State Farm Stadium Fan Guide [Arizona Cardinals]

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This is a guide to the Arizona Cardinals home stadium (State Farm Stadium). Going to a NFL game can be fun, but it is also a unique experience that you will want to plan for accordingly. There are certain policies and procedures you will want to be aware of beforehand, as well as stadium gate and parking lot locations for easy entrance.

Need Tickets or Parking Passes? – I like to use Vivid Seats because they allow you to browse a parking map to find a lot and price that makes sense for you. Click here to view Arizona Cardinals tickets and parking passes available at VividSeats.com (affiliate link takes you to vividseats.com).

In this article we will discuss:

What to bring to a Cardinals Game
Arizona Cardinals Ticket Information
State Farm Stadium Gate Information
Best Place to Park at State Farm Stadium
Does State Farm Stadium Take Cash?
How Long are Arizona Cardinals Games?
Where is the Cardinals Pro Shop?

Table of Contents

What to Bring to a Cardinals Game?

If you are going to an Arizona Cardinals game, planning ahead is always important. Below is a list of things you might need to bring, and you will want to make sure you are complying with any security protocols the stadium has:

Clear Stadium Bag – NFL stadiums have strict bag policies and recommend a clear stadium bag like this one available at Amazon (paid affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Make sure to verify the size dimensions meets the size standards for State Farm Stadium.

Reserve Parking – Many stadiums recommend fans to pre-purchase parking passes if needed to help avoid the hassle and wait times associated with buying passes at the stadium. Click here to view the current prices of Arizona Cardinals parking passes and tickets available at Vivid Seats (paid affiliate link takes you to VividSeats.com).

Weather and Sun Protection – State Farm Stadium can be a dome or can be an open-air stadium, which means you will need to be potentially prepared to face the elements when you go to an Arizona Cardinals game.

Cashless Payment – Many stadiums are transitioning to cashless payments, so bringing a form of payment other than cash is a good idea.

Noise-Canceling Headphones – Stadiums can get very loud, and noise-canceling headphones may be needed for toddlers.

Can You Bring a Bag Into State Farm Stadium?

As an emphasis on security has increased in recent years, NFL stadiums have adjusted their bag policies. There are strict regulations regarding the types of bags allowed inside a stadium. The NFL recommends fans to use clear stadium bags like this one available at Amazon (paid affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

Clear stadium bags help with security at the gate, and not only make the stadium safer, but also help security lines move faster. But each stadium has its own safety guidelines, and may include certain exceptions. To read more, I would advise you to visit the State Farm Stadium bag policy.

Can You Bring a Sign Into State Farm Stadium?

Bringing a sign to the game can be a fun way to add to the experience of going to a NFL Game. You may be wondering if you can bring a sign into State Farm Stadium. Yes, you can bring a sing into State Farm Stadium, but there are some restrictions. When you bring a sign into State Farm Stadium, here are some things you will need to abide by:

State Farm Stadium Signs must be football related
State Farm Stadium Signs in good taste, which will be determined by security
State Farm Stadium Signs must be handheld
State Farm Stadium Signs can’t be commercial
State Farm Stadium Signs can’t be political
State Farm Stadium Signs can’t be obscene in nature
State Farm Stadium Signs can’t obstruct others view or stadium signage
State Farm Stadium Signs must be made of paper or other lightweight material

Management reserves the right to confiscate signs that are in violation of stadium policy. It is always a good idea to check out the State Farm Stadium information guide or contact the team if you have any questions.

Arizona Cardinals Ticket Information

Buying Cardinals Tickets

As of this year, the Cardinals ticket office no longer sells hard tickets at the stadium. The ticket office at the stadium is open only to assist in ticket resolution issues or help fans buy tickets on their phones. All tickets are digital. Buying in advance is always a good idea necessary.

You can buy your tickets directly from the team’s website, but once the game is sold-out, you will need to use the secondary ticket market, where you can buy A r i z o n a Cardinals tickets that are being re-sold. For these types of tickets, I like to use Vivid Seats because they show me what my view from the seats will look like prior to purchase.

Click here to view Arizona Cardinals tickets available at Vivid Seats (affiliate link takes you to VividSeats.com).

The Arizona Cardinals Ticket Office is located between State Farm Stadium Gate 2 and the State Farm Stadium Gila River Club East Entrance Gate. Please remember that NFL stadiums have adopted mobile ticketing in an attempt to reduce the risk of ticket fraud. To learn more about how the Cardinals mobile ticketing works, click here.

