McLane Stadium is where the Baylor Bears play football, and it’s one of the only major college stadiums you can reach by boat. It sits on the north bank of the Brazos River, right on the Baylor University campus in Waco, Texas — a location that lets fans ‘sailgate’ from the water before kickoff instead of just tailgating from a parking lot.
This guide covers the basics people search for first — where the stadium is, who plays there, and how big it is — then goes deep on everything you need for an actual visit: the clear bag policy, gate times, parking, best seats for shade, getting there without a car, concessions, accessibility and tailgating. Rules can change season to season, so treat the official Baylor Athletics links below as the final word.
Quick Answer
McLane Stadium is Baylor University’s football stadium — home of the Baylor Bears — located at 1001 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Waco, Texas, on the north bank of the Brazos River next to the Baylor campus. It opened in 2014, seats roughly 45,000, uses a clear bag policy, and relies on pre-paid parking lots plus a free downtown shuttle on gamedays.
Where Is McLane Stadium Located?
McLane Stadium sits in Waco, Texas, roughly halfway between Dallas and Austin along I-35, directly on Baylor University’s campus on the river side of town. The address is 1001 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Waco, TX 76706. It replaced the much older Floyd Casey Stadium, which stood several miles away on the east side of Waco — so if you remember Baylor football from before 2014, note that the stadium location itself moved, not just the building.
Being on the Brazos River is the defining feature of the location: a cove called the Baylor Basin runs alongside the stadium, and the Baylor campus, downtown Waco, and the McLane Stadium footprint all sit within about a mile of each other on the river’s north bank.
McLane Stadium at a Glance
The stadium cost roughly $266 million and was designed by the architecture firm Populous. It was originally announced as Baylor Stadium and renamed McLane Stadium in December 2013 to honor alumnus and businessman Drayton McLane Jr., who gave the lead gift toward construction.
Capacity is commonly listed at about 45,000, with the design allowing future expansion toward roughly 55,000. McLane Stadium opened on August 31, 2014 with a 45-0 win over SMU.
Who Plays at McLane Stadium?
McLane Stadium is the home field of Baylor University’s football team, the Baylor Bears, who compete in the Big 12 Conference. It’s a Baylor Athletics venue first and foremost — every home football game is played there.
Outside of football season, the stadium also hosts concerts, community gatherings and occasional outside events (it has drawn crowds of 35,000-plus for major concert tours), but Baylor Bears football is what fills it most Saturdays each fall.
Bag Policy and What to Bring
Baylor Athletics enforces a clear bag policy at all its venues, including McLane Stadium, and recommends skipping a bag entirely for the fastest entry. Umbrellas are not permitted inside the stadium.
Under the policy, you may carry one clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″, or a one-gallon clear re-sealable freezer bag. A small clutch bag roughly hand-sized, with or without a strap, is also allowed. Medically necessary bags are inspected at the gate. Backpacks, drawstring bags, non-clear totes, mesh bags, fanny packs, camera bags, diaper bags and chairbacks are not allowed. Check Baylor’s official clear bag policy page before you pack, since exact exceptions can shift.
Gate Times and Entry
Baylor lists gate times relative to kickoff: recruit entry opens about 2 hours before, suite/loge/club entrances open about 1 hour 45 minutes before, and all other gates open about 1 hour 30 minutes before kickoff. Gate A sits on the southwest corner and is reached through the South Plaza; Gates B, C and D are ADA accessible.
Berm seating has its own entrance, concessions and restrooms, and Berm ticket holders can’t cross into reserved seating (or vice versa). Stroller parking areas are set up at the South Plaza and Gate B entrances; strollers larger than 31″ wide or 52″ long aren’t permitted.
Best Seats and Views
McLane Stadium’s partial canopy only shades part of the bowl, so seat choice matters more than at a fully-covered stadium. The southwest side (roughly sections 100-108) picks up shade earlier, especially in the second half of afternoon games, and there’s additional shade under the upper-deck overhang. The north end zone sections are the sunniest in the house and get hot fast for early-season kickoffs.
Baylor’s student sections — the Baylor Line for first-year students plus a general-admission student section — sit along the visitor sideline (roughly sections 118-120 and 129) and stand the entire game, so expect more noise and less sitting room nearby. Visiting-team fans are typically seated in the upper deck around sections 314, 317, 319, 328 and 329.
Parking at McLane Stadium
Baylor’s pre-paid season-long lots are McLane Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4, the Gold Lot, Umphrey Law School, Ferrell Center, Dutton Garage and Speight Garage. Lots 1, 2 and the Gold Lot are assigned spaces; the rest are general parking. Every pass carries a unique QR code scanned at lot entry, and once you leave your lot, re-entry isn’t allowed.
