MetLife Stadium: A Practical Visitor Guide

What MetLife Stadium is and where to find it

MetLife Stadium sits at One MetLife Stadium Drive, East Rutherford, NJ 07073, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. It is 8 miles west of midtown Manhattan, which makes it a realistic trip from the city on a game or event day.

If you are flying in, the closest airport is Newark Liberty International, 10 miles north of the stadium via the NJ Turnpike. Tickets to all events at MetLife Stadium are accessible via mobile device only, and the building is cash-free: cash is not accepted at concession stands or retail locations. Charge your phone and bring a card.

SeatCommons lists events at MetLife Stadium, and this guide covers the routes, gates and rules the stadium's own visitor pages set out.

• Address: One MetLife Stadium Drive, East Rutherford, NJ 07073
• 8 miles west of midtown Manhattan
• Closest airport: Newark Liberty International, 10 miles north via the NJ Turnpike
• Tickets are accessible via mobile device only
• Cash is not accepted at concession stands or retail locations

Getting to MetLife Stadium by train, bus and car service

NJ TRANSIT runs the Meadowlands Rail Service for events with anticipated attendance above 50,000. Most of NJ TRANSIT's rail system connects at Secaucus Junction, and the ride from Secaucus Junction to the Sports Complex station is approximately 10 minutes. Trains depart from Secaucus Junction with rail service commencing a few hours prior to kickoff and continuing for a couple of hours after the conclusion of the match. On select occasions, NJ TRANSIT may also offer bus service between Secaucus Junction and MetLife Stadium.

Coach USA runs the 351 Meadowlands Express from the Port Authority to the MetLife Sports Complex for NFL games and other large events. The 351 begins two and one half hours prior to the start of a game, runs until one half hour after the start, and stays operational for approximately one hour following the conclusion of the game.

Local NJ TRANSIT service is different on event days. Route 703 provides local service near the Sports Complex, including the Meadowlands Racetrack, but on days when major events are held it will not enter the Sports Complex property beginning two hours before the event and continuing until one hour after it ends. During that window the 703 operates along Paterson Plank Road and makes stops upon request at designated NJ TRANSIT bus stops. Bus Routes 85, 703 and 772 serve the American Dream.

If you are arriving by chartered bus, exit from the MetLife or Moody's Gates. Bus drop-off and pick-up is in Lot K, near the Quest Diagnostics Performance Center, reached by exiting from the MetLife Gate, and bus parking is in Lot L. To reach the train during an event, exit from the MetLife or Verizon Gates.

• Rail: Meadowlands Rail Service for events with anticipated attendance above 50,000, connecting at Secaucus Junction (approximately 10 minutes to the Sports Complex station)
• Rail timing: service starts a few hours before kickoff and continues a couple of hours after the match ends
• Bus: Coach USA 351 Meadowlands Express from the Port Authority for NFL games and other large events
• 351 timing: starts 2 1/2 hours before the game, runs until 1/2 hour after the start, and operates about 1 hour after the game ends
• Chartered bus: exit from the MetLife or Moody's Gates; drop-off and pick-up in Lot K; bus parking in Lot L
• Train access: exit from the MetLife or Verizon Gates

Gates, entrances and how to find your seat

The stadium names its entrances after its partners: AMEX, HCLTech, Verizon, MetLife and Moody's. Public escalators are located at the AMEX, HCLTech, Verizon, MetLife and Moody's entrances.

Elevators for guests with disabilities are available at the HCLTech, Verizon and Moody's entrances, with additional elevators at the premium seating entrances on the east and west sides of the stadium.

Two ramps access all levels of the stadium, one in either end zone, and the code compliant public ramps are at the north and south end zones. There are 10 stairways in the stadium, 5 on the East Side and 5 on the West Side, and the stairways in the corners of the building access all levels.

For on-the-ground help, permanent Guest Services booths are near sections 124, 149, 227, 249, 303, 324, 328 and 349. Portable booths are located inside the Moody's, MetLife, Verizon and HCLTech Gates, though available locations vary per event. First Aid rooms are near sections 103, 128, 301 and 326, on the Service Level in the AMEX corner.

• Escalators: AMEX, HCLTech, Verizon, MetLife and Moody's entrances
• Accessible elevators: HCLTech, Verizon and Moody's entrances, plus the premium seating entrances on the east and west sides
• Ramps: one in each end zone, accessing all levels
• Stairways: 10 total, 5 on the East Side and 5 on the West Side; corner stairways reach all levels
• Guest Services: permanent booths near sections 124, 149, 227, 249, 303, 324, 328 and 349
• First Aid: near sections 103, 128, 301 and 326, Service Level in the AMEX corner

Food, drink and what you can bring in

Catering at MetLife Stadium is provided by Delaware North Sportservice, covering the parking lots and all areas of the stadium. The concessions include a wide variety of food options, including Gluten Free, Vegan and Halal, and dining options across the stadium include Gluten Free, Vegetarian and Kosher items.

Every concession stand and bar is accessible to guests with disabilities. Note that the building is cash-free: cash is not accepted at concession stands or retail locations. Reverse ATMs are located in MetLife West Hall and sections 118, 128, 149, 220a, 245, 322 and 347.

