New York Giants fan guide: Best MetLife Stadium seats, food and more game tips

On Giants Sundays, the Meadowlands starts smelling like charcoal hours before kickoff. Grills are going across the lots, footballs are flying between cars, and Lawrence Taylor, Eli Manning and Malik Nabers jerseys all end up at the same tailgate.

MetLife Stadium rises right in the middle of it all, surrounded by acres of blue jerseys, tents and smoke from the grills. That pregame scene is a huge part of the day here, and once you head inside, more than a century of Giants history is waiting around the concourses.

Here is how to do a Giants game at MetLife Stadium right.

Ultimate guide to experiencing a New York Giants game at MetLife Stadium

A Giants game at MetLife comes with a few quirks that are worth knowing before you go. This guide covers the details that make the biggest difference once you are there.

Getting to MetLife Stadium

If you are coming from Manhattan, NJ TRANSIT is usually the easiest option. Take a train from Penn Station to Secaucus Junction, then transfer to the Meadowlands Rail Line. Meadowlands Station is right next to the stadium, so once you make the switch at Secaucus, the hard part is over.

Buy a round-trip ticket with Meadowlands as your destination before heading out and check the event-specific train schedule. The ride back can take some patience, especially when thousands of fans hit the station at the same time after the game.

The 351 Meadowlands Express is another option from Manhattan. It runs directly from the Port Authority Bus Terminal, with pregame service beginning about two and a half hours before kickoff and postgame buses leaving from Lot K.

If you are driving, you need a parking permit to enter the Sports Complex on NFL game days. Have it ready before you reach the stadium. Fans without a prepaid permit can use the off-site lot at 20 Murray Hill Parkway, which includes shuttle service to and from the stadium. Another option is parking at Secaucus Junction and taking the Meadowlands train the rest of the way.

Rideshare pickup is in Lot E outside the Verizon Gate. The bigger issue is getting out, since postgame waits can stretch well beyond what you would normally expect. Surge pricing is also common, so the train may be the better move if you are heading back toward Manhattan.

What first-timers need to know before a Giants game at MetLife Stadium

One of the best places to start is the Giants Legacy Club near Section 144. The museum has all four Super Bowl trophies, championship rings, game-worn gear, historic artifacts and life-like busts of franchise legends. It is open to every ticket holder from gates opening through halftime.

Once you reach the seating bowl, look up at the Giants Ring of Honor. The names of franchise greats circle the stadium on Giants game days, a nice touch in a building the team shares with the Jets.

American Dream is also worth a look before (or after) the game. The enormous complex next door to MetLife has an indoor amusement park, a huge indoor water park and, strangest of all, an indoor ski slope. Seeing people ski indoors just a few hundred yards from an NFL stadium is one of the more unique things you will find around any NFL venue.

New York Giants game-day traditions

Tailgating is still the backbone of a Giants Sunday. Families and groups come back to the same spots year after year, grills going early, folding tables out and Giants flags hanging off cars and tents.

The team keeps its history close, too. “Once a Giant, Always a Giant,” the phrase tied to longtime owner Wellington Mara, still carries weight with the franchise and even appears inside the collar of the Giants’ throwback uniforms.

That history gets a bigger stage during Legacy Games. The Giants bring back their classic blue uniforms, change the field and stadium branding to match older eras and have even recreated the old red end zones with block-letter GIANTS lettering. For a few hours, MetLife looks a little more like Giants Stadium used to.

Best seats at MetLife Stadium for a Giants game

MetLife is huge, and where you sit really changes the game. The best seats come down to what you want out of the day.

Best premium seats

For an unforgettable MetLife experience, the two clubs to know are the EY Coaches Club and MetLife 50 Club.

The EY Coaches Club sits at midfield behind the Giants bench and is the one to target if you want the premium experience to still feel tied to the team. Food and non-alcoholic drinks are included, there is an indoor club behind the seats and a private field-level patio puts you right behind the Giants sideline. You can watch the bench between drives and see players heading back and forth from the locker room.

Across the field, the MetLife 50 Club offers a similar setup behind the visiting bench. It also includes food, non-alcoholic drinks and access to a private field-level patio. For Giants fans, the Coaches Club is the more natural first choice, but the MetLife 50 Club gives you much of the same field-level experience from the opposite sideline.

Best lower-level seats

For Giants fans who want to be close to the team, Sections 113 and 114 are the first places to look. They sit near midfield behind the Giants bench, with the EY Coaches Club patio between the seats and the sideline. You are close enough to follow what is happening on the bench between series without giving up the midfield angle.

One thing to keep in mind is the actual row. The first few rows sound great on paper, but coaches, players and equipment can block more than you expect along the sideline. A few rows up is usually the better bet if you still want to feel close without fighting for a clear view of the field.

