Last updated on November 13th, 2023 at 06:43 pm
Red Bull Arena is home to the MLS New York Red Bulls and NWSL NY/NJ Gotham FC teams at 600 Cape May St, Harrison, NJ 07029. The bag policy at Red Bull Arena allows fans to bring in bags that don’t exceed 14″ x 14″ x 6″. That includes purses, tote bags, clutches, drawstring bags, medical bags, diaper bags, and more.
Here is the Red Bull Arena Bag Policy guide for your next MLS/NWSL match. I also share my bag recommendation on what to bring to the game since I’ve been to Red Bull Arena twice. Finally, there is an affiliate link to Amazon on this page.
Approved Bags
While Bull Arena in 2023 does not have a clear bag policy, more and more venues are moving towards that trend. Getting a clear bag now allows you to bring it into more venues in the future. Some other types of bags can enter the facility on matchday are below.
- Fanny packs
- Tote bags/drawstrings
- A clear single-compartment bag that does not exceed 14″ x 14″ x 6″.
- Medical bags/diaper bags
- A clear fanny pack
- Any ADA-specific bag
My Clear Bag Recommendation + Experience
I’ve been to Red Bull Arena twice for games and one time I brought my clear fanny pack to the stadium. My clear fanny pack is 11″ x 6.5″ x 5.9″ in size and had no issues getting through security. I brought this pack to the game because I was recording my time at the game and needed to bring in my charger and microphone to do just that. The security team at the gate put the bag through a metal detector screening and gave it back to me without me needing to open it, which made the entire check-in experience a breeze. Also, having a clear fanny pack around your chest as your jog through the concourse made it easy for me to record everything that I needed to do.
Below is a video of me explaining why I recommend bringing a clear fanny pack to your next game.
Consider purchasing a single-compartment clear bag for your next New York Red Bulls/ Gotham FC game!
How Does the Red Bull Arena Security Staff Review Your Bag?
MLS/NWSL fans going to Harrison for a soccer match will go through a metal detector at the entrance before scanning their ticket to enter the facility. Fans with a bag will go through a separate security check that includes reviewing it. The Red Bull Arena security team will review the inside and outside of the bag along with the items inside of it. Assuming there are no issues with the bag or items inside of it, you will get it back to enter the stadium with.
What Items Can’t You Bring into Red Bull Arena for an Event?
Fans coming out for a Gotham FC / Red Bulls match must know that certain items can’t enter the arena. Some of those prohibited items are below. Before attending your next game, visit the newyorkredbulls.com policy page to see the most up-to-date list of prohibited items.
- Luggage bags
- Computer bags
- Briefcases
- Backpacks
- Any bag that exceeds 14″ x14″ x6″
- Coolers
- Noisemakers
- Fireworks
- Animals not for ADA purposes
- Beach balls
- Strollers
- Weapons of any kind
- Outside food and drinks
What Happens If Your Bag Is Too Big to Enter Red Bull Arena?
If your bag can’t come into Red Bull Arena, you can rent a locker directly at the stadium to put it there. The fan locker storage area is out at gate B1. As a note, there is only a limited number of lockers that you can rent, and they go for $5. Plan to arrive early to RBA if you need to check a bag into a locker before the game.
If you drive to RBA and can’t bring your bag into the soccer stadium, you can always leave it inside your car. There are limited parking spaces near the stadium, so consider leaving the bag in your vehicle if it is a backpack or something similar. Otherwise, you must bring your bag back to your car to get back in line to enter RBA.
Additional Helpful Links
Check out the complete Red Bull Arena Parking guide to learn more.
Be sure to visit the Red Bull Arena Food Guide to see what you can get there.
Greg Kristan, owner of The Stadium Reviews, LLC and TM Blast, LLC, brings his extensive experience visiting over half of the MLB ballparks, along with numerous MLS, NHL, NBA, and NFL venues, to provide in-depth coverage on the bag policy, food options, and parking. He has also been interviewed about his experiences on several sports podcasts.