On the drink side, alcohol of any kind may not be brought into or removed from the stadium. Guests may not purchase or possess more than two alcoholic beverages at a time, and anyone who appears to be 40 years of age or younger will be asked for valid proof of age. International guests must present a valid passport to buy alcohol, because Delaware North Sportservice cannot accept a driver's license from another country. For football games, all concession stands and portable units in the general seating areas close at the beginning of the third quarter; for non-football events, alcohol cut-off times are set by stadium management.

Bringing your own bottle is limited: bottles and cans are prohibited, except a factory sealed canned or plastic bottle of water or soft drink 20 oz or less.

• Caterer: Delaware North Sportservice, covering the parking lots and all stadium areas
• Dietary options named: Gluten Free, Vegan, Halal, Vegetarian and Kosher items
• Cash-free venue; reverse ATMs in MetLife West Hall and sections 118, 128, 149, 220a, 245, 322 and 347
• Maximum two alcoholic beverages per guest at a time
• Football games: general seating alcohol stands close at the start of the third quarter
• Sealed water or soft drink bottles of 20 oz or less are the bottle exception

Accessibility services

MetLife Stadium has wheelchair, low mobility and companion seating on all levels. Guests with limited mobility who would like assistance may request transportation to their seat from the gates by wheelchair from an Accessibility Assistant.

Elevators for guests with disabilities are available at the HCLTech, Verizon and Moody's entrances, with additional elevators at the premium seating entrances on the east and west sides of the stadium. Code compliant public ramps are located at the north and south end zones, and public escalators are at the AMEX, HCLTech, Verizon, MetLife and Moody's entrances.

Accessible seating can be purchased, subject to availability, through Ticketmaster online or by calling 800-877-7575. Event day re-seating options are available on a first come, first serve basis through the provided inventory.

For hearing access, the stadium offers an Assistive Listening service through ListenWIFI, accessible on your mobile phone; users select the box in the lower left-hand corner to type the IP address 10.210.240.40. All integral game information is captioned on the ribbon board below the Moody's and HCLTech video screens, and captioning is also available on televisions mounted on the section signs on the concourses. Guests requiring interpreting services for concerts should contact the Box Office at 201-559-1300 no later than three weeks after event ticket sales begin.

Two sensory pods designed to reduce sensory overload are available in the HCLTech Elevator Lobby on the Plaza Level and in the Moody's Elevator Lobby on the third floor. Guest Services booths are on the 100 Concourse near Sections 124 and 149, on the 200 Concourse near Sections 227 and 249, and on the 300 Concourse near Sections 303, 324, 328 and 349.

Only trained service animals are permitted in the stadium; other animals are not. Your service dog or miniature horse must remain on its leash for the duration of your visit. A nursing station is located outside sections 143 and 142 on the plaza level, and Mamava nursing pods are in the HCLTech Gate elevator lobby on the 200 concourse, near section 249a/250a, and near section 117/118. Every concession stand and bar is accessible to guests with disabilities.

Last checked October 28, 2026.

• Wheelchair, low mobility and companion seating on all levels
• Wheelchair transport to seats from the gates via an Accessibility Assistant
• Accessible elevators: HCLTech, Verizon and Moody's entrances, plus premium seating entrances on both sides
• Sensory pods: HCLTech Elevator Lobby (Plaza Level) and Moody's Elevator Lobby (third floor)
• Assistive listening via ListenWIFI on your phone; IP address 10.210.240.40
• Interpreting services for concerts: Box Office, 201-559-1300, no later than three weeks after sales begin
• Service animals only, and they must remain leashed for your visit

Parking, drop-offs and rideshare

The MetLife Sports Complex has approximately 27,500 parking spaces in total, split between the east and west sides of the complex. Parking prices vary by event, and fees may be paid by cash, credit card or pre-paid permit. Tailgating is permitted.

If you need help in a lot, MetLife Stadium provides basic car and towing assistance in all parking lots, including towing, battery charging and jump-starts, flat tire assistance and locked-in keys. Contact a parking lot team member, call the Guest Services Hotline at 201-559-1515, or text "Alert MLS" to 848261.

The designated area for all drop-offs and pick-ups is between parking lots D and E, with curb space along the roadway providing a safe area for both. A designated Rideshare Zone is located in Lot E off of West Peripheral Road, right outside of the Verizon Gate. Expect rideshare surge pricing to often be in effect after the game, and larger crowds to mean longer than usual wait times (potentially over an hour) for a car to arrive.

If you are heading to the Ticket Office, it is in the West VIP Lobby, accessible through the MetLife Gate, with parking in Lots F or G. On non-event days it is open Monday through Friday from 11am to 5pm.

