccaneers dominated the Raiders who struggled offensively throughout the entire game. The Buccaneers came out on top winning the game 48-21 and bringing Tampa their first Super Bowl championship home. The Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon threw a Super Bowl record five interceptions and was sacked five times. Dexter Jackson, the safety for the Buccaneers, caught two of those interceptions and won the Super Bowl MVP. This would be the last Super Bowl to be played in the stadium.
Tampa Stadium
Tampa Stadium managed to host two Super Bowls before being closed down on September 13, 1998. The first Super Bowl was in 1984 and it was Super Bowl XVIII between the Washington Redskins and the Los Angeles Raiders. The Redskins entered the championship game as the favorites by not only being the defending Super Bowl champions, but held the record for allowing the fewest rushing yards that NFL season, and setting a record of scoring 541 points overall. The Raiders would still end up defeating the Redskins 38-9 absolutely dominating Washington, and till this day the Raiders 38 points is still the most points to be scored by an AFC team in a Super Bowl. This was the first time a Los Angeles based NFL team brought home a Super Bowl, and it wouldn’t be done again until the Los Angeles Rams did in 2022. Marcus Allen who was also a Heisman trophy winner won the Super Bowl MVP award. The running back ran the ball twenty times for 191 yards, caught two passes for eighteen yards, and scored two touchdowns.
The second and last Super Bowl to be played in Tampa Stadium was in 1991 Super Bowl XXV. A matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Giants making this the first Super Bowl to be played by two teams representing the same state. The Buffalo Bills were making their first appearance at the Super Bowl entering the game with an explosive offense. The New York Giants shared the same record with their opponent 13-3 and had a great offense to complement their dominating defense. The New York Giants won the game 20-19 after the Bills kicker missed the game-winning field goal.
Everyone refers to the moment as Wide Right or 47 Wide Right after the kicker Scott Norwood missed the 47-yard field goal. Some Bills fans call it The Miss instead, and this moment would kick off a four game losing streak in the Super Bowl for the Buffalo Bills. This is the only Super Bowl in history to be
decided by one point, and the first one where neither team turned the ball over. The Giants running back Ottis Anderson won the Super Bowl MVP carrying the ball 21 times for 102 yards, and one touchdown. This was the last Super Bowl that Tampa Stadium hosted, and it goes down in history as one of the greatest games. In the NFL’s 100 Greatest Games film this Super Bowl is ranked at number 10.
Georgia Dome
Georgia Dome was the home of the Atlanta Falcons who some would say just barely missed their chance to play a Super Bowl in their home city. Some would consider it ironic that the last game to be played in the stadium was between the Atlanta Falcons and the Green Bay Packers. The Falcons came out on top 44-21 propelling them into their second Super Bowl in history, but that Super Bowl wasn’t hosted in the Georgia Dome. Although the stadium would host two Super Bowls before being closed down officially June 9, 2017. The first Super Bowl the Georgia Dome hosted was in 1994. Super Bowl XXVIII between the Dallas Cowboys and the Buffalo Bills. This would be a rematch from Super Bowl XXVII that took place in 1993, and the only time two teams would meet up in back-to-back Super Bowls. The Cowboys
were the defending Super Bowls champions while the Bills were trying to snap a three-game losing streak in the Super Bowl. The Cowboys defeated the Bills 30-13 going on to win their fourth championship tying up with the Steelers and the 49ers. The Buffalo Bills would set the record for going 0-4 in the Super Bowl. The Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith won the Super Bowl MVP award running the ball thirty times for 132 yards, catching 4 passes for 26 yards, and scoring two touchdowns.
