MetLife Stadium Game Day Guide
New York Giants · East Rutherford, NJ
Know Before You Go
Essential details checked against official venue information.
- Bag policy
Each guest may bring one clear bag no larger than 12 x 6 x 12 inches, one small non-clear bag no larger than 4.5 x 6.5 inches, or a one-gallon clear freezer bag.
Applies to: New York Giants games
- Medically necessary items are allowed after inspection at a designated gate.
- Bag storage
Oversized bags may be checked free for NFL games at a Bag Check Facility outside each open gate.
Applies to: New York Giants games
- Guests may instead return a non-compliant bag to their vehicle before entering.
- Gate opening
MetLife Stadium gates normally open two hours before kickoff for Giants games.
Applies to: New York Giants games
- Confirm the time on the specific game page because event details can override the general schedule.
- Mobile tickets
Giants game tickets are mobile-only through the Giants app or mobile Giants Account; printed PDF tickets are invalid.
Applies to: New York Giants games
- Screenshots are not accepted because barcodes refresh; view the ticket before leaving home or save it to Apple Wallet or Google Pay.
- Re-entry
MetLife Stadium does not permit guests to leave and re-enter during Giants games.
Applies to: New York Giants games
- Prohibited items
MetLife Stadium prohibits weapons, fireworks, umbrellas, strollers, drones, noisemakers, non-compliant bags, coolers, professional cameras, and other listed items.
Applies to: New York Giants games
- Check the game-specific Know Before You Go notice because the venue may add event restrictions.
- First aid
First Aid rooms are near Sections 103, 128, 301, and 326 and on the Service Level in the AMEX corner.
Applies to: New York Giants games
- Doctors, nurses, EMTs, and additional response teams are on site for basic and emergency medical needs.
- Nursing and lactation
A nursing station is outside Sections 142 and 143, with Mamava pods near Sections 117 and 118, Sections 249a and 250a, and the HCLTech Gate elevator lobby on the 200 Concourse.
Applies to: New York Giants games
- Ask any Guest Services team member for the access key or code.
- Family restrooms
Private, accessible single-user restrooms are available on every level of MetLife Stadium.
Applies to: New York Giants games
- General-bowl locations include MetLife West Hall near Section 134 and multiple rooms on the 100, 200, and 300 Concourses; Guest Services can provide access.
- Tickets for children
Children 34 inches tall or shorter may enter free but must share a seat with a ticketed adult.
Applies to: New York Giants games
- Guest services
Permanent Guest Services Booths are near Sections 124, 149, 227, 249, 303, 324, 328, and 349, with portable booths inside major gates.
Applies to: New York Giants games
- For discreet event-day help, text "Alert MLS" to 848261 or call 201-559-1515.
- Service animals
Task-trained service dogs, miniature horses, and service animals in training are permitted; emotional-support animals are not.
Applies to: New York Giants games
- The animal must remain leashed for the duration of the visit.
- Smoking and vaping
Smoking and vaping are permitted only along the Plaza Level fence line.
Applies to: New York Giants games
- Smoking is prohibited in East Hall, MetLife West Hall, and on or near stairways, ramps, and escalators.
Game Day Timeline
What the day looks like at MetLife Stadium, hour by hour.
Lots Open for Tailgating
The Meadowlands parking lots open 5 hours before kickoff. Giants families and fan groups claim their traditional spots and set up for the day.
Tailgate Scene Peaks
The lots fill with blue jerseys and the smell of Italian sausage, burgers, and deli sandwiches. Giants tailgating is more family-friendly than raucous, kids tossing footballs, older fans telling stories about LT and the '86 team.
Gates Open
Stadium gates open. Head inside to explore the Giants Legacy Club, browse the team shop, or grab a NY-style pizza slice at the concourse.
Player Warmups
Players take the field for warmups. Lower bowl seats offer the best view of pregame routines.
Find Your Seats
Grab your game-day food and settle in. The Giants faithful start to fill the bowl and the atmosphere builds toward kickoff.
Game Time
82,500 fans strong, one of the largest stadiums in the NFL. The Giants crowd is intense when the team is competitive, with a deep football knowledge that shows in every reaction.
Exit Strategy
NJ Transit trains run for 2 hours after the game. If driving, expect 30-60 minutes to exit the lots. Many Giants families continue tailgating post-game before heading home.
Tips & Fan Reports
Season ticket holder for 12 years. Best thing to do is have a great tailgate outside, go in full because the food is meh. Prepare for a 30-minute walk from the lot to your seats.
NJ Transit from Penn Station is the only sane way to get there from Manhattan. No traffic, no tolls, no parking. Train drops you at the gate.
Wind at MetLife is brutal. It sits in the Meadowlands with nothing blocking the wind. Late-season games need serious layering.
Wear Giants blue, not green. This isn't a Jets game. The rivalry between the two fanbases sharing one stadium is very real.
Tailgating in the MetLife lots is a full-blown event. Arrive 3 hours early. The Izod Center lot has the most room.
Dress in layers, East Rutherford weather can swing from pleasant to freezing, especially late in the season.
Weather
MetLife 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 78°F, and the coldest is January, when the average low is 26°F. September is the wettest month at 4.1 inches and November the driest at 3.3 inches.
That January low ranks 13th coldest of the 32 NFL venues, and September here ranks 16th wettest.
September
4.1 inchesOctober
3.7 inchesNovember
3.3 inchesDecember
4.1 inchesJanuary
3.3 inchesNew York Giants 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: MetLife Stadium gates normally open two hours before kickoff for Giants games.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
- Venue policies
New York Giants and MetLife Stadium ticketing, parking, accessibility, A-Z, and guest-policy pages reviewed for visitor-facing policies.