There are opinions, and then there are informed opinions.

My pick for the best NFL stadium: Los Angeles' new SoFi Stadium.

Every now and then, I still read the local newspaper --- maybe out of a sense of loyalty, although it's probably misplaced to some extent. 

I don't have any gripes with anyone that works there; none of the remaining employees from when I was laid off on Aug. 28, 2018, were responsible for me hitting the unemployment line five months before my planned and announced retirement. Nor do I have any animosity toward the former owners from Kenosha, Wis., who had benevolently owned us for more than 50 years before cutting the cord one month before I and four other newsroom employees were let loose. No, that responsibility belongs to the heartless, soulless corporate raiders that swooped in with a pocketful of cash and then started shearing souls from the payroll to meet their image of what a cost-efficient newspaper should be.

But I'm not bitter. No, sir. (Clears throat.)

Anyway, I still religiously check out the gold standard in local tidbits columns, Peter Gobis' collection of vignettes that appears every Friday. Beyond that, however, there's not much in the way of sports opinion being voiced in the Blue Ribbon Daily -- especially locally-based opinion. I mean, everyone can write something about the pro teams even if you've never set foot inside any of the pro venues or locker rooms, but that doesn't make the opinion anything more than just gas being expelled into the wind. But if the writer actually covers the teams in question, perhaps you should pay more attention to what he or she writes.

So anyway, last weekend I happened upon a column written by a nice-enough guy who's a part-time copy and layout editor there these days. His point was to drop the hammer down upon Gillette Stadium. Out of curiosity, I read it.

Taking his cue from a recent ESPN rating of the NFL's stadiums from best to worst (Gillette was ranked fifth-worst, which doesn't surprise me in that there has been open animosity between ESPN and the Patriots organization since Spygate, and it was re-fueled by Deflategate), the writer went on to point out his own perceived shortcomings of the Patriots' home in Foxboro, claiming that the Kraft family has done nothing to upgrade the facility since it opened in 2002.

Which isn't true, of course. 

There have been many improvements made over those 18 years, although not all of them stand out and say hello as I suspect the writer wishes they did. Yes, the Krafts built the Optum Lounge for the rich folks in the south end zone (the writer accurately points out that its construction pissed off a lot of people that had season tickets in the seating areas that were lost to the new lounge). They added larger video scoreboards and have reconfigured and added to the concession stands (the writer didn't seem to notice that), they re-did the locker rooms for the Patriots, the visiting teams and the Revolution, there have been multiple turf replacements and the stadium has been wired and re-wired repeatedly to improve Internet access for fans in the stands. There are others, many of them security-related, but I'll pass on listing those that I know about, because I'm sure there are many more that I don't. And for the purpose of keeping this stadium-related, Patriot Place doesn't count.

I guess what irked me a little about this piece is that the writer agreed with the low ranking for Gillette Stadium while openly admitting he has never been inside another NFL stadium to make an informed comparison. OK, as I said, everyone can have an opinion. There's a famous saying that compares opinions to a certain body part, but I don't need to foster any hostility here. But now, for your reading pleasure, I will offer an informed opinion.

And what makes it informed? Well, at the time that the newspaper took me off the road as a cost-cutting measure at the end of the 2016 season, I had visited all of the cities in which the NFL had teams (and a few others that don't any more, like San Diego and St. Louis). Some new stadiums have opened since then, and of course, two teams have relocated (the Chargers to Los Angeles and the Raiders to Las Vegas), but I'd like to think that I can offer a pretty fair ranking of the stadiums that I visited -- and even a few that I haven't.

Gillette Stadium in Foxboro opened in 2002.

Before I start, though, I will readily note that Gillette Stadium has never been the "best" stadium in the NFL. We didn't need it to be. It was never guaranteed, given New England's fickle fan base, that a stadium opened after the franchise's first Super Bowl victory would continue to be filled without interruption for nearly two full decades. 