Best upper-level value

If you want to spend less and still have a good view, start with Sections 311 through 316 or 336 through 341. They are high up, but they keep you near midfield, which makes it much easier to follow the whole play.

Try not to drift too far toward the corners just to save a little money. From that high up, the angle gets tougher and it becomes harder to follow the action when the ball moves to the far side of the field.

Also, check the row. The lower rows in the 300 Level mean less climbing and usually make the section feel a lot more manageable.

Best seats for atmosphere

For the loudest end-zone experience, start with Sections 102 and 103 or Sections 126 through 128. Those seats put you right behind the goal posts, where everyone around you is already halfway out of their seat as the Giants get close to the end zone.

You give up some balance compared with midfield, but when the Giants score at your end, you are right on top of it.

Best seats for opposing fans

There is no official visiting-fan section at MetLife, but if you want to sit closer to the opposing bench, start with Sections 139 and 140. They are near midfield on the visitor side and give you the best chance to be around more fans of the road team.

If those are too expensive, Sections 138 and 141 keep you on the same sideline for less. Higher up, Sections 236 through 242 and 337 through 342 are the main areas to check if you want to stay on the same side as the visiting sideline.

Best food at MetLife Stadium

MetLife has plenty of standard stadium food, so it helps to know which stands are actually worth the walk.

And if none of these options sound better than what you brought to the tailgate, MetLife does allow outside food in a clear plastic bag.

Tailgating near MetLife Stadium

Tailgating is a huge part of a Giants Sunday, and the biggest thing to know is that your parking space is your tailgate space. MetLife allows tailgating in most Sports Complex lots, and the lots usually open five hours before kickoff.

If you are going with a group, arrive together. You cannot save spaces for friends who show up later, and buying an extra parking pass does not give you a second tailgating spot. The easiest move is to meet somewhere outside the complex, line up the cars and drive in together.

Keep your setup tight. Tables, chairs, coolers, tents and grills need to stay in your space or directly in front of or behind the car. Tents and canopies can be no larger than 8 by 8 feet.

Grills are allowed, but open fires and deep fryers are not. When you are done, hot coals go in the large orange disposal bins around the lots.

If you are coming by train or bus, you are not completely shut out of the pregame scene. The stadium plazas have food, games and entertainment, and the Bud Light Beer Garden in Lot F gives fans without a car another place to hang out before kickoff.

What to do before and after a Giants game

American Dream is the easiest place to start if you want food or drinks without going far from MetLife. It is right next to the stadium and has enough options that a group can split up without turning the pregame into a production. House of ’Que is a good fit for barbecue, beer and big screens, while Jarana is a better choice if you want a sit-down meal and cocktails. The H Mart food hall is another useful option if everyone wants something different.

If you would rather get away from the mall, Redd’s Restaurant & Bar in Carlstadt is the classic Giants-game option. It has a biergarten and shuttle service to and from the Sports Complex for major events, which makes it especially useful if you want to eat, have a few beers and avoid dealing with the stadium lots yourself.

The New Park Tavern in East Rutherford is a good local choice for thin-crust pizza, wings and beers before or after the game. It feels much more like a neighborhood stop than anything inside the Meadowlands complex.

For something a little nicer, The Union Bar & Provisions in downtown East Rutherford has a more substantial menu with dishes like steak frites and lobster rolls. It is also right by the East Rutherford train station.

The important thing to know is that these places are near MetLife, not lined up outside the gates. Outside of American Dream, plan on driving or using a rideshare rather than expecting to walk from bar to bar around the stadium.

How to buy New York Giants tickets on SeatGeek

SeatGeek makes it easier to compare Giants tickets without bouncing between a dozen listings. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to finding the right seats for your next game at MetLife.

1. Search for the New York Giants on SeatGeek and choose the home game you want to attend.

2. Use the MetLife Stadium map to compare 100-, 200- and 300-level sections.

3. Open each listing to confirm the section, row and available seat view.

4. Compare seats behind the Giants bench with visitor-side, end-zone and upper-level options.

5. Browse premium listings for the EY Coaches Club, MetLife 50 Club or Mezzanine Club seats.

6. Read the full listing to confirm whether food, drinks, field access, parking or lounge benefits are included.

7. Review the full ticket details, then complete your purchase knowing eligible tickets are protected by the SeatGeek Buyer Guarantee.

8. Add the tickets to your phone before game day so you are not dealing with them at the gate.

Once your tickets are set, the rest is simple. Get to the Meadowlands while the grills are still going, make a stop at the Legacy Club and be in your seat before the Giants come out of the tunnel.