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Looking for section numbers and the best seats by level? See the MetLife Stadium Seating Chart.
Upcoming events at MetLife Stadium
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Two NFL teams, one stadium in the Meadowlands
MetLife Stadium is the open-air football stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, that serves as home field for both the New York Giants and the New York Jets. It seats 82,500, and it hosts NFL games, stadium concerts, international soccer and large one-off events such as WrestleMania.
The stadium opened on April 10, 2010, under the name New Meadowlands Stadium, and took the MetLife name in 2011. It sits in the Meadowlands Sports Complex, built on what had been the parking lot of Giants Stadium (1976–2010). The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority owns it, and the New Meadowlands Stadium Company operates it. Because both franchises share the building, there is a home game on most fall weekends, and the same seat can be a Giants seat one Sunday and a Jets seat the next.
Two practical points shape every visit. First, there is no roof, so weather matters from September through January. Second, the stadium is an island of parking lots surrounded by highways, so the trip in and out takes more planning than the game itself.
How the bowl is numbered
MetLife uses a simple three-tier system, and once you know it, any ticket listing becomes readable at a glance.
- Lower level (100s): sections 101 to 149, ringing the field. Some sideline sections carry letters, such as 111C or 115C, which mark the premium seats directly behind the benches.
- Mezzanine (200s): sections 201 to 250, a middle tier that includes the stadium's two large club areas along the sidelines (roughly sections 207C to 220C on one side and 232C to 245C on the other).
- Upper level (300s): sections 301 to 350, the largest and steepest tier.
- Concert floor: for end-stage shows, temporary floor sections (labeled Floor 1 through about Floor 14) are set on the field.
The home benches for both the Giants and the Jets sit on the same sideline, in front of the 111C to 115C block, which is the Coaches Club (field-level club seats with access to a lounge behind the bench). The visiting team's bench is across the field, near section 139. That means the home and visitor sides are the same no matter which New York team you are watching, which simplifies buying for fans of either franchise.
Best seats at MetLife for football
For a Giants or Jets game, the best balance of view and value usually sits between the 20-yard lines in the mezzanine or in rows 15 and higher of the lower sideline sections. Football is a game of spacing, and a little height lets you see routes develop and the line of scrimmage clearly.
Sideline choices
The home sideline (sections around 108 to 118 and 208 to 219) puts you behind the Giants or Jets bench and in the thickest part of the home crowd. The visitor sideline (the sections centered on 139 and 239) offers the same geometry, with the opposing bench in front of you. Very low rows behind either bench are a mixed bag: you are close to the players, but standing staff and equipment can block the near sideline.
Sun and shade
The stadium runs roughly north to south, and the home benches sit on the east side. For 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. kickoffs, the east sideline (roughly sections 108 to 118 and 208 to 219) takes the longest stretch of direct sun, while the west sideline and the south end zone fall into shade first. In September that sun can be hot; in December the shaded side can feel bitterly cold. Choose accordingly.
End zones and the upper deck
End zone seats in the lower level are good for watching red-zone plays up close and poor for judging anything between the 30-yard lines. The 300 level is a long way up, but the first rows of the upper sideline sections give a full-field, almost broadcast-style view. Rows near the very top of the 300s at the corners are the seats most fans regret.
Concerts, soccer and special events
MetLife is one of the busiest stadium concert venues in the country, and most tours use an end-stage layout, with the stage at one end of the field. In that setup, the best seats are the floor sections nearest the stage and the lower-level sections along the sidelines closest to the stage end, which put you at an angle to the performer without the full length of the field in between.
- Good for sound and sightlines: lower and mezzanine sections on the sidelines, angled toward the stage.
- Good for atmosphere: the floor, though the floor is flat, so a tall crowd ahead of you can block the view from the rear floor sections.
- Usually poor: sections directly to the side of or behind the stage, which are often sold only for in-the-round shows or marked as limited view.
For soccer, the sideline logic is the same as football. MetLife hosted the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 19, 2026, under the temporary name New York New Jersey Stadium, with an attendance of 80,663, and it hosted Super Bowl XLVIII in February 2014.
Getting to the Meadowlands
Plan the trip before you plan the tailgate. The stadium is a short distance west of Manhattan, but highway traffic around the sports complex can turn a short drive into a long one on event days.
- Train: NJ Transit runs trains to Secaucus Junction, where riders transfer to a direct shuttle train to the Meadowlands Rail Station beside the stadium. From Penn Station in New York, this is generally the fastest option. Event rail tickets can be bought in the NJ Transit mobile app.
- Bus: Coach USA's 351 Meadowlands Express runs from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan directly to the stadium.
- Car: parking is in the surrounding lots, and passes are usually sold in advance. Lots close about two hours after the game ends.
After the game, expect lines for the train platform. Leaving a few minutes early, or waiting out the first surge at your tailgate, both make the trip home easier. Check NJ Transit's Meadowlands page for current event service.
Entry, bags and tailgating rules
As of the 2025 season, MetLife enforces the NFL-style clear-bag policy (bags must be transparent plastic, vinyl or PVC and no larger than 12 by 12 by 6 inches). A one-gallon clear freezer bag or a small clutch of about 4.5 by 6.5 inches is also allowed. Backpacks, coolers, camera bags and larger purses are not. A bag check operates outside the stadium for fans who arrive with the wrong bag.
The stadium is smoke-free, and all bags and vehicles may be searched. Tailgating is permitted in designated areas, and the team guidelines require everything to be set up in front of or behind a single vehicle. Grills are allowed, with hot coals going into the designated containers.
Policies change from season to season and from event to event, so check the stadium's current policy before you go.
Food, clubs and a short history
Concessions ring every concourse, and the club areas on the mezzanine and the field-level clubs behind the benches add indoor lounges, which matter on cold December afternoons. The stadium has more than 200 suites across several levels for groups.
MetLife replaced Giants Stadium, which opened in 1976 and hosted its final game on January 3, 2010, before being demolished that year. Built for about 1.6 billion, the new stadium was the most expensive in the United States when it opened. It has since hosted Super Bowl XLVIII, WrestleMania 29 and WrestleMania 35, and the 2026 World Cup final, along with two NFL schedules every season.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capacity of MetLife Stadium?
MetLife Stadium seats 82,500 for football. Capacity was set at 80,663 for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
Does MetLife Stadium have a roof?
No. It is an open-air stadium, so dress for the weather, especially for late-season games.
Which sideline is the home side at MetLife Stadium?
The Giants and the Jets both use the same home bench, on the east sideline in front of sections 111C to 115C. The visitors sit across the field near section 139.
What is the bag policy at MetLife Stadium?
As of the 2025 season, bags must be clear and no larger than 12 by 12 by 6 inches, or a one-gallon clear freezer bag, or a small clutch. Check the stadium's current policy before you go.
What is the best way to get to MetLife Stadium from New York City?
Take NJ Transit from Penn Station to Secaucus Junction and transfer to the Meadowlands shuttle train, or ride the Coach USA 351 bus from the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Which seats get shade at MetLife Stadium?
For afternoon kickoffs, the west sideline and the south end zone fall into shade first. The east, home-bench side takes the most sun.