• Approximately 27,500 parking spaces across the east and west sides of the complex
• Parking prices vary by event; pay by cash, credit card or pre-paid permit
• Drop-off and pick-up: between lots D and E
• Rideshare Zone: Lot E off West Peripheral Road, outside the Verizon Gate
• Car trouble: lot team member, 201-559-1515, or text "Alert MLS" to 848261
• Ticket Office parking: Lots F or G, via the MetLife Gate

Bag policy, prohibited items and re-entry

All guests are subject to a search of their person and possessions prior to entering the stadium. Bags that exceed the permissible size may be returned to your vehicle or checked at a Bag Check Facility located outside each open gate, for a $5 fee at Non-NFL Events or complimentary at NFL Events. An exception is made for medically necessary items after proper inspection at a gate designated for this purpose.

Alcohol of any kind may not be brought into or removed from the stadium, and any guest attempting to conceal alcohol while entering will not be permitted to enter the building. Drones, model aircraft, kites and other remote controlled or tethered flying objects are not permitted on the Sports Complex property or inside the stadium. Umbrellas are not allowed for safety and line-of-sight reasons, and strollers are not permitted inside and should be left in cars or checked at the bag check facility.

Some items are allowed with conditions. Still photography cameras with a lens 6 inches or less in length, not in a case, are permitted as long as their use does not interfere with other guests. Binoculars must be handheld and cannot be carried in a case. Battery operated heated clothing is permitted if the battery is no larger than an ordinary cell phone (3 by 6 by 1 inches), and on entry the batteries must be disconnected and placed on the security table.

Flags have their own rules. At international soccer games, officially recognized national flags of the competing countries and the official American flag are permitted, no larger than 3 by 5 feet without poles and without obstructing views or covering stadium signage. Flags of any size are prohibited at all other events, including NFL games, and larger flags in supporter sections must be approved in advance by stadium management.

Smoking is restricted: in accordance with New Jersey State law the stadium is smoke-free, with smoking permitted along the fence line on the Plaza Level, and no smoking permitted on any stairway. Re-entry is not allowed for most stadium events, including New York Giants games. During New York Jets games, guests may re-enter up to one hour prior to kickoff. Miller Lite MVP Club and Corona Beach Club guests may leave and re-enter their ticketed locations only when their ticket is scanned, and suite guests need a pass to return to the suite floors from the general seating areas.

• All guests are searched before entry
• Oversized bags: return to vehicle or check outside each open gate, $5 for Non-NFL Events, complimentary for NFL Events
• Medically necessary items: exception after inspection at a designated gate
• Prohibited: outside alcohol, drones and remote controlled flying objects, umbrellas, strollers
• Permitted with conditions: cameras with lenses 6 inches or less, handheld binoculars, heated clothing with a phone-sized battery (disconnected at security)
• Flags: 3 by 5 feet maximum at international soccer games only, no poles; prohibited at all other events
• No re-entry for most events; Jets games allow re-entry up to one hour before kickoff

Gate and start times

For most events, including NFL games, the gates to the stadium open two hours prior to the event. Start times for a specific event are listed on the official event page; the stadium's visit pages do not set a start time for every event.

Tickets to all events at MetLife Stadium are accessible via mobile device only. They will not be emailed or available to print.

MetLife Stadium has a policy of no exchanges or refunds for tickets to all events.

• Gates open two hours prior to most events, including NFL games
• Tickets are mobile only; no emailed or printed tickets
• No exchanges or refunds for tickets to all events

Check tickets

Browse events on SeatCommons to see what is coming to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

Keep the venue's own ticket terms in mind: MetLife Stadium sells tickets through Ticketmaster or the Ticketmaster exchange and states it is not responsible for tickets purchased through third party ticket sellers, and scalping is not permitted on the Sports Complex or the roadways that service the property. Tickets can be transferred or sold through the Ticketmaster account manager. Will-call pickups require picture ID, your confirmation number and the credit card used to purchase.

• Browse events on SeatCommons for MetLife Stadium
• Venue policy: no exchanges or refunds for tickets to all events
• Will-call: picture ID, confirmation number and the purchase credit card

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to MetLife Stadium by train?

NJ TRANSIT runs the Meadowlands Rail Service for events with anticipated attendance above 50,000. Most of the rail system connects at Secaucus Junction, and the ride from Secaucus Junction to the Sports Complex station is approximately 10 minutes.

Where is the rideshare pickup at MetLife Stadium?

The designated Rideshare Zone is in Lot E off of West Peripheral Road, right outside of the Verizon Gate. Rideshare surge pricing is often in effect after the game, and larger crowds can mean waits of over an hour.

What time do gates open at MetLife Stadium?

For most events, including NFL games, the gates open two hours prior to the event. Start times for a specific event are listed on the official event page.

What is the bag policy at MetLife Stadium?

All guests are searched before entry. Bags that exceed the permissible size can be returned to your vehicle or checked at a Bag Check Facility outside each open gate, for $5 at Non-NFL Events or complimentary at NFL Events. Medically necessary items are excepted after inspection at a designated gate.

Can I leave and re-enter MetLife Stadium during an event?

There is no re-entry for most stadium events, including New York Giants games. During New York Jets games, guests may re-enter up to one hour prior to kickoff.

Is MetLife Stadium cash-free?

Yes. Cash is not accepted at concession stands or retail locations. Reverse ATMs are located in MetLife West Hall and sections 118, 128, 149, 220a, 245, 322 and 347.