No, it isn't as spiffy as some of the palaces that have popped up in the 18 years since it opened. But even as it approaches its mid-life period (studies show that most stadiums have a shelf life of about 30-40 years before replacement is warranted), the one-time CMGi Field is as good as you'll find in most NFL cities. While it does have some shortcomings, it remains a quantum leap above what preceded it. And remember, not one single person other than Robert Kraft was willing to build a state-of-the-art football stadium anywhere closer to Boston without exacting a fearsome toll upon taxpayers.

No, we got what we deserved. Maybe even more than we deserved!

Now, here's my ranking of the NFL's stadiums -- even the ones I haven't visited. Hey, I watch TV and read.

First, I picked a "Top 10" -- with 11 stadiums in it, because I couldn't choose between two.

1. SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Calif. (Rams and Chargers; opened 2020): The last LA stadium in which I set foot was the Coliseum back in 1985, when the Raiders played there. But it's easy to see that Tinseltown went big time with this one. Now, if only fans will actually come to it when it opens to the public.

2. AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas (Cowboys, opened 2009): JerryWorld has been bumped out of the top position, but there's no doubts that everything there was top-shelf -- except that hanging scoreboard that punters can reach with their kicks. I am glad I got to visit Texas Stadium before it was razed, though.

3. State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Ariz. (Cardinals; opened 2006): I attended two Super Bowls there and I don't think it gets the props it deserves. I love how they can maintain a grass field in good shape by wheeling it out into the sunlight in one piece. 

4. Allegient Stadium, Las Vegas, Nev. (Raiders; opened 2020): I'm watching it on TV right now. It's impressive. They call it the Death Star, but we'll see if Vegas fans have the same passion as the nitwits in Oakland. By the way, it has both turf and real grass. UNLV uses the turf field, while the Raiders use a grass field that is grown outside, just as the Cardinals' field is.

MetLife Stadium is home of the Giants and Jets.

5. MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. (Giants and Jets; opened 2010): I still think the New York metro area could have done better, but this one did cost $1 billion to build and it has all the bells and whistles. They replaced the artificial turf before this season, however, and the complaints are pouring in.

6. Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wis. (Packers; opened 1957): Multiple renovations have brought Lambeau into the 21st century, but despite its many expansions and the addition of an entertainment-filled atrium that inspired Robert Kraft to build a real hall of fame for his team, it's still not amenity-filled. Still a lot of flat bench seating in the place. But the Cheeseheads love it, and well they should.

7. Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo. (Chiefs; opened 1972): A rare example of a 1970s stadium that has stood the test of time. The place underwent a $325 million renovation 10 years ago, and it enhanced a great design. The acoustics remind me of Denver's old Mile High Stadium, in which sound stays within the bowl. Great place.

Denver struck gold on the Mile High site.

8. Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colo. (Broncos; opened 2001): One year older than Gillette, the Broncos' next-door replacement for their raucous and rickety former home embraced the new without sacrificing the old -- notably the ability to maintain a high decibel level throughout the game. Amenities are good. Traffic is a mess even with an Interstate right next to it. And they can't keep a name on the place.

9. NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas (Texans; opened 2002): I've made three visits there (two Super Bowls) and I really like the place. There's nothing particularly special, but the press box is at midfield, the Astrodome is next door for nostalgia buffs, and just a short distance down the road is a medical district where the hospitals rival Boston for their quality. Can't go wrong if things go wrong.

10 (tie) -- Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Ga. (Falcons; opened 2017) and Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, La. (Saints; opened 1975): Well, at least they aren't named after Fiat. Weird that both would share a naming partner. Atlanta (which replaces its stadiums every three weeks or so) did well with the freshly-designed successor to the soulless Georgia Dome. Some might balk at the Superdome's inclusion here, but I saw three Super Bowls there (but not the Saints) and the way it rose from the devastation of Katrina like the proverbial phoenix warrants my respect.