To read more, visit our article about purchasing Cardinals tickets at the stadium.

State Farm Stadium Gate Information

State Farm Stadium Gates for the public open 90 minutes prior to kickoff, while the Club Entrances will open 3 hours and 15 minutes prior to kickoff. Keep in mind that some Public Entrance lines take awhile to get in, so getting there early is always a good plan so you don’t miss any part of the game.

There are 3 Public Entrances and two Club or VIP Entrances at State Farm Stadium. All guests are subject to security inspection prior to admittance into the stadium. Re-entry is prohibited.

To read more about the location of entry gates, visit our State Farm Stadium Gate Guide.

Best Place to Park at State Farm Stadium for Cardinals Games

There are many lots and a parking garage surrounding State Farm Stadium for you to choose from. The parking surfaces range from covered parking on cement to open air parking on grass or turf. All of the lots have an associated color, but keep in mind that one color may be tied to several parking lots.

While there can be many entry points to these parking areas, on Arizona Cardinals gamedays there are specific entry points into each group of lots or garage. There will be signs on gameday pointing to the entry points, but it is best to accommodate yourself with your entry point ahead of time.

State Farm Stadium Parking Tips

Buy Prepaid Parking if Possible – Buying a parking pass in advance can help you avoid the hassle of buying at the stadium, and allows you to reserve a spot in a parking lot that makes the most sense for you. With limited spaces that will be shared with public parking, buying ahead of time is smart This is where you can view the current price of parking passes available for Cardinals games at Vivid Seats (paid affiliate link takes you to VividSeats.com).

Check Traffic Conditions – Traffic to Cardinals games can get very heavy and cause delays. While not all lots have multiple entry points, some do. Not only that, some have multiple routes to get to the entry point. With this in mind, State Farm Stadium gives you the ability to check traffic conditions on gamedays.

Bring Your Phone – State Farm Stadium Parking Lots and Garages use digital parking passes only, so you will need to have a phone that is operational and is able to show your parking pass. It is a good idea to have a backup power supply or way to charge your phone in case you are asked to show proof of a parking pass.

To read more about lots and options, visit our Arizona Cardinals Parking Guide.

How Long Do Arizona Cardinals Games Last?

You can expect an Arizona Cardinals game to last slightly over three hours on average, but it is worth noting that some games can last closer to 3.5 hours (or longer) depending on pace of play. In 2021, the average length of an Arizona Cardinals game was 3 hours and 5 minutes.

In 2021, the longest Arizona Cardinals game lasted 3 hours and 13 minutes, and the shortest Arizona Cardinals game lasted 2 hours and 57 minutes. The main takeaway is most Arizona Cardinals games last slightly over three hours, but there are exceptions both ways.

To read more, visit our article about the length of football games.

SOURCE: Pro Football Reference Gamelogs

Where is the Cardinals Pro Shop?

The State Farm Stadium Pro Shop is located inside the stadium near section 123 on the Main level. On gamedays, you will need a ticket to access the Arizona Cardinals Team Store. On non-gamedays, all fans can get into this part of the stadium and get to the Arizona Cardinals team Store. Keep in mind, cash is no longer accepted at the team store, so plan your payment options accordingly.

If you are shopping for Cardinals fan gear, you can also do that online. This is where you can view Cardinals gear available at NFLShop.com (paid affiliate link takes you to NFLShop.com).

Does State Farm Stadium Accept Cash Inside the Stadium?

As of this year, for safety and efficiency purposes, cash payments are no longer accepted inside Sate Farm Stadium. Fans can use free cash-to-card conversion stations, or reverse ATM’s, which issue cards that can be used at State Farm Stadium and wherever else debit cards are accepted (source). There will be several reverse ATM’s available on gamedays throughout the stadium.

If you would like more information about similar issues like cash payments at State Farm Stadium, check out the Arizona Cardinals State Farm Stadium Information page. If you are worried about your payment options, it is always a good idea to contact the team ahead of time.

Arizona Cardinals Contact Info

This website (sportsfanfocus.com) has no affiliation with State Farm Stadium, the Arizona Cardinals, NFL, or any of the events hosted at State Farm Stadium.

Any information is provided “as is” with no guarantee of completeness, meaning much of this information is subject to change, and although we do our best to keep these guides updated, we can’t guarantee accuracy at all times. For all official information, we urge you to contact the Arizona Cardinals staff. Contact information is below:

Arizona Cardinals – View Team Contact Information
State Farm Stadium Contact Information – View Stadium Information