The second and last Super Bowl to be played at the Georgia Dome was in 2000, and it was Super Bowl XXXIV between the St.Louis Rams and the Tennessee Titans. This was the first and only time in Super Bowl history the matchup was between two teams who were both trying to get their first Super Bowl championship. The game was mostly a defensive battle with the Rams scoring three field goals and a touchdown to have the lead in the third quarter, but the Titans would tie the game up near the end. This was the first time an opponent had erased a deficit of more than ten points in a Super Bowl. The Rams would take the lead again with a 73-yard touchdown from wide receiver Isaac Bruce, and what happened next is. What makes the Super Bowl so memorable, and the sports world knows this moment as One Yard Short and The Tackle. It was the final play in the game and the Titans managed to reach the Ram’s ten yard line with six seconds remaining in the game. The Ram’s linebacker Mike Jones made a game-saving tackle on the Titans wide receiver Kevin Dyson stopping him one yard short of scoring a touchdown to tie up the game. The St.Louis Rams went on to win the game 23-16 and their quarterback Kurt Warner became the first undrafted quarterback, first-year starter to win a Super Bowl, and he was named MVP as well. This Super Bowl was featured in the NFL Greatest Games and was called the Longest Yard.
Pontiac Silverdome
Pontiac Silverdome got the honor of hosting one Super Bowl before being closed down in February 2006. In 1982 Super Bowl XVI between the San Francisco 49ers and the Cincinnati Bengals who were both making their first Super Bowl appearances. This was the first Super Bowl to be played in a cold city, and it was thanks to the domed stadium. The crowd didn’t have to suffer from the cold weather, but other things were still affected like traffic. Even if the Bengals had more yards than the 49ers they would still go on to lose 26-21. It was the first time in Super Bowl history a team outgained their opponent in yards and still lost the game. But the Bengals also gave the ball up to the 49ers who only turned it over once,
and that made all the difference in the game. The 49ers were able to build a 20-0 lead thanks to those turnovers by halftime. Joe Montana won the Super Bowl MVP award completing 14 of 22 passes for 157 passing yards, one passing touchdown, rushing for eighteen yards, and one rushing touchdown. The Bengals tight end Dan Ross caught eleven receptions which is still a Super Bowl record for a tight end today.
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Hubert Humprey stadium shares a few things in common with Pontiac Silverdome. Both were dome stadiums with fiberglass fabric roofs, and both were stadiums located in a cold city. Hubert Humprey, like Pontiac Silverdome, also got the chance to host a Super Bowl just a few years after the Silverdome. Super Bowl XXVI was played in 1989, and it was the first time the championship game was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was a matchup between the Washington Redskins and the Buffalo Bills who both finished the postseason with the best record in their conference. The Redskins went 14-2 leading the league in points putting up 485. The head coach Joe Gibbs was seeking his third Super Bowl victory with a third string quarterback. The Bills went 13-3 to make their second Super Bowl appearance led by their quarterback Jim Kelly with a no-huddle offense, but their defense was ranked second to last in allowing yards. The Redskins dominated most of the game gaining a 17-0 lead, and the Bills never gained the momentum needed to win. The Redskins would win the game, and their third Super Bowl title with an end score of 37-24. The third string quarterback Mark Ryipen would win the Super Bowl MVP completing 18 of 33 passes with 292 passing yards, two touchdowns, and only one interception. This was the only Super Bowl to be played at Hubert Humprey.
Stanford Stadium
Stanford Stadium got the opportunity to host one Super Bowl before being demolished in 2005. It was Super Bowl XIX played in 1985 in Stanford Stadium, and it was the first Super Bowl held in San Francisco. The matchup was between the San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins making it the second Super Bowl in history where the game was being held at one of the participant’s home cities. This Super Bowl generated a lot of buzz as everyone saw it as a matchup between two of the greatest quarterbacks in history Dan Marino leading the Dolphins, and Joe Montana leading the 49ers. It was the battle of quarterbacks as this became the first Super Bowl in history where both starting quarterbacks put up over 300 passing yards. But in the end Joe Monatana and the 49ers came out on top winning the game 38-16 winning the Super Bowl in their home city. The teams combined for 851 offensive yards, and the 49ers trailed only once in the game 10-7 in the first quarter. After that the 49ers took over and Joe Montana would go on to break records. He won the Super Bowl MVP throwing for a record 331 passing yards with three touchdowns, and rushing for a record 59 yards with one rushing touchdown. The San Francisco 49ers finished with 537 total yards breaking the Oakland Raiders’s record of 429 yards in a Super Bowl. This was the first Super Bowl to be televised by ABC and feature a U.S. president in the coin toss ceremony. Ronald Reagan appeared on live time from the White House to flip the coin. This Super Bowl just happened to fall on the same day Ronald was inaugurated for his second term.
