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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.
The short answer: where to sit at MetLife
For a Giants or Jets game at MetLife Stadium, buy a sideline seat between the 20-yard lines, either in the mezzanine (the 200 level) or in row 15 or higher of the lower bowl. Then pick your side by weather: the west sideline for shade on a warm September afternoon, the east sideline for sun on a raw December day. Those two choices, tier and side, matter more here than at most stadiums, because the building has no roof.
MetLife is the 82,500-seat, open-air stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, shared by the New York Giants and the New York Jets. Since both teams call it home, there is an NFL game on most fall weekends, and it fills the rest of the calendar with stadium concerts, international soccer and events such as WrestleMania.
- Best overall: 200-level sideline between the 20s.
- Closest without the obstructions: lower sideline, row 15 and up.
- Budget pick with a full-field view: front rows of the 300-level sideline.
- Skip: the top rows of the 300-level corners.
Sun, shade and the shared home sideline
Here is the detail that makes MetLife easy to buy for: both home teams use the same bench. The Giants and the Jets each sit on the east sideline, in front of the 111C to 115C block, and the visitors sit across the field near section 139. Whichever New York team you follow, the home side and the visitor side never change.
That east sideline is also the sunny one. With the field oriented close to north-south, for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. kickoffs, sections from about 108 to 118 and 208 to 219 stay in direct sun the longest. The west sideline and the south end zone lose the sun first.
- Early-season heat: choose the west sideline or the south end. Shade arrives sooner, and you will not squint into the light for three hours.
- Late-season cold: choose the east sideline. The sun that bothers people in September is welcome in December, when the shaded side can feel bitter.
- Night games: sun is irrelevant, so pick purely on view and bench preference.
The 111C to 115C block is the Coaches Club, field-level club seats with access to a lounge directly behind the bench. They are as close to the home team as a ticket gets. The lowest rows behind either bench, though, are not ideal for following the game, because standing staff and equipment can hide the near sideline.
Reading a MetLife ticket: tiers and section numbers
Section numbers tell you everything at MetLife, because the system is consistent from tier to tier.
- 100s, lower level: sections 101 through 149 circle the field. A letter after the number, as in 111C or 115C, marks premium seats directly behind a bench.
- 200s, mezzanine: sections 201 through 250. The two big sideline clubs live here, roughly 207C to 220C on one side and 232C to 245C on the other, which gives club ticket holders indoor lounge access on cold days.
- 300s, upper level: sections 301 through 350, the largest and steepest tier.
- Floor sections: for end-stage concerts, temporary sections labeled Floor 1 through about Floor 14 cover the field.
End-zone seats in the lower level frame red-zone plays nicely and make it hard to judge anything in the middle of the field. The first rows of the 300-level sideline give an almost television-style angle on the whole field, which is why they are the smartest budget buy in the building.
Concert floors and stage-end seats
Few American stadiums book more concerts than MetLife, and the usual setup is an end stage at the north or south goal line. That layout changes the seat math.
- Floor near the stage: the closest you will get, with the most energy. The field is flat, though, so from the back floor sections a tall crowd can block your view.
- Lower and mezzanine sidelines near the stage end: often the best compromise. You see the performer at an angle without looking down the full length of the field, and the sound is cleaner.
- Behind or beside the stage: usually sold only for in-the-round shows or flagged as limited view. Read the listing notes before buying.
Soccer follows the football rules: sideline seats with some height show the shape of play best. On July 19, 2026, playing under the temporary FIFA name New York New Jersey Stadium, the building staged the World Cup final in front of 80,663.
Train, bus or car to East Rutherford
MetLife sits a short distance west of Manhattan, surrounded by highways and parking lots. On event days, the drive can take longer than the distance suggests, so settle your route first.
- Rail: take NJ Transit to Secaucus Junction and switch to the shuttle train that terminates at Meadowlands Rail Station, steps from the gates. Coming from Penn Station, no other option tends to beat it. Buy event rail fares in NJ Transit's app.
- Bus: the Coach USA 351 Meadowlands Express leaves the Port Authority Bus Terminal and drops riders at the stadium.
- Driving: park in the surrounding lots, ideally with a pass bought ahead. Lots close about two hours after the final whistle.
Post-game train lines are long. Either leave a few minutes early or let the first wave clear while you pack up. For current event service, see NJ Transit's Meadowlands page.
Gate rules and tailgating
As of the 2025 season, MetLife follows a clear-bag policy: you may carry one clear bag (plastic, vinyl or PVC) up to 12 by 12 by 6 inches, a clear one-gallon freezer bag, or a clutch roughly 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Backpacks, coolers, camera bags and large purses stay outside, and a bag check operates beyond the gates for anyone caught out. Smoking is not allowed anywhere on site, and staff can search bags and cars.
Tailgating is a big part of a Meadowlands Sunday, and it is allowed in designated areas. Team guidelines ask fans to keep their setup in front of or behind a single vehicle; grills are fine, and hot coals go in the marked containers. Policies shift by season and by event, so check the stadium's current rules before you go. Every order through Reserved Seat is backed by a 100% guarantee.
How the stadium came to be
Doors first opened April 10, 2010, under the name New Meadowlands Stadium, and became MetLife Stadium in 2011. Its footprint was once the parking lot of Giants Stadium, the 1976 building that hosted a final game on January 3, 2010, and came down that year. At about 1.6 billion, no stadium in the country had cost more at the time of its debut.
Ownership rests with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority; day-to-day operation belongs to the New Meadowlands Stadium Company. Beyond two NFL schedules a year, its event list includes Super Bowl XLVIII (February 2014), two WrestleManias (29 and 35) and the 2026 World Cup final. Clubs on the mezzanine and behind the benches, plus more than 200 suites, give groups an indoor option. For the teams themselves, see the New York Giants and New York Jets pages, and the New York city guide covers the region's other venues.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Giants and Jets use the same sideline?
Yes. Both teams use the home bench on the east sideline in front of sections 111C to 115C, and visiting teams sit across the field near section 139.
Where should I sit to stay out of the sun?
For afternoon kickoffs, the west sideline and the south end zone go into shade first. The east sideline, behind the home bench, gets the longest stretch of sun.
Is MetLife Stadium covered?
No. It has no roof, so dress for the weather, particularly for December and January games.
How many fans does MetLife Stadium hold?
It seats 82,500 for football. The 2026 FIFA World Cup final drew 80,663.
How do I get to MetLife Stadium by train?
Ride NJ Transit to Secaucus Junction and transfer to the shuttle train to Meadowlands Rail Station. Event tickets can be bought in the NJ Transit app.
Can I bring a backpack to MetLife Stadium?
No. As of the 2025 season, only clear bags up to 12 by 12 by 6 inches, a one-gallon clear freezer bag or a small clutch are allowed. Check current rules before your event.