Football by Boat: Stadiums on or Near the Water

With Super Bowl LVI (56) coming up (Sunday, February 13, 2022 on NBC), we thought it would be fun to give a shout-out to some of the football stadiums that are accessible by water. We’ve already covered MLB stadiums by boat in a previous post, so it just seems fair.  

While the Super Bowl venue, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California (home to the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers), isn’t readily accessible by water or a boat dock for rent, we felt the need to give it a mention. Recently opened in 2020, SoFi is about eight miles from Manhattan Beach and about 10 miles from Marina del Rey near Venice Beach. There’s always Uber and taxis if you happen to need a ride from the coast.

Here are our picks, in no particular order (except maybe geographically), for football stadiums to visit by boat.

Soldier Field: Chicago, Illinois

Photo: Soldier Field Facebook

Home to the Chicago Bears, Soldier Field is the oldest standing NFL stadium in America (it opened in 1924). The stadium has hosted rodeos, concerts, hockey games and circuses (along with an occasional football game). Burnham Harbor, on the shores of Lake Michigan, is the largest in Chicago and sits practically right on the stadium grounds (not really, but you get the picture). There are 1,122 slips for boats up to 100 feet in length, so plenty of room for your trawler, motor yacht or cabin cruiser. Chicago is a popular stop for Great Loop cruisers and offers a wide variety of attractions and activities for the whole crew.

FirstEnergy Stadium: Cleveland, Ohio

Photo: Wikimedia

Sitting on the shores of Lake Erie, FirstEnergy Stadium has 67,895 seats and is home to the Cleveland Browns. You can dock at Rock & Dock Marina, which has slips for boats 30 to 50 feet in length. Get there via the water on The Holiday boat charter from Trident Marine Corporation (pre-game tailgating, or boat-gating parties make this a fun idea) or the Jet Express shuttle boat from Lorain Port Authority. Don’t forget that Cleveland Rocks (or so Drew Carey and The Presidents of the United States say). The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is nearby and always makes a fun day trip, or side trip, from a private boat dock for rent.

Heinz Field: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Photo: Wikimedia

Home of the NFL’s Steelers and University of Pittsburgh’s Panthers, Heinz Field looks out over the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers where they join the Ohio River. It has seating capacity for 68,400 fans. You can tie up along the North Shore Wall, take a Gateway Clipper shuttle from Station Square or embark from a private boat dock for rent. There’s also a water limo that runs from Lock One Wall Marina. In addition to football games, Heinz Field has hosted concerts such as U2, Kenny Chesney, Garth Brooks, The Rolling Stones and Taylor Swift.

M & T Bank Stadium: Baltimore, Maryland

Photo: Wikimedia

M & T Bank Stadium, home stadium of the Baltimore Ravens, is less than a mile from the Inner Harbor, which makes it within easy access to boat slips for rent. The stadium is right beside Oriole Park at Camden Yards, home to the Orioles, and seats 71,008. There are giant video screens at each end zone for excellent views from any seat. You can dock at Harbor East Marina and Baltimore Marine Centers at Inner Harbor. Baltimore Inner Harbor Marina has 135 slips for boats up to 300 feet in length. Visit the waterfront restaurant, which towers three floors over the harbor. Along with football, the stadium has hosted lacrosse games and concerts such as Billy Joel, Beyonce, Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake.

TIAA Bank Field: Jacksonville, Florida

Photo: Wikimedia

Located along the St. Johns River, TIAA Bank Field is the home stadium of the Jaguars and college football’s annual Gator Bowl. You can walk from Metropolitan Park & Marina, which offers 27 acres of space for picnics, walking and public docking along the river. There are 78 slips that can accommodate boats up to 80 feet in length for 72-hour stays. This is a handy option if you don’t have a private boat dock rental along the ICW, Atlantic or St Johns. There are also nearby Jacksonville dock and dine restaurants if you would rather watch the game on the big screen.

Hard Rock Stadium: Miami Gardens, Florida

Photo: Hard Rock Stadium Facebook

Home to the Miami Dolphins, Miami Hurricanes and college football’s Orange Bowl, Hard Rock Stadium has plenty of marinas or a private boat slip rental within easy access to the stadium. Turnberry Marina has 68 slips that can accommodate up to 180-foot vessels. Suntex Marina at Aventura has 100 slips and can accommodate transient boats up to 120 feet in length. The stadium has hosted six Super Bowls as well as concerts, soccer matches, Monster Jam truck events, Miami Open tennis tournaments and more.

Caesar’s Superdome: New Orleans, Louisiana

Photo: Caesar's Superdome Facebook

Caesar’s Superdome (formerly Mercedes Benz Stadium) is home to the New Orleans Saints. Dock at South Shore Harbor Marina or a private boat slip rental along the Mississippi River or Lake Pontchartrain. There are buses and shuttles to the stadium as well as the French Quarter for post-show celebrations. The stadium has seating for 76,468 fans and has hosted concerts, seven Super Bowls, motocross championships, soccer matches and college basketball’s Final Four.

Lumen Field: Seattle, Washington

Photo: Lumen Field Facebook

Lumen Field (formerly CenturyLink Field), is the home stadium of the Seattle Seahawks. It’s located just south of ferry piers and close to Elliott Bay, which provides close proximity to private boat slip rentals. Bell Harbor Marina, about two miles away and the only recreational marina in the area, can take 70 boats up to 150 feet in length. A roof covers about 70 percent of the stadium, which seats 68,740 fans. Enjoy stunning Pacific Northwest views of the Seattle skyline, Puget Sound, the Cascades and Mt. Rainier (Oh, and probably the football game as well). The stadium has hosted concerts, Supercross and Monster Jam truck shows.

Have you found some new stadiums to visit via the water? Let us know who you’re rooting for!