Accessible Venue Index

Whether you are going to watch your favourite artist or see an NFL game, some amenities can make your day more comfortable - especially when it comes to accessibility. So, which stadiums are the most accessible?

We researched the largest-capacity stadiums across the US and UK to find the best event spaces based on a number of accessibility factors, including wheelchair seats, accessible toilets, parking, shuttle buses and elevators. We also examined whether these spaces offer sign language interpreters and closed captioning for guests.

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• AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
  Accessibility score: 8.70

AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, placed first in the ranking for the most accessible stadiums, scoring 8.70 out of 10. AT&T is the home of the NFL team Dallas Cowboys, the Cotton Bowl Classic, the Big 12 Championship Game, and the Southwest Classic.

The 80,000-capacity stadium has all the accessible amenities you should expect from such a well-known venue, with a shuttle bus, closed captions, sign language interpreters and accessible restrooms for wheelchair users. It has four elevators and a shuttle service, which begins 2 hours before game time. There are fifteen parking lots at AT&T Stadium, all of which have accessible parking spaces.

• Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  Accessibility score: 8.63

Michigan Stadium, nicknamed The Big House, is the football stadium for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. It is the largest stadium in the US and Western Hemisphere and the third-largest in the world, with a capacity of 107,601.

Scoring 8.63, the home stadium of the University of Michigan's Gridiron football team placed second in the race. Michigan Stadium is wheelchair friendly, with 14 elevators, free wheelchair rental and assistance, and a complimentary accessible shuttle bus service. Michigan Stadium is also just a one-minute walk from the nearest bus stop.

• Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
  Accessibility score: 8.03

The Rose Bowl, an athletic stadium in Pasadena, California, ranked third for the most accessible stadiums. The stadium opened in 1922 and is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Despite being an old stadium, the Rose Bowl offers fantastic accessibility facilities.

The Rose Bowl offers closed captioning and assistive listening devices for other announcements and sign language interpreters. There are four accessible seating areas for fans, which are all wheelchair accessible by elevators. The shuttle bus is wheelchair accessible, and users will have seat priority. The easiest way to get to the stadium by public transport is to arrive at the Memorial Park Station and take a nine-minute walk to the Rose Bowl shuttle bus stop.

• Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas
  Accessibility score: 7.39

The Cotton Bowl, an outdoor stadium in Dallas, Texas, ranked fourth. The stadium opened in 1930 and is the site of the State Fair of Texas, known as Fair Park. The Cotton Bowl offers a free wheelchair rental service with assistance, closed captioning, and sign language interpreters. There are five accessible seating areas for wheelchair users and those who struggle with climbing stairs or walking long distances. There is also a free shuttle bus, which grants front-of-the-line access for disabled guests. The stadium is just a three-minute walk from the nearest bus stop.

• Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
  Accessibility score: 7.18

Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, placed fifth in the ranking. Set on the campus of Ohio State University, it primarily serves as the home venue of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team.

Ohio Stadium ranked fifth place, 7.18 out of 10. It scored high for its accessibility, particularly its seating options for wheelchair users (12 seating areas) and close proximity to the nearest bus stop (a three-minute walk away). There are closed captions, sign language interpreters and accessible bathrooms here, making it a good venue for all guests. However, the stadium does not offer wheelchair rental for visitors, which could cause complications for some guests.

• Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
  Accessibility score: 7.73

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is the home of the Premier League football club of the same name and is a base for the NFL in the UK. With a seating capacity of 62,850 people, it is the third-largest football stadium in England. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium recorded the best score for accessibility, 7.73 out of 10.

The London-based stadium has nine accessible seating areas and offers wheelchair rental and accessible parking. It is one of the few UK stadiums that offers closed captioning and sign language interpreters. The free shuttle service picks up and drops off passengers from two stations in London, and the drop-off point is only a 3-minute walk to the stadium.

• Wembley Stadium, London
  Accessibility score: 7.03

Wembley Stadium placed second on the list, scoring 7.03 out of 10. Wembley Stadium is an association football stadium in Wembley, London. With 90,000 seats, it is the largest stadium in the UK and second-largest in Europe.

Wembley Stadium has 310 seats for wheelchair users across three levels and 147 accessible toilets. There is an accessible shuttle, and the stadium offers audio descriptive commentary headsets. There are also sign language interpreters available for every concert.

• Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
  Accessibility score: 6.86

In the heart of Cardiff, the Millenium Stadium, known since 2016 as the Principality Stadium, is the riverside home of Welsh rugby union, football and concerts. With a total seating capacity of 73,931, it is the largest stadium in Wales and offers many accessible facilities. There are three accessible seating areas, and it is only one of two stadiums in the UK that provides wheelchair rental and assistance. The stadium also has BSL interpreters and closed captions at all performances.

• Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland
  Accessibility score: 6.58

Celtic Park is a football stadium, currently the home of Scottish Premiership team Celtic Football Club, in the Parkhead area of Glasgow. It is the largest football stadium in Scotland, with a capacity of 60,832 people.

Celtic Park ranked fourth place, scoring 6.58. The stadium offers four accessible seating areas and wheelchair rental. Audio descriptive commentary is also available to supporters in the south stand’s visually impaired section and across the stadium to any supporter who requires access.

• Goodison Park, Liverpool
  Accessibility score: 6.23

Goodison Park, a football stadium in the Walton area of Liverpool, was England's first major football stadium when it opened in 1892. Scoring 6.23 out of 10 in the ranking, the home of Premier League football club Everton placed fifth. Goodison Park scored high due to its proximity to the nearest bus stop (1-minute walk) and accessible amenities such as closed captioning, sign language interpreters and shuttle bus service. However, Goodison Park does not offer wheelchair rental. As the stadium is set to be replaced by the brand new Bramley Moor Dock stadium in 2025, Toffees fans will have to hope the new ground replicates Goodison.

Methodology

We began by making a list of the largest US stadiums by capacit from Wikipedia. This data is correct as of 21/02/2024.

Each stadium was ranked on the number of the following features that they have listed on their website:

• Number of accessible seating areas
• Number of accessible parking lots
• Shuttle bus availability
• Walking distance (minutes) from closest public transport station/stop
• Wheelchair rental availability
• Closed captioning
• Sign language interpretation
• Accessible restrooms
• Number of elevators

Before using a ranking system to create an accessibility score out of 10. This data is correct as of 01/03/2024.