Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
Vendor: SPS Technology
Client: FIFA World Cup 2026 host stadiums
Cost: N/A
The issue: MetLife Stadium, and a handful of other NFL venues, needed to adhere to FIFA World Cup field-level dimensions.
Gist of the structure: The existing precast concrete in all four corners of MetLife Stadium were surgically demolished and replaced with 6,280 square feet of SPS terraces and floors that matched the surrounding stands, helping the stadium achieve FIFA World Cup hosting compliance. The removable pieces sit on a steel frame that can be taken out for soccer matches and replaced during the NFL season so that the stadium doesn’t lose any capacity for the Giants and Jets.
The new terraces utilize the sandwich plate system (the “SPS” in SPS Technology), two metal plates bonded together by an elastomer, providing strength and flexibility. The space below the seating area serves as team storage.
Noteworthy: SPS Technology produced similar World Cup solutions for Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Lumen Field and Lincoln Financial Field. MetLife Stadium’s seating modifications stand out because they involve permanent structural changes, not temporary additions. Other host venues relied on purely temporary structures that will be dismantled after the tournament rather than integrated into the building.
