MLS: Ranking all 24 Major League Soccer stadiums

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 08: A wide view of the pitch from the stands of Mercedes Benz Stadium just prior to the start of the 2018 Audi MLS Cup Championship match between Atlanta United and the Portland Timbers at the Mercedes Benz Stadium on December 08, 2018 in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 08: A wide view of the pitch from the stands of Mercedes Benz Stadium just prior to the start of the 2018 Audi MLS Cup Championship match between Atlanta United and the Portland Timbers at the Mercedes Benz Stadium on December 08, 2018 in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
15 of 24
Next
MLS, LA Galaxy, Zlatan Ibrahimovic
CARSON, CA – MAY 11: Zlatan Ibrahimovic #9 of Los Angeles Galaxy during the Los Angeles Galaxy’s MLS match against New York City FC at the Dignity Health Sports Park on May 11, 2019 in Carson, California. NYCFC won the match 2-0 (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images) /

10. LA Galaxy – Dignity Health Sports Park – Carson, CA

Capacity: 27,000

Opened: 2003

Pros: Soccer-specific, natural surface, covered seating, sightlines

Cons: That OTHER tenant, location, heat 

One of the few MLS parks that has withstood the test of time and remained an elite venue, the home of the five-time champs was ahead of its time when it opened for soccer in 2003. Although the venue has been much maligned by those in the NFL (the Los Angeles Chargers are playing at Dignity Health Sports Park while their new stadium gets built in Inglewood), this is not an NFL venue. At the end of the day, this stadium is built for soccer, and at hosting that, it does an admirable job. Clear sightlines, a natural surface, overhangs for shade, and that sweet, sweet SoCal weather make watching a game here as enjoyable as anywhere in MLS. It’s not downtown, so again, that hurts, but it has been a focal point of the MLS scene for ten plus years now, and for good reason. Also, Zlatan.