State Farm Stadium Tailgating
Arizona Cardinals · Glendale, AZ
The fuel rule at State Farm Stadium is the one to read first: natural gas and propane grills and heaters are permitted, and charcoal grills, pellet grills and oil fryers are not. Flames have to stay under control and may never sit under a tent. Tailgating runs from the opening of the Cardinals parking areas — four hours before kickoff — until kickoff only, with nothing during or after the game. A setup is limited to the area directly in front of or behind the vehicle and may not cross the red painted fire lanes, the sidewalks or the painted walkways. On the grass in Sportsman's Park you may put up one 10 by 10 shade tent, and a portable electric generator of 6500W or less is allowed provided its cord crosses no drive aisle.
Tips & Fan Reports
Bring a disposable cooler full of beer and exchange them with friendly tailgaters for food they are grilling. You meet different people, don't have to haul a grill, and the cooler gets tossed before you go in.
Buy a tent/shade canopy if you are tailgating before November. You will absolutely need it. Tailgating opens 4 hours prior to kickoff on the Great Lawn at State Farm Stadium.
Leave the charcoal at home. State Farm permits natural gas and propane only — charcoal and pellet grills are both prohibited, which is the reverse of most stadiums.
A generator is allowed up to 6500W, but the cord may not cross a drive aisle or sidewalk — so it has to sit on your side of the space.
Tailgating stops at kickoff, full stop. There is no post-game window here, unlike several other NFL venues.
The grill cannot go under the tent, whatever the weather is doing.
Where to Tailgate
Sportsman's Park
The grass tailgating ground beside the stadium. The Sportsman's Park lots open four hours before kickoff for vehicles and guests alike, a 10 by 10 shade tent is permitted on the grass, and tailgating here is intended for gameday ticket members only.
Known for Grass tailgating · 10x10 shade tent allowed · Ticket members only
The team-controlled parking lots
The lots around the stadium, opening four hours before kickoff. A setup stays in the area directly in front of or behind the vehicle and must not extend past the red painted fire lanes or onto a sidewalk or painted walkway.
Known for Open 4 hours before · Front or back of the vehicle only
The red fire lanes
Painted red on the lot surface, and the hard edge of any setup. Tents and equipment may not extend beyond them, along sidewalks and painted walkways, or anywhere staff judge to be an obstruction.
Known for Painted red · Hard boundary for equipment
Rules to Know
What State Farm Stadium allows, and what it does not.
- Natural gas or propane grills and heaters are permitted. Charcoal and pellet grills and oil fryers are not permitted.
- Grill and heater flames must be kept under control at all times and must not be placed under tents.
- Sportsman's Park carparks open four hours prior to kickoff for both vehicles and guests.
- Tailgating is permitted from the opening of all Cardinals parking areas until kickoff only. Tailgating after the game has begun, or post-game, is not permitted.
- Tailgating in the parking lots is limited to the area directly in front of or behind the vehicle.
- Tents and tailgating equipment must not extend beyond the red painted fire lanes, along sidewalks and painted walkways, or into other areas deemed an obstruction by stadium staff.
- Fans may bring up to a 10' by 10' shade tent for use on the grass areas within Sportsman's Park.
- Small portable electric generators of 6500W or less are allowed, but electrical cords may not be placed across parking area drive aisles or any sidewalk, or create a trip hazard.
- Tailgating in Sportsman's Park or team-controlled parking areas, where permitted, is intended for gameday ticket members only.
What to Bring
- A bag the gate will accept
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.
- Only the outside food and drink the rule allows
Outside food is prohibited except food for a child younger than 2 or a dietary or medical need arranged before game day.
- A card or a phone wallet
State Farm Stadium is fully cashless for Cardinals games, with contactless cards and mobile wallets accepted at fixed points of sale.
- Your tickets on a charged phone
Cardinals game tickets and parking passes are fully digital and managed through the Cardinals mobile app; traditional paper tickets and passes are not distributed.
- A warm layer for the pregame
December nights average 40°F outside State Farm Stadium, whatever the roof does.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
September highs average 98°F outside State Farm Stadium, whatever the roof does.
Tailgate Gear
Lots open four hours before kickoff, ending at kickoff.
- A natural gas or propane grill — charcoal and pellet grills and oil fryers are all prohibited
- One 10 by 10 shade tent, for the grass in Sportsman's Park, with the grill kept out from under it
- A generator of 6500W or less, if you want one, with a cord that never crosses a drive aisle or sidewalk
- A setup that stops at the red painted fire lane
Arizona Cardinals Tailgate Gear
Canopies, grills, coolers, and official Arizona Cardinals gear for the ultimate tailgate.
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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.
- Pregame
Arizona Cardinals official site, State Farm Stadium gameday policies
- Venue policies
Arizona Cardinals and State Farm Stadium gameday, A-Z, clear-bag, accessibility, and parking pages reviewed for visitor-facing policies.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals