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Game Day 101
Arrowhead Tailgating Guide
Lots, Times, Rules & Pro Tips
When to show up, where to set up and how to get home. Plus the easy way to skip it all.
Overview
When to Arrive & Where to Set Up
This Arrowhead tailgating guide covers the basics for a Chiefs home game: timing, setup, what to bring and getting home. Arrowhead sits in the Truman Sports Complex, next door to Kauffman Stadium.
Tailgating at Arrowhead is a big part of game day in Kansas City. It also takes planning. You need a parking plan, a setup, food, drinks and a ride home for everyone. Start early, keep it simple and know the rules before you load the car.
Lot hours, parking passes and tailgating rules come from the stadium and can change from season to season. Always check the Chiefs' official parking and stadium policies before you head out. Here's what to plan for, step by step, so your crew has a great day.
Know the Game-Day Timeline
Stadium gates open about 90 minutes before kickoff. Many groups head in about an hour before, so they're not rushing.
Work backward from there. Leave time for traffic, parking, setup and eating before you head to the gates.
Parking & Lots
You'll need a parking pass for the Truman Sports Complex lots. Check the Chiefs' official site for current pass options and lot hours.
Our tents are set up near Lot J. If you ride with us, you skip buying a parking pass entirely.
What to Bring
Pack layers, a phone charger, chairs, a cooler and your game ticket. Check the stadium's current bag policy before you go, since it limits what you can carry inside.
Late-season games can get cold. Gloves, a hat and something warm to drink go a long way.
Tailgating With Kids
Bring snacks, ear protection for the crowd noise and a plan for bathroom breaks.
Our Chiefs tailgates are rated PG-13, and supervised kids are welcome.
Getting Home
Leaving Arrowhead after the game takes patience. Decide on your ride home before kickoff.
Nobody in your group has to be the designated driver when the bus takes you back.
The Easy Way: Let the Bus Handle It
Ride the Red Machine and skip the planning. For $69.99 you get a round-trip bus from Double Tap in the River Market or Hilton Garden Inn in Kansas City, Kansas, and a covered, heated tent near Lot J with music, games, coffee and hot chocolate.
Add food from a local caterer for $15. It's BYOB, with coolers on the bus. Keep this Arrowhead tailgating guide handy, and let us handle the hard parts.
Good to Know
Frequently Asked Questions
When do Arrowhead gates open?
Usually about 90 minutes before kickoff. Check the Chiefs' official site for each game.
Where is Lot J?
It's one of the lots at the Truman Sports Complex. Our tailgate tents are set up near it.
Do I need a parking pass to tailgate?
If you drive, yes. If you ride with us, no. The bus drops you at the tailgate.
What time should I get to Arrowhead?
Our bus leaves about five hours before kickoff, which gives plenty of tailgate time before the group heads in.
We Drive, You Ride
Skip the Parking Lot Stress
Get a round-trip ride and a heated tailgate near Lot J for $69.99.
Prefer to talk? Call (816) 226-7957