MetLife Stadium is the 82,500-seat home the New York Giants and New York Jets share in East Rutherford, New Jersey — the largest stadium in the NFL and one of only two in the league split between two franchises. It’s also fresh off a landmark moment: on July 19, 2026, it became the first venue in the New York/New Jersey area ever to host a FIFA World Cup final, with Spain beating Argentina 1-0 in front of a sellout crowd.
Whether you’re headed to a Giants or Jets game, a concert, or just want the full picture before you go, this guide covers seating and the best sections, parking and prepaid permits, the bag policy and what actually gets you through the gate, accessible seating, how to get there without a car, and the record-setting events — from Super Bowl XLVIII to the 2026 World Cup final — that have made MetLife one of the most important venues in American sports.
Quick Answer
MetLife Stadium seats 82,500 and is the largest stadium in the NFL, shared by the New York Giants and New York Jets in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Tickets are sold through Ticketmaster and the stadium box office as mobile-only entry, parking is prepaid by permit and runs roughly $30-$65 per car depending on the lot for NFL game days, and every gate enforces a clear-bag policy: one clear bag up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″, or a small clutch up to 4.5″ x 6.5″, plus a one-gallon clear freezer bag.
Planning Your Visit: Tickets, Parking & Bag Policy
Tickets for Giants and Jets games, concerts, and international soccer matches are sold through Ticketmaster, MetLife Stadium’s official ticketing partner, and through the on-site box office, which typically sets up in a trailer outside the MetLife Gate and opens a few hours before kickoff on event days. All tickets are mobile-only through the Ticketmaster app — printed tickets generally aren’t accepted, so make sure your phone is charged before you leave home. Pricing swings widely by event: sideline lower-bowl seats near midfield command the highest prices, while upper-deck and end-zone seats are the most affordable entry point.
Parking is spread across roughly 27,500 spaces in lettered lots surrounding the stadium, plus an off-site overflow lot with shuttle service for sold-out NFL games. For NFL games, parking must be prepaid in advance and can be added when you buy your tickets; permits come as a phone-displayed QR code or a printable barcode/hang-tag, and prices vary by lot and proximity to the gates. Tailgating is allowed in most lots unless posted otherwise, making the parking areas as much a part of gameday as the seats inside.
The stadium follows the NFL’s clear-bag policy at every gate: one clear bag no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″, or a small clutch bag up to 4.5″ x 6.5″, plus a one-gallon clear freezer bag are all permitted, one bag per person. Backpacks, non-clear purses, diaper bags, briefcases, and seat cushions are turned away — a limited exception exists for medically necessary items after inspection at a designated gate. If you show up with an oversized bag anyway, bag check is available outside each gate for a small fee (typically waived for NFL games). Because exact hours, prices, and event-specific rules change throughout the year, always confirm details on the official MetLife Stadium Plan Your Visit page before you go.
Gates & Getting Through Security Fast
MetLife Stadium’s perimeter gates are named for corporate sponsors — including the MetLife Gate, HCLTech Gate, Verizon Gate, Pepsi Gate, Moody’s Gate, and Bud Light Gate — and which one you use generally depends on your ticketed section, so check your ticket or the event’s gate map ahead of time. Every bag is visually inspected and every guest passes through a walk-through metal detector, so arriving with an already-compliant clear bag (or no bag at all) is the single biggest time-saver at entry. Lines build fastest in the 60-90 minutes before an NFL kickoff, so arriving early and picking the correct gate for your section avoids the worst of the crowd.
Seating Chart & Best Seats
MetLife Stadium’s lower-bowl sideline seats sit just 46 feet from the field at the 50-yard line — the shortest sideline distance of any NFL stadium — giving even mid-priced lower-level seats an unusually close view of the action. Sections in the 100s along both sidelines, roughly between the 40-yard lines, are considered the premium sightline zone for football, while corner and upper-deck sections in the 300s offer a full-field view at a lower price point.
Because the Giants and Jets share the exact same bowl, seat locations and section numbers stay consistent between teams — only the lighting, branding, and turf markings change on gameday. For concerts and soccer matches, the field-level configuration shifts and floor seating is often added, so it’s worth checking the event-specific interactive seating chart on the official site before choosing seats.
