20 pro sports teams that could use a new stadium

While the nearby Buffalo Bills will soon get a new home, the NHL Sabres are staying put downtown at KeyBank Center, the team's home since 1996. The team recently announced that it would continue the lease through 2031; however, renovations to the arena began in 2024-25 and will continue going forward. That said, the idea of the new Sabres' home seems appealing, and perhaps it will be the spark that gets this proud franchise winning more consistently.

The Panthers are staying in Charlotte, but they won't be getting a brand-new stadium. Instead,  an $800 million renovation to its current home at Bank of America Stadium has begun. Carolina's home since 1996 is one of the oldest stadiums in the NFL, but its prime uptown location made it. a popular choice for renovation,ing the team relocate.

What we know: the Bears are poised to go ahead with plans for a new multi-purpose, state-of-the-art, likely indoor stadium. What we don't know: the location. Although the city of Chicago would like the team to remain on the near South Side of its iconic lakefront, all signs point to the team relocating to the northwest suburbs. There's a definite consensus that the Bears bungled the renovation of historic Soldier Field back in the early 2000s. The current home isn't bad, and solid for football, but lacks the lavish and all-encompassing amenities of today's new NFL cathedrals. 

Staying in Chicago, but over to MLS. The aforementioned Soldier Field nor the outdated stadium in the southwest suburb of Bridgeview is an ideal home for the Fire. So, it made sense that the city of Chicago approved plans to build a shiny, new gameday facility just south of downtown. The $650 million stadium, slated to seat roughly 22,000, will be comparable to the other modern venues that have popped up in MLS over the past several seasons.

The Broncos will have a new football home in Denver. Exactly when the move will happen remains to be seen (likely after 2030). The team, city, and state officials announced a destination for a new stadium roughly two miles from the Broncos' current home of Empower Field at Mile High. Plans for the stadium, which, like other of the more recent NFL state-of-the-art additions, will also be designed to house other major sporting events like the Super Bowl and Final Four. The Broncos have called Empower Field home since 2001.

In due time, the Jaguars -- and their fans -- will be able to enjoy the "Stadium of the Future." That will be the unrecognizable, lavishly renovated EverBank Stadium, which is expected to be ready by 2028. EverBank, on the site of the original Gator Bowl and the only home the Jags have ever known, will get a remarkable facelift that began in 2025. The Jaguars will continue to play there in 2026, though at a reduced capacity. In 2027, they will relocate to a temporary site in Florida (Gainesville or Orlando), while also playing a portion of their "home" schedule overseas that season.

No doubt, Arrowhead Stadium, the longtime home of the Chiefs, remains among the loudest and most intimidating places in all of sports. However, it opened in 1972, and the buzz is that it could be time for something new when it comes to housing this perennial Super Bowl contender. Currently, there are reports that Arrowhead could be renovated with modern upgrades. Or, a move across the state line to Kansas could potentially bring an entirely new, lavish venue for the Chiefs to call home.

While it remains to be seen what happens with Arrowhead Stadium, the neighboring Royals appear to be headed for a new home. The upgrades to the aging, but still highly functional and attractive, Kauffman Stadium have helped. However, the stadium opened in 1973, and there are reports that a new, upscale stadium with all the modern-day amenities could be built after the team's lease at Kauffman expires in 2030. Of course, those famed fountains need to be included.

The Angels have been playing baseball at the site of their current stadium since 1966, and won't be leaving anytime soon. Sure, Angel Stadium has undergone some necessary and solid upgrades (the outfield rock backdrop is cool) over the years, but it's still a dated facility. While talks for a more modern, amenity-driven stadium have certainly been entertained, the Angels will stay put, at least through the 2032 season.

Isn't it about time the Giants and Jets have their own home stadium again? Now, there is nothing wrong with MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands, and the Giants likely won't be leaving their long-time home any time soon. However, the Jets reportedly would like to head back to Queens, where they played for years at Shea Stadium. However, it's unlikely the Jets get out of the Meadowlands before 2030, at the very earliest.

