Stadium Financing

Dallas Cowboys: AT&T Stadium

Total cost: $1.15 billion

Public financing: $325 million

Private financing: $150 million (NFL), $525 million (Dallas Cowboys)

Capacity: 80,000 seats

The AT&T Stadium was opened in 2009 in Arlington Texas. Public financing voted to give the stadium about 35% of the cost incuring the following increases in the city:

0.5% city sales tax increase
2% city hotel tax increase
5% city car rental tax increase
10% admissions tax
3.5% parking tax
$25 million County contribution

Since it's opening, the stadium has hosted a Superbowl as well as several other high profile events.

What is the financial breakdown and how much of these new stadiums are paid for by the public?

In order to get a good idea of how new NFL stadiums are financed, we'll take a look at the new stadiums of the top 5 grossing teams in the NFL: Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, New York Giants, New England Patriots, and the Houston Texans

New York Giants: Metlife Stadium

Total cost: $1.6 billion

Public financing: None

Private financing: $1.6 billion

Capacity: 82,500

The Metlife stadium is financed 100% by private means such as NFL G-3/G-4 loans, both the New York Giants and Jets, and Metlife who is paying $17-20 million annually for 25 years. The stadium opened in 2010.

Washington Redskins: FedEx Stadium

Total cost: $250 million

Public financing: $70.5 million

Private financing: $180 million

Capacity: 79,000

The FedEx stadium was opened in 1997 and the public payed 28% of the total cost by contributing towards the infrastructure. Part of the public financing comes from FedEx, which is paying $7.6 million annually until 2025. The stadium's capacity has been decreased over the years to make room for other developments.

Total cost: $440 million

Public funding: $72 million

Private funding: $340 million

Capacity: 68,756

The Gillete Stadium was opened in 2002 and the public contributed about 17% towards the infrastructure. After several referendums to gain NFL financing failed, the owner of the team used his own money to get the new stadium started. Also interesting, is that CMGI originally bought the naming rights but Gillete took it when CMGI faced financial failures.

New England Patriots: Gillette Stadium

Houston Texans: NRG/Reliant Stadium

Total cost: $474 million

Public funding: $289 million

Private funding: $185 million

Capacity: 71,500

The Reliant Stadium opened it's doors in 2002 and its financing is unique in that more than half of it was paid for by the public due to the following increases:

2% increase in County hotel/motel tax
5% increase in County auto rental tax
10% parking tax
$1.00 per ticket surcharge
Sales tax rebate on in-stadium spending

In terms of private funding, Reliant Energy is paying $10 million annually through 2032.