MetLife Stadium Tailgating
New York Jets · East Rutherford, NJ
The rule that catches Jets fans out at MetLife is not where you can tailgate — every lot in the Sports Complex permits it, and so do the medians beside the roadways — but how the night ends. Hot coals may not go in an open parking space, under a vehicle, or beside a parked car; large orange hot-charcoal bins sit on the islands between the lots, and ignoring them is grounds for towing at your own expense, losing the permit, and ejection. Beyond that a setup stays inside the lined bay plus the ground in front of or behind it, canopies cap at 8 by 8 feet, grills are banned in the parking decks, and deep fryers are not allowed anywhere.
Tips & Fan Reports
Get the parking pass, show up early with a grill and enjoy the morning cooking out in the lot. Or stay overnight and use the Hilton shuttle option.
If you want to grill, do not park in a deck — grills and heaters are banned in all of them.
A vehicle over 18 feet long or 8 feet wide cannot use a lined space, so an RV or long van needs a different plan entirely.
Find the orange hot-charcoal bin on the island near your lot before you light anything. Dumping coals beside a car is explicitly a towing offence.
The medians are the trick here. MetLife permits tailgating on the strips between the lots and the roadways, which most stadiums do not, so a group with more gear than bay should aim for one.
Measure the canopy: 8 by 8 feet is the cap, smaller than the 10 by 10 most stadiums allow.
Where to Tailgate
MetLife Sports Complex lots
Every parking lot in the complex permits tailgating. A setup stays inside the lined space plus the area immediately in front of or behind the vehicle, so the usable footprint is your own bay rather than a shared strip.
Known for All lots tailgate · Lined space plus front or back · 8ft x 8ft canopy cap
The medians between lots and roadways
MetLife explicitly permits tailgating on the medians separating the parking lots from the roadways — the extra ground that most stadiums treat as off-limits, and the reason a big group can spread out here.
Known for Tailgating permitted · Extra space beyond your bay
The parking decks
Covered parking in the complex, where grills and other heating devices are not allowed at all. Shelter and a shorter walk, at the cost of any cooking.
Known for No grills or heaters · Covered
Hot charcoal bins on the islands
Large orange bins on the islands and paved areas between the lots. Coals go in these — disposing of them in an open parking space, under a vehicle or next to a parked car can get you towed at your own expense.
Known for Large orange bins · Between the lots · Towing offence to ignore
Rules to Know
What MetLife Stadium allows, and what it does not.
- Tailgating is permitted in all MetLife Sports Complex parking lots, and on the medians that separate the parking lots from the roadways.
- Grills are permitted provided they are used at a safe distance from your vehicle. Use of grills near buildings, or where other guests or property may be damaged, is strictly prohibited.
- Grills and other heating devices are not allowed in the parking decks.
- Deep fryers and any oil-based cooking or frying are prohibited.
- Tailgating should be limited to the lined parking space and the area directly behind or in front of each vehicle.
- Tents or canopies exceeding an 8' x 8' footprint are not permitted, and vehicles longer than 18' or wider than 8' may not park in a lined parking space.
- Disposal of hot coals in open parking spaces, under vehicles, or next to parked vehicles is prohibited. Large orange hot-charcoal bins are provided on the islands and paved areas between the lots.
- Any violation of law or tailgating policies may result in the vehicle being towed at the owner's expense, loss of the parking permit, and ejection.
What to Bring
- A bag the gate will accept
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.
- Only the outside food and drink the rule allows
Guests outside suites may bring food of any kind in a clear plastic bag.
- A card or a phone wallet
MetLife Stadium is cash-free and accepts major credit and debit cards plus Apple Pay and Google Pay.
- Your tickets on a charged phone
Jets game tickets are secure mobile-only tickets accessed through the Jets app or Jets Account Manager.
- Layers, gloves and a hat
January lows average 26°F, and the seats are open to it.
- A poncho, not an umbrella
Umbrellas are on MetLife Stadium's prohibited list, and September averages 4.1 inches of rain.
Tailgate Gear
Lots open when the complex lots open, ending at kickoff.
- A grill you can run a safe distance from the car — and not in a parking deck
- A canopy no larger than 8 by 8 feet, which is tighter than most stadiums allow
- A metal bucket or scoop to carry coals to the orange hot-charcoal bin on the island
- No deep fryer: oil-based cooking is prohibited across the complex
- A setup that stays inside your lined bay plus the ground directly ahead of or behind it
New York Jets Tailgate Gear
Canopies, grills, coolers, and official New York Jets 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
MetLife Stadium official site, Plan Your Visit — Parking & Tailgating (tailgating policies and parking lot guidelines)
- Venue policies
New York Jets and MetLife Stadium ticketing, parking, accessibility, A-Z, and guest-policy pages reviewed for visitor-facing policies.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals