Last month I shared a post about the importance of place in Stadium design and where American stadiums fall short. A long-time reader pointed out to me that while I was quick to call out issues, I was slow to suggest any solutions. Fair point. With little else to talk about in New York sports– Jets are flying under the radar, Islanders are months into their golf season, and I am too exasperated to talk Mets – let’s revisit.
Like it or not, MetLife is the stadium we have. And while tearing it down and starting over might feel cathartic, it’s not realistic. Instead, here are my suggestions for salvaging MetLife.
What I argued in my original post still stands: stadiums work best when they’re integrated into the communities around them. That’s tough in the NYC metro area. In the early 2000s to attract the Olympics, a new football stadium was proposed for Hudson Yards. This would have been an absolute dream, but it is completely unrealistic to carve out prime Manhattan real estate for something used eight Sundays a year. The success of the Hudson Yards development has proven to have been the wise choice. East Rutherford isn’t perfect, but it’s practical. The challenge is to make MetLife feel less like a stranded spaceship and more like part of the region it’s supposed to serve.
1. Transit That Works
New Jersey Transit has the physical infrastructure to service MetLife. The current shuttle between Secaucus and the stadium has double tracks and multi-platform stations designed for large crowds. However, the operations are deplorable. I once spent 90 minutes on a platform post-game. It was 45 minutes post-game before the first shuttle departed. Fortunately, these are operational failures, not capacity constraints. The World Cup will be coming to MetLife in the summer of 2026. NJ Transit has made major efforts to improve their performance, taking lessons learned from their counterparts in France following the most recent Olympics. This will be a huge opportunity to show their improvement—I am hopeful they rise to the occasion, and New York fans will benefit for years to come.
2. Escape the Asphalt, Extend the Experience
Right now, MetLife is surrounded by dead space. You leave a game and head straight into a traffic snarl. That’s a missed opportunity. Across the highway sits the American Dream mall—a massive complex with restaurants, rides, and even an indoor ski slope (it is as completely absurd as you think it is but also kind of awesome). But the two sites are severed, only connected by an indirect pedestrian bridge which is nearly inaccessible on game day. There is no reason the post-game cant be as much of a draw as the game itself (especially after watching the Jets and Giants).
Philly shows how it can work. Xfinity Live is a massive bar and event space in the center of its stadium complex that keeps the energy alive after the game. Philly’s stadium access is just as terrible but at least there is something holding fans attention post-game. That kind of momentum is exactly what MetLife could capture by connecting with and activating its surroundings.
3. Make It Look Like Home
MetLife’s exterior is a boring silver jewelry box that is depressingly short on rings (sorry, couldn’t help it). It reflects none of the character or grit of the iconic New York City architecture. A full aesthetic overhaul isn’t realistic, but the area’s identity can be interjected in other ways—public art, murals, architectural flourishes, even lighting that evokes the skyline.
4. Celebrate What’s Local
To their credit, MetLife has embraced New York culinary staples—pizza, deli sandwiches, hot dogs. MetLife should continue to highlight regional identity through local concessions, craft vendors, and partnerships with local small businesses. Stadiums should be economic engines for the surrounding area.
MetLife isn’t getting torn down, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make it better. There’s room for smart, focused changes that make the experience smoother, more connected, and worth showing up and, equally important, sticking around for. These aren’t complicated ideas. They’re simple adjustments that respect fans’ time, improve movement, and give the place some character. Not every fix needs steel and concrete.
The World Cup is under a year away, and New York City will sit at the center of the sporting world. Fortunately, these improvements don’t require massive capital—just conscious decision-making from NJ Transit, MetLife operators, and event organizers. I’m cautiously optimistic this event can be the push we need to elevate the everyday and make American sports fans proud to play host to the world.
This is an awesome follow up to Part 1. Particularly because, as you note, NYC will be hosting the World Cup finals next year, and the changes you mention (like adding murals and lighting) are low lift that would add a lot of character to improve how NYC represents itself on the global stage. If we can’t have championships, at least let’s have a venue that we can enjoy more and are proud of!