My next three are newer stadiums that rise slightly above the pack of newer 21st century ballyards:

12. CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Wash. (Seahawks; opened 2002): Such high grandstands in a compressed but appealing design. No wonder they call the fans the "12th man." It's deafening.

Lincoln Financial Field is Philly's gem.

13. Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pa. (Eagles; opened 2003): Philly got this one right. A large-capacity stadium with a feeling of intimacy. And very easy access!

14: Ford Field, Detroit, Mich. (Lions; opened 2002): I didn't get there because the Pats played there on two Thanksgivings. Surely beats the old Silverdome. Inner-city warehouse figured into the design and there's a glass view of the skyline.

Here are my "all about the same" picks:

15. Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Ind. (Colts; opened 2008): Might rate a higher rank. I love how its design mirrors that of the Butler University Field House on steroids. Great replacement for the RCA Dome.

16. US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minn. (Vikings; opened 2016): Wish I had seen it in person; its striking design is a far cry from the Metrodome. Not a happy place for the Patriots, who lost a Super Bowl there.

17. Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Mass. (Patriots; opened 2002): The second time a stadium in the sticks saved the franchise, and it became the home of the most dominant team of the 21st century. So there. (And yes, I would make the lighthouse look a little more like a lighthouse.)

18. M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Md. (Ravens; opened 1998): One of the first of the new wave of football-specific stadiums, it's not as unique as nearby Oriole Park at Camden Yards and I hate the parking.

19. Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Steelers; opened 2001): Great location, very picturesque and iconic, but oh, those gawd-awful yellow seats. Kickers hate the river end and the grass is always a mess.

20. Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif. (49ers; opened 2014): Lopsided design (press box side is low), way too far from San Francisco, called "underwhelming" by those that visited it. I liked Candlestick.

21. First Energy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio (Browns; opened 1999). It brought football back to Cleveland and they designed in the Dawg Pound. Otherwise, could be a swimming pool if the lake rises.

22. Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tenn. (Titans; opened 1999): Very similar to Gillette, except that the press box is at midfield and lower. Terrible parking situation there. A bland place.

These three made my "barely tolerable" category:

23. Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla. (Buccaneers, opened 1998): Without a doubt, the lamest feature in the NFL is the end-zone pirate ship. I preferred the old Sombrero. 

24. Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio (Bengals; opened 2000). It's like the General Motors designers (circa 1957) took over the design and needed to add tail fins. It's fugly. And they towed my rental car there once and it took me hours to find it.

25. Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C. (Panthers; opened 1996): Big and bland, awful parking. And if it snows, as it did during my 2001-season visit, the entire city is paralyzed.

And these are the awful awfuls (with apologies to Newport Creamery):

You can see a third of the field in Chicago.

26: Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill. (Bears; opened 1924 and renovated 2003): I visited the old and new Soldier Fields. The old one had character but was outdated for today's NFL. The new one looks as if a spaceship crash-landed in the bowl. Devastatingly ugly.

27. TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Fla. (Jaguars; opened 1995): They took part of the old Gator Bowl and just built someone's idea of a stadium around it. I felt at home during Super Bowl 39, though, because the press box toilets were overflowing and effluent cascaded past my feet for most of the game.

28. Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla. (Dolphins; opened 1987): It's been renovated to include a shade-producing half-roof, but this one has outlived its design. A pig with a lot of makeup is still a pig.

Bills Stadium is a Schaefer Stadium clone.

29. Bills Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y. (Bills; opened 1973): I suppose I should be nostalgic because the builders of what was first called Rich Stadium used the original (and slightly updated) blueprints for Foxboro's Schaefer Stadium when construction began in 1972. You can still see some elements of that design today. But multiple renovations can't mask its inadequacy.

30. FedEx Field, Landover, Md. (Washington Football Team; opened 1997): One big mausoleum. Lots of seats, no soul. Open-air press box from which fans regularly steal computers. Hopefully plans for a new stadium at the old RFK site will be fulfilled.