The reigning NBA champions will soon have a new home court. And, obviously, it's about time. Things couldn't be going better for the franchise, and its new arena, located across from its current home, is slated for a grand opening in 2028. Now, the city will own and operate the venue, which should continue the trend of local pride for a team that is already a perennial title contender. 

Entering the 2025-26 season, the Senators were still making a push for a long-needed new arena. Its current home is some 15 miles outside of downtown Ottawa, and the club and city have a proposed site near Parliament Hill. However, not many details have been released, especially regarding cost, payment, groundbreaking, and an opening date. At least it's a start for a team on the rise that desperately needs a new home.

South Philadelphia is getting another new arena for the Sixers and Flyers, which, at least upon opening, makes the rabid fans of the city happy. That's until both teams struggle and despair sets in. Now, fans will have to wait until at least 2030, but likely '31, for the new facility, which will again be situated in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, and replace the team's current home at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Also of note, the new arena will be home of Philadelphia's WNBA expansion franchise, which will begin play in 2030.

Currently known as the Enterprise Center, this has been the home of the Blues since 1994. Since then, the Cardinals got an exceptional new ballpark, and an MLS expansion team has a stellar pitch nearby. So, why not the Blues? Though the arena has been renovated and updated, isn't it about time the Blues get a fancy new barn to celebrate and show off? 

The Sounders have been good enough to fill their massive home pitch at Lumen Field, which is also best known for housing the NFL's Seahawks. However, for years, the Sounders have entertained the idea of playing at a soccer-only venue. That remains the case, and reports have surfaced the club could have a new, more intimate home pitch near its training facility at Longacres when the lease with Lumen runs out in 2032.  

No professional sports franchise needs a new place to play than the Rays. Sadly, hurricane damage to the ageing, out-of-date domed Tropicana Field forced the team to play at its nearby minor-league facility in 2025. The plan is to get back to The Trop in '26, then, down the road, build a new ball yard. The team and city of St. Petersburg agreed to a $1.3 billion stadium deal, but that, reportedly, is on hold.

Yes, yes, the Rogers Centre (it will always be the SkyDome) recently underwent a serious renovation to make it cozier for watching the Blue Jays play baseball. Updated amenities, such as food choices, also help, but the club seems to be in need of a baseball-first venue. More intimate, yet retaining some of the unique and beloved aspects of its current home. Not sure if this will happen, but Jays fans deserve something special when it comes to their live baseball experience.

One of the more contentious stadium situations involves the MLS Whitecaps, which reports are that it is on the verge of being sold. While the team's play on the pitch continues to be competitive, the franchise's days in Vancouver could be numbered if a new stadium can't be built in the city or area. Especially after the league commissioner noted over the summer that the team needed its current home at B.C. Place, a rather large and busy venue that has caused scheduling conflicts with the Whitecaps, isn't a long-term option. While the team and B.C. Place contend all is well, reports have surfaced that the parties involved have discussed new stadium plans to keep the club in town.

The Caps aren't leaving downtown D.C., but their current home is undergoing a needed makeover to the tune of $800 million. Chinatown's Capital One Arena, which houses both the NHL's Capitals and the NBA's Wizards, should be ready for business in its updated form for the 2027-28 season. This renovation agreement between management and D.C. officials prevented the teams from relocating to nearby Alexandria, Va., where a new arena was to be constructed. Upgrades to the arena concourses, restrooms, and concession options/areas will highly the renovation.

Despite political threats from the White House, the Commanders are keeping their name and going forward with plans for a new football stadium and surrounding entertainment complex on the site of the franchise's long-time home at RFK Stadium (1961-'96) in D.C. Ground is expected to be broken on the projected 65,000-seat, indoor multi-purpose stadium in 2026, with a target opening date if 2030. The Commanders have been in their current home in Landover, MD, since 1997.