Stadium Bag Policies: The Clear Bag Rule Explained

The clear-bag rule in one paragraph

At an NFL stadium, you may carry one clear bag made of plastic, vinyl or PVC no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or a one-gallon clear freezer bag, plus one small clutch no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches, which does not have to be clear. That is the league-wide clear-bag policy as posted by the NFL when this guide was checked on October 1, 2026. Anything else, from a backpack to a large purse, stays outside.

The rule is simple at football stadiums because the league sets it. It is not simple everywhere else. Major League Baseball parks set their own limits, many of them larger than the NFL's. Arenas run the widest range of all, from venues that accept a large tote to venues that refuse any bag bigger than a phone wallet. This guide covers all three, with the dates each policy was checked. Rules change by season and sometimes by event, so check the venue's current policy before you go.

What the NFL policy allows, item by item

The NFL's posted policy, as of October 1, 2026, permits the following at its stadiums:

• Clear bags of plastic, vinyl or PVC no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches (about 30.5 by 15.25 by 30.5 centimeters). The league's list includes clear backpacks, fanny packs and cinch bags within that size.
• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bags, the resealable kitchen kind.
• One small bag no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches, with or without a handle or strap, carried alongside a clear bag. It may be any color.
• Logos on one side of a clear bag only, and no buckles, grommets or decorative elements that hide the contents.
• Medically necessary items after proper inspection, usually at a designated gate.

Items carried in pockets or worn, such as binoculars or a camera on a strap, do not need to go in a bag. The full text is on the NFL's clear bag policy page.

One practical note on sizing: some stadiums list the limit as 12 by 12 by 6 inches. That is the same bag measured in a different order, not a different rule.

Allegiant Stadium, MetLife and other stadium wrinkles

Individual stadiums publish their own versions of the policy, and the venue's list is the one security staff will enforce. Several add details the league page does not.

Allegiant Stadium bag policy

As posted on Allegiant Stadium's first-time guest page on October 1, 2026, bags must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, plus a clutch or wallet no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 by 2 inches. The stadium's prohibited list names backpacks, fanny packs and cinch bags along with diaper bags, seat cushions, camera bags and purses larger than the clutch size. That list is stricter than the NFL's general wording, so leave a clear backpack at home for a Raiders game or a concert. A paid bag check operates at three locations, cashless only, from when the gates open until an hour after the event. Details are on Allegiant Stadium's guest page.

MetLife Stadium bag policy

As posted on the Jets' stadium FAQ on October 1, 2026, MetLife allows clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags up to 12 by 12 by 6 inches, a one-gallon clear plastic food storage bag, and a small clutch about the size of a hand (4.5 by 6.5 inches), carried separately or inside the clear bag. Purses, backpacks, fanny packs, cinch bags, coolers and camera bags are prohibited. A bag check sits outside the stadium between the Verizon and HCL Tech gates. The rules are the same for Giants and Jets games; see the stadium FAQ.

Elsewhere in the league

• Arrowhead Stadium (as of the 2025 season) names a clear backpack within the 12-by-6-by-12 limit as acceptable.
• Gillette Stadium (as of the 2025 season) allows a small wristlet up to 6.5 by 4.5 inches in place of the clutch and offers mobile lockers for other bags.
• SoFi Stadium (as of 2026) applies the clear-bag policy to all events, not only NFL games.
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium (as of 2026) advises fans to bring no bag at all for the fastest entry.

MLB ballparks: larger limits, no single rule

Baseball has no league-wide clear-bag requirement comparable to the NFL's. Each club posts its own rule, and many allow a larger bag than a football stadium does. As posted on team sites in 2026:

• Yankee Stadium: one soft-sided bag up to 16 by 16 by 8 inches plus one smaller soft-sided personal item. Hard-sided bags are prohibited, bags must fit the sizing bins without adjustment, and there is no storage at the stadium.
• Wrigley Field: soft-sided bags, purses, drawstring bags, fanny packs and soft coolers up to 16 by 16 by 8 inches are allowed. Backpacks are banned, including clear backpacks.
• Fenway Park: single-compartment bags no larger than 12 by 12 by 6 inches. Clear bags are encouraged, but backpacks, duffel bags and clear backpacks are not allowed.
• Dodger Stadium: clear plastic bags up to 12 by 12 by 6 inches and non-clear clutches up to about 5 by 8 by 2 inches, with paid lockers at Lots H and N.
• loanDepot park: clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags up to 16 by 16 by 8 inches, plus small clutches and medical or infant bags.

