Paycor Stadium Game Day Guide
Cincinnati Bengals · Cincinnati, OH
Know Before You Go
Essential details checked against official venue information.
- Bag policy
One clear bag no larger than 12 x 6 x 12 inches, a one-gallon clear freezer bag, or a clutch no larger than 4.5 x 6.5 inches is permitted per person.
Applies to: Cincinnati Bengals games
- Medically necessary items are inspected as an exception; diapers and wipes must be carried in a clear bag because diaper bags are not permitted.
- Bag storage
Paycor Stadium does not hold prohibited items at the gate; they must be returned to a vehicle or discarded.
Applies to: Cincinnati Bengals games
- Gate opening
General gates open 90 minutes before kickoff; the Fifth Third Southeast Gate offers qualifying cardholders entry 120 minutes before kickoff.
Applies to: Cincinnati Bengals games
- Mobile tickets
Bengals mobile tickets can be accessed and managed through the official Bengals app.
Applies to: Cincinnati Bengals games
- Re-entry
Guests who leave may not re-enter; medical emergencies are the only stated exception.
Applies to: Cincinnati Bengals games
- If a medical need may require an exit, register first at the north-end-zone first-aid station near Gate C.
- Prohibited items
Paycor Stadium prohibits alcohol, non-compliant bags, most beverage containers, coolers, tobacco and vaping products, strollers, umbrellas, weapons, drones, fireworks, noisemakers, aerosol cans, and other listed items.
Applies to: Cincinnati Bengals games
- Review the complete official list before leaving home; prohibited items must be returned to a vehicle or discarded.
- First aid
First-aid stations are near Sections 116, 129, 136, 316, and 334.
Applies to: Cincinnati Bengals games
- For a medical emergency, notify any Paycor Stadium team member.
- Nursing and lactation
Dedicated nursing stations are near Sections 114 and 144, and first-aid stations can also provide clean private space with electricity.
Applies to: Cincinnati Bengals games
- Pumping equipment may enter after security screens and tags the bag.
- Family restrooms
Family restrooms are available on the plaza, sidelines, canopy levels, north club, and both club lounges.
Applies to: Cincinnati Bengals games
- Public locations include Sections 102, 104, 118, 132, 134, 148, 150, 224, 306, 314, 337, and 343.
- Tickets for children
Children younger than 2 may enter without a ticket.
Applies to: Cincinnati Bengals games
- Guest services
Membership Services booths are inside the Fifth Third Southeast Gate and Gate C.
Applies to: Cincinnati Bengals games
- To report a conduct or safety concern during a game, text HELP, the problem, and the location to 69050.
- Service animals
Task-trained service animals are permitted and must be harnessed, leashed, tethered, or otherwise effectively controlled; emotional-support and comfort animals are not allowed.
Applies to: Cincinnati Bengals games
- For animal relief, ask a gate manager for permission before exiting so re-entry can be arranged.
- Smoking and vaping
Paycor Stadium is smoke-free, vape-free, and marijuana-free, with no designated smoking areas inside the stadium.
Applies to: Cincinnati Bengals games
Game Day Timeline
What the day looks like at Paycor Stadium, hour by hour.
Lots Open for Tailgating
Official lots and The Banks parking areas open for tailgating. Early arrivals set up along the riverfront.
The Banks Comes Alive
Bars and restaurants along The Banks fill up. Longworth Hall tailgating peaks. Metts on the grill, Rhinegeist in the cooler.
Gates Open
Stadium gates open. Head in early to explore the concourse, grab a Skyline Three-Way, and watch warmups from the lower bowl.
Player Warmups
Players take the field for stretching and warmups. Great photo opportunities from the end zone seats.
Find Your Seats
Grab your goetta sandwich and settle in. The pregame hype video plays on the jumbotron.
Game Time
WHO DEY! The crowd erupts as the Bengals take the field. 65,000 fans chanting in unison creates an electric atmosphere despite the smaller capacity.
Exit Strategy
Walk back to The Banks for post-game food and drinks. The riverfront area stays lively well after the final whistle. Most downtown hotels are an easy walk.
Tips & Fan Reports
They are doing color rush stripe-the-jungle games so make sure you are wearing the correct color for your section. Skyline booths are in the stadium this year so grab a coney. The souvenir popcorn buckets are really nice too.
Visit The Banks entertainment district before the game for pre-game food, drinks, and atmosphere.
Try the Skyline chili Three-Way at the stadium. Love it or hate it, you have to try Cincinnati chili at least once.
Parking in the lots along Pete Rose Way fills up early. The garage on 3rd Street is a reliable backup and only 10 min walk.
Hit The Banks entertainment district on the riverfront before the game. Tons of bars and restaurants within a 5-minute walk of the stadium.
Dress in layers, Cincinnati's river valley location creates variable weather, especially in fall.
Weather
Paycor Stadium is open air, so these are the conditions you sit in.
Across the NFL season the warmest month is September, with an average high of 80°F, and the coldest is January, when the average low is 24°F. December is the wettest month at 3.3 inches and November the driest at 2.9 inches.
That January low ranks 11th coldest of the 32 NFL venues, and December here ranks 23rd wettest.
September
3.1 inchesOctober
3.0 inchesNovember
2.9 inchesDecember
3.3 inchesJanuary
2.9 inchesCincinnati Bengals Clear Bag Policy
Most venues require a clear bag. Get an approved one before you travel.
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How We Checked This Page
Every section below names the source it was read from and the day it was read. Where we could not reach a published figure, the page says so rather than presenting an estimate as a checked fact.
- Game day timeline
Gate opening time checked against the venue's own gate-opening policy: General gates open 90 minutes before kickoff; the Fifth Third Southeast Gate offers qualifying cardholders entry 120 minutes before kickoff.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
- Venue policies
Cincinnati Bengals fan guide plus dedicated Paycor Stadium bag-policy and cashless-payment pages reviewed for visitor policies.