Accessible Seating & ADA Services
MetLife Stadium offers wheelchair and companion seating on every level of the bowl, along with broader ADA services such as sensory-inclusion accommodations, hearing loops, and closed captioning for scoreboard content. Guests who know in advance they’ll need accessible seating can contact the stadium’s Guest Services hotline before an event to check availability and exchange options, and anyone who arrives without pre-arranged accessible seating can visit the nearest Guest Services booth or Concierge Desk on the day of the event. Accessibility Assistants stationed at the gates can also provide wheelchair transport from the entrance to your seat on request.
Getting to MetLife Stadium
The stadium’s address is One MetLife Stadium Drive, East Rutherford, NJ 07073 — about 8 miles west of Manhattan and roughly 10 miles from Newark Liberty International Airport via the New Jersey Turnpike. Driving is common, but traffic around the Meadowlands Sports Complex backs up fast before kickoff, so building in extra time (or arriving well before your prepaid parking window) pays off.
For fans without a car, NJ Transit runs special event trains from New York Penn Station to Secaucus Junction, connecting directly to the Meadowlands Rail Station just steps from the stadium — about a 10-minute ride from Secaucus. Coach USA’s 351 Meadowlands Express bus also runs directly from the Port Authority Bus Terminal to the stadium for NFL games and other major events, which is often the simplest option if you’d rather skip parking altogether.
A Landmark in Modern Stadium Design
Designed by 360 Architecture, EwingCole, Rockwell Group, and Bruce Mau Design, MetLife Stadium opened on April 10, 2010, replacing the longtime Giants Stadium at a construction cost of roughly $1.6 billion — the most expensive stadium in the U.S. at the time. The open-air facility has no roof, leaving fans exposed to the full range of a New York-area winter, and was built with dual-team flexibility baked in: interior lighting shifts blue for Giants games and green for Jets games, and the building can be reconfigured between tenants in a matter of hours.
At 82,500 seats, it remains the largest stadium in the NFL by capacity, and its footprint made it a benchmark for the wave of shared, multi-purpose NFL venues that followed, including SoFi Stadium — the league’s only other two-team stadium.
World-Stage Events and Milestones
MetLife Stadium has hosted some of the biggest events in global sports. Super Bowl XLVIII on February 2, 2014, was the first Super Bowl ever played at a cold-weather, open-air stadium — a first for the NFL. The venue also hosted WrestleMania 29 in 2013 and WrestleMania 35 in 2019, each drawing well over 80,000 fans.
On the international stage, MetLife hosted the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final on July 13, 2025, where Chelsea beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 — a dress rehearsal for an even bigger moment. On July 19, 2026, MetLife Stadium hosted the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, with Spain winning 1-0 to claim the title — the first World Cup final ever played in the New York/New Jersey area, cementing the stadium’s place among the most significant venues in world sports.
MetLife Stadium guide FAQs
How many seats does MetLife Stadium have?
MetLife Stadium seats 82,500, making it the largest stadium in the NFL by capacity. It’s also one of only two NFL stadiums shared by two teams — the New York Giants and New York Jets — alongside SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
What is the MetLife Stadium bag policy?
MetLife Stadium enforces a clear-bag policy at every gate: one clear bag no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″, or a small clutch bag up to 4.5″ x 6.5″, plus a one-gallon clear freezer bag, one bag per person. Backpacks, non-clear purses, diaper bags, and briefcases are not allowed inside, though bag check is available outside each gate.
How much is parking at MetLife Stadium?
Parking must be prepaid in advance for NFL games and is priced by lot — roughly $30-$65 per car depending on proximity to the gates and whether it’s an on-site or shuttle lot. Prices and lot availability vary by event, so check the official MetLife Stadium parking page before you buy.
Can you get to MetLife Stadium without a car?
Yes. NJ Transit runs special event trains from New York Penn Station to Secaucus Junction, which connects to the Meadowlands Rail Station a short walk from the stadium, and Coach USA’s 351 Meadowlands Express bus runs directly from Port Authority Bus Terminal for NFL games and other major events.
Does MetLife Stadium have a roof?
No. MetLife Stadium is an open-air facility with no roof, so games and events proceed rain, snow, or shine, and fans should dress for whatever the New York-area weather is doing that day.
Did the 2026 FIFA World Cup final happen at MetLife Stadium?
Yes. MetLife Stadium hosted the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 19, 2026, between Argentina and Spain, with Spain winning 1-0 — the first World Cup final ever played in the New York/New Jersey area.
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