What’s the Difference Between an Arena and a Stadium?
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The word stadium conjures up something massive. Consider AT&T Stadium. Home to the Dallas Cowboys, the venue seats roughly 80,000—up to 105,000 can be accommodated with standing-room expansion—and occupies 3.1 million square feet of space. Even larger is Michigan Stadium, the field for the University of Michigan, which can fit 115,000.
While stadiums are often enormous, that’s not strictly what separates them from being labeled an arena. So what’s the difference between the two?
The qualifying difference between an arena and a stadium is whether it’s a permanently enclosed structure. Stadiums are open-air construction that feature tiered seating around a sports field or stage. They have no permanent roof or walls.
Arenas, in contrast, are closed to the elements. They also host sporting events, like hockey or arena football, but tend to be smaller and better suited for other live attractions like music or plays.