State Farm Stadium Game Day Guide
Arizona Cardinals · Glendale, AZ
Know Before You Go
Essential details checked against official venue information.
- Bag policy
One clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag no larger than 12 x 6 x 12 inches, a one-gallon clear freezer bag, and a small clutch no larger than 4.5 x 6.5 inches are permitted.
Applies to: Arizona Cardinals games
- Medical exceptions are allowed after inspection; diaper bags are prohibited, so diapers and wipes must be carried in an approved clear bag.
- Bag storage
Two Mobile Bag Check locations outside the secured stadium perimeter store non-compliant bags for $20 each, with cashless payment only.
Applies to: Arizona Cardinals games
- The locations remain open until 75 minutes after the game or until all bags have been reclaimed, whichever comes first.
- Gate opening
Check the specific Cardinals game listing for gate times: the general team guide lists main gates at 90 minutes before kickoff, but published event timelines can differ.
Applies to: Arizona Cardinals games
- Club gates, the Flight Deck, and premium spaces commonly open before the main gates.
- Mobile tickets
Cardinals game tickets and parking passes are fully digital and managed through the Cardinals mobile app; traditional paper tickets and passes are not distributed.
Applies to: Arizona Cardinals games
- Open the ticket and parking pass before approaching the stadium or carpark and arrive with a charged phone.
- Re-entry
Guests may not leave State Farm Stadium and re-enter with the same game ticket; the Cardinals publish no exceptions to this rule.
Applies to: Arizona Cardinals games
- Prohibited items
State Farm Stadium prohibits weapons, alcohol, non-compliant bags, coolers, most outside food and beverages, e-cigarettes, fireworks, strollers, drones, laptops, noisemakers, and other listed items.
Applies to: Arizona Cardinals games
- Review the full official list before leaving home because event rules can change and security may reject hazardous or inappropriate items.
- First aid
Four First Aid offices are near Sections 122 and 136 on the Main Level and Sections 416 and 448 on the Terrace Level.
Applies to: Arizona Cardinals games
- AED and Stop the Bleed equipment is available at additional locations throughout the stadium.
- Nursing and lactation
A privacy and nursing room with power outlets, seating, and a television is in the Club Level elevator atrium near Section 230.
Applies to: Arizona Cardinals games
- Breast-pump supplies are permitted through every gate after inspection.
- Family restrooms
Twelve ADA-compliant family restrooms with baby-changing tables are distributed across the Main, Club, and Terrace Concourses.
Applies to: Arizona Cardinals games
- Published locations are Sections 102, 114, 124, 136, 204, 219, 230, 247, 404, 421, 435, and 454; all public restrooms also have changing stations.
- Tickets for children
A child age 24 months or younger may enter without a ticket after receiving a lap pass at the entrance gate.
Applies to: Arizona Cardinals games
- The child must be present when the pass is issued, and each adult game ticket may receive one lap pass.
- Guest services
Guest Services is near Sections 104 and 123 on the Main Level, at the Gate 3 mobile desk, and near Sections 417 and 448 on the Terrace Level.
Applies to: Arizona Cardinals games
- For game-day help or a conduct concern, text the issue and seat location to 623-400-2210.
- Service animals
Guide, signal, and documented service animals are permitted; pets and other animals are prohibited.
Applies to: Arizona Cardinals games
- Ask the nearest Guest Services booth for help reaching the service-animal relief area.
- Smoking and vaping
Smoking is allowed only at Gate 2 on the Main Level and on the North Ramp for Club, Loft, and Terrace guests; e-cigarettes and vaping are prohibited inside.
Applies to: Arizona Cardinals games
- Chewing tobacco and marijuana use are prohibited, and smoking outside must remain at least 20 feet from entry and exit doors.
Game Day Timeline
What the day looks like at State Farm Stadium, hour by hour.
Parking Lots Open
Stadium lots open for tailgating. The desert sun is intense. Set up shade canopies immediately. The climate-controlled stadium interior provides relief once gates open.
Westgate District Comes Alive
Restaurants and bars in the Westgate Entertainment District fill with Cardinals fans. The district offers air-conditioned pregame options as an alternative to desert tailgating.
Gates Open
Stadium gates open. Enter the climate-controlled interior early to escape the heat and explore the concourses. The retractable roof keeps it at a comfortable 72°F inside.
Player Warmups
Players take the field for warmups. The grass field has been rolled back inside from its outdoor growing position. Lower bowl seats offer great warmup views.
Find Your Seats
Grab a Sonoran hot dog and settle into the climate-controlled comfort of your seat. The pregame video show fires up on the video boards.
Game Time
The Cardinals take the field to a sea of red. The retractable roof keeps the atmosphere intense and the temperature comfortable regardless of the desert heat outside.
Exit Strategy
Head to the Westgate Entertainment District for post-game dining and drinks, the restaurants and bars stay open late. Light rail runs post-game service. Traffic clears within 45 minutes.
Tips & Fan Reports
Enter the stadium an hour before kickoff. The food trucks past security have Yellowman Fry Bread and other vendors you can bring inside. Westgate next door has everything for pregaming.
The Westgate Entertainment District next to the stadium has air-conditioned bars and restaurants. Way better than standing in 105-degree heat for a tailgate.
Westgate Entertainment District is walkable from the stadium and has air-conditioned restaurants and bars, a great alternative to outdoor tailgating in the heat.
Valley Metro light rail runs to the stadium from downtown Phoenix and Tempe. Takes about 30 minutes and avoids the Glendale traffic.
It is climate-controlled inside so dress for comfort. But the walk from parking to the gates in September is the part that will roast you.
The Valley Metro light rail stops near the stadium. It's a smart option to avoid game-day traffic and parking fees.
Weather
State Farm Stadium has a retractable roof, so these are the conditions for the walk in and the pregame, and the roof decides the rest.
Across the NFL season the warmest month is September, with an average high of 98°F, and the coldest is December, when the average low is 40°F. January is the wettest month at 1.0 inches and October the driest at 0.6 inches.
That December low ranks 23rd coldest of the 32 NFL venues, and January here ranks 31st wettest.
September
0.7 inchesOctober
0.6 inchesNovember
0.6 inchesDecember
0.9 inchesJanuary
1.0 inchesArizona Cardinals 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: Check the specific Cardinals game listing for gate times: the general team guide lists main gates at 90 minutes before kickoff, but published event timelines can differ.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
- Venue policies
Arizona Cardinals and State Farm Stadium gameday, A-Z, clear-bag, accessibility, and parking pages reviewed for visitor-facing policies.