The pattern to remember: a backpack is the item most often refused at ballparks, even where a large tote is fine. Yankee Stadium also notes that different restrictions may apply at non-baseball events, so a concert at a ballpark can bring a different rule.

Arenas: where the strictest rules are

Indoor arenas set the tightest limits in live events. Several refuse clear bags that would be welcome at any NFL stadium, so the clear tote that got you into a football game may not get you into a hockey game or concert.

• Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles), as posted October 1, 2026: bags, backpacks, purses, totes, fanny packs, camera bags and clear bags are all prohibited. Only clutches and wallets smaller than 5 by 9 by 1 inches are allowed, plus medical and parental bags under 14 by 14 by 6 inches after X-ray screening.
• TD Garden (Boston), as posted October 1, 2026: bags, including clear bags, may not exceed 6 by 4 by 1.5 inches, with exceptions for diaper, breast pump and medical bags.
• T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas), as posted October 1, 2026: only small personal bags up to 9 by 5 by 2 inches, including fanny packs, crossbody bags and clear bags within that size.
• Ball Arena (Denver), as of 2026: general bags are not permitted at all; medical and diaper bags up to 14 by 14 by 6 inches are allowed after inspection.
• Barclays Center (Brooklyn), as of fall 2026: nothing larger than 10 by 6 by 2 inches, and no backpacks at any size.
• Sphere (Las Vegas), as of 2026: clutches, purses and fanny packs up to about 6 by 6 by 2 inches.

A few arenas are more relaxed. Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall, as of fall 2026, do not require clear bags but refuse anything larger than 22 by 14 by 9 inches, and State Farm Arena in Atlanta and Chase Center in San Francisco cap bags at 14 by 14 by 6 inches. The difference between the strictest and loosest arena is large enough that checking the venue page is the only safe approach. The arena vs. stadium guide explains why indoor venues tend to run tighter rules.

Medical, diaper and parent bag exceptions

Nearly every venue carves out an exception for bags that hold medical equipment, and many extend it to diaper bags for guests with young children. The details vary:

• NFL stadiums allow medically necessary items after inspection, often at a designated gate. MetLife sends these through a specified gate.
• Arenas usually set a size cap even for exempt bags, commonly 14 by 14 by 6 inches at Crypto.com Arena and Ball Arena, and run them through X-ray.
• Ball Arena requires medical and diaper bags to enter through specific doors for screening.
• Allegiant Stadium lists diaper bags among prohibited items, while allowing medically necessary items after inspection.

If you need an exception, find the designated entrance on the venue map before you arrive. Joining the general line with an oversized medical bag usually means being redirected and losing time.

What happens if your bag is wrong

Security will not let a noncompliant bag through, so the question is what happens next. The answer depends on the venue:

• Paid bag check on site: Allegiant Stadium, MetLife Stadium, SoFi Stadium, TD Garden and T-Mobile Arena all offer one, and Crypto.com Arena points guests to lockers nearby. Expect a fee per bag and cashless payment.
• No storage at all: Yankee Stadium states that it has no storage area, and Madison Square Garden offers no bag or coat check. An oversized bag there means a trip back to your car or hotel.
• No re-entry: T-Mobile Arena and many others do not allow re-entry, so a checked bag stays out of reach until the event ends.

A bag check also adds a detour before you reach the gate, and a wrong bag can cost you the first quarter or the opening act. The simplest fix is to buy one inexpensive clear stadium bag that meets the 12-by-6-by-12 rule and a small clutch, which covers every NFL stadium, and to carry nothing larger than a phone wallet to an arena with a strict policy.

A pack-light checklist

• Check the venue page the week of the event, not last season's memory. Policies change between seasons and sometimes between a game and a concert.
• Measure the bag. Fit inside the stated dimensions, straps excluded where the venue says so.
• Skip the backpack unless the venue explicitly allows yours.
• Carry the essentials in pockets: phone, ID, card and keys.
• Load your ticket before you leave. Many venues are mobile-only; see the mobile ticket transfer guide.

For everything else about the day, from gate times to getting home, see the event day guide.

Sources

• NFL – Clear bag policy
• Allegiant Stadium – First-time guest
• New York Jets – MetLife Stadium FAQ
• Green Bay Packers – Carry-in policy
• Arrowhead Stadium – Clear bag policy
• Gillette Stadium – Bag policy
• SoFi Stadium – Stadium policies
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium – A to Z guide
• New York Yankees – Yankee Stadium policies
• Chicago Cubs – Wrigley Field security
• Boston Red Sox – Fenway Park security
• Los Angeles Dodgers – Dodger Stadium guide