A limited number of single-game passes are sometimes available while supplies last through BaylorBears.com/tickets; exact pricing isn’t published on the official page, so check there each season rather than relying on an old number. ADA parking is at the BRIC lot (100 Research Pkwy), which runs its own shuttle to the stadium for guests with proper plates or placards.
Baylor recommends using the Waze links on its official parking page rather than a standard map app, since gameday closures and ongoing I-35 construction near campus aren’t always reflected elsewhere. University Parks Dr. between Baylor Law School and Bagby Ave. typically closes a few hours before kickoff through about an hour after the game.
Getting There Without Driving
Baylor runs free gameday shuttles, including a route from downtown Waco that typically starts a few hours before kickoff and runs about an hour after the final whistle. Parking downtown and riding in is often the calmest option for a first visit, since several streets around the stadium close to traffic and lot re-entry isn’t allowed once you leave.
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) works but isn’t officially set up with a dedicated stadium drop-off zone, and demand across Waco spikes hard on home-game weekends — don’t count on a quick pickup right after the final whistle. If you’re flying in, the free shuttle network from downtown lots and the Ferrell Center/Speight Garage areas is generally more predictable than rideshare on gameday.
Tailgating and Sailgating
Baylor sells season and single-game tailgating packages through Baylor Athletics; questions go to Tailgating@baylor.edu. Bear Foundation members with a season-long RV pass park in a designated area. The official pages don’t publish tailgate opening times or specific grill/tent rules, so check the current tailgate map before you pack, and note that alcohol is not sold or permitted in Baylor’s tailgate lots.
Sailgating is McLane Stadium’s signature experience: boats tie up in the Baylor Basin or at slips right beside the stadium, and some fans tailgate from the water instead of a parking lot. Slip availability and docking rules are set by the university, so contact Baylor Athletics directly for current details before you plan a boat trip in.
Concessions and Alcohol
McLane Stadium concessions run cashless — credit, debit, Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted, but cash and checks are not. Expect typical stadium fare (hot dogs, popcorn, chips, soda) along with local vendors on the concourse.
Baylor is one of the few Power Four schools that doesn’t sell alcohol to the general public at football games, and the university has confirmed it has no plans to change that. The one exception is premium hospitality: suite packages such as the Magnolia Suite include beer and wine as part of their all-inclusive food and beverage service, so alcohol does exist inside the stadium on gameday — just not for general-admission or concourse purchase.
Accessibility
All gates except Gate A are ADA accessible, with wheelchair and companion seating available on every level. Public elevators are located near Gates B and C. Guests with an ADA placard can park at the BRIC lot (100 Research Pkwy), which runs its own accessible shuttle to the stadium before and after the game.
For ADA seating questions, companion-ticket exchanges, or any accessibility issue on gameday, call the Baylor Athletics Ticket Office at 254-710-1000 during business hours.
Planning Your Visit
Tickets, parking passes, tailgate packages and stadium tours are all handled through the official Baylor Bears athletics site, which is also the best place to confirm current gate times, parking lot pricing and any policy changes before each season. For driving directions and lot maps specifically, use Baylor’s football directions and parking page.
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McLane Stadium (Baylor Bears football) FAQs
Where is Baylor’s football stadium located?
McLane Stadium is at 1001 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Waco, Texas, on the north bank of the Brazos River on Baylor University’s campus.
What stadium do the Baylor Bears play in?
The Baylor Bears play their home football games at McLane Stadium, a roughly 45,000-seat stadium on the Baylor campus in Waco.
Who plays at McLane Stadium in Waco?
McLane Stadium is the home field of Baylor University’s football team. It also occasionally hosts concerts and community events outside of football season.
How many people does McLane Stadium hold?
Capacity is commonly listed at roughly 45,000, with a design that allows for future expansion toward about 55,000.
Can I bring a bag into McLane Stadium?
Only clear bags are allowed under Baylor’s clear bag policy: a clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″, a one-gallon clear freezer bag, or a small hand-sized clutch. Backpacks and non-clear totes are not permitted.
Is alcohol allowed at McLane Stadium?
Baylor doesn’t sell alcohol to the general public at football games, and that’s not expected to change. The exception is premium suites — the Magnolia Suite package, for example, includes beer and wine as part of its all-inclusive hospitality service.
How do I get to McLane Stadium without driving?
Baylor runs free gameday shuttles from downtown Waco and other lots. Rideshare works but has no dedicated drop-off zone and gets slow on gameday, so a shuttle is usually more reliable.
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