The Digital Stadium: What SoFi, Allegiant and Sphere Cost

A digital stadium is a venue designed around large screens and network infrastructure from the start. SoFi Stadium cost an estimated $5 billion, Allegiant Stadium cost $1.9 billion and Sphere cost $2.3 billion, according to published project reports. This guide compares what each venue built, what fans spent at Mercedes-Benz Stadium after prices fell, and what sponsors should ask before they buy.

Originally published December 2009. Rewritten October 10, 2026.

How much did SoFi, Allegiant and Sphere cost?

SoFi Stadium cost an estimated $5 billion, Allegiant Stadium cost $1.9 billion and Sphere cost $2.3 billion, according to the reports listed in the table below. Stadium cost figures are estimates, and some include surrounding development.

Sphere's final cost came in about $1 billion above its original estimate, The Nevadan reported. Design changes, supply chain problems and inflation drove the increase.

What technology did each venue build in?

SoFi Stadium includes the Infinity Screen, a two-sided 4K HDR video board suspended over the field. Samsung built the screen, which was formerly called the Oculus, and Wikipedia lists it at 80 million pixels and 2.2 million pounds. The structure also houses the stadium's 56 5G wireless antennas.

Sphere has two LED surfaces. The interior screen covers about 160,000 square feet at 16K resolution, according to The Nevadan. The exterior Exosphere covers about 580,000 square feet and uses about 1.2 million LED pucks, according to NPR.

Allegiant Stadium hosted Super Bowl LVIII in February 2024. Allegiant Air bought the naming rights, and the terms were not disclosed. The Las Vegas Review-Journal estimated the deal at $20 million to $25 million a year, according to Fox Business.

What did Mercedes-Benz Stadium's fan-first pricing show?

Mercedes-Benz Stadium cut concession prices in 2017, and average spending per fan rose 16 percent, according to the Associated Press. The Atlanta Falcons priced hot dogs at $2, pizza slices at $3 and beer at $5, and the stadium ranked first in a 2017 NFL fan survey for food and beverage quality and value.

The stadium said prices fell about 50 percent and that more than 6,000 fans per game entered up to an hour early to use the menu. Falcons president Rich McKay said fan feedback shaped the pricing decision.

Which new NFL stadiums opened or are coming next?

The Buffalo Bills' New Highmark Stadium held its first event on August 8, 2026, according to beIN Sports. The project cost about $2.1 billion, and New York State and Erie County contributed $850 million in public funds.

The Tennessee Titans' new stadium in Nashville is estimated at $2.1 billion, and the team hopes to open it for the 2027 season, according to the Associated Press.

What should sponsors ask before buying at a digital stadium?

Sponsors should ask for the exact screens, networks and data a deal includes, because venue technology differs from building to building. Four checks apply to every venue.

• Ask which screens carry the placement. SoFi's Infinity Screen is one board over the field, while Sphere's interior and exterior screens are separate surfaces with different sizes.
• Ask for the measurement method. Mercedes-Benz Stadium compared per-fan spending before and after its price change, and sponsors can request the same before-and-after data.
• Treat undisclosed deal terms as estimates. Allegiant's naming-rights fee was never published, so $20 million to $25 million is a newspaper estimate.
• Check each technical claim against the venue's own specification sheet before it goes into a pitch.

Request screen specifications and prior-season measurement data in writing before you sign a sponsorship.

Digital stadium FAQ

What is the most expensive stadium in NFL history?

SoFi Stadium is the most expensive stadium in NFL history, with a cost estimated at $5 billion, according to Antelope Valley Press.

What is Sphere in Las Vegas?

Sphere is a $2.3 billion entertainment venue in Las Vegas that opened on September 29, 2023, with a U2 concert residency. Sphere Entertainment describes its exterior screen as the largest LED screen on Earth, according to NPR.

Did lower concession prices raise spending at Mercedes-Benz Stadium?

Yes. Average spending per fan rose 16 percent in 2017 after the stadium cut concession prices, according to the Associated Press.

Which NFL stadium opened in 2026?

The Buffalo Bills' New Highmark Stadium held its first event on August 8, 2026, according to beIN Sports.

When will the Tennessee Titans' new stadium open?

The Titans hope to open the stadium for the 2027 season, according to the Associated Press.