SportsQuest
All games

Week 17, Sun, Jan 3, 2:05 PM local

Las Vegas Raidersat Arizona Cardinals

State Farm Stadium, Glendale. Fly into PHX.

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The matchup

Form, ESPN's model and the stat leaders
Form

The Raiders are 3-0 after 3 games, 2nd in the AFC West.

They have won 3 in a row.

They are 2-0 on the road.

The Cardinals are 1-2 after 3 games, 4th in the NFC West.

They have lost 2 in a row.

They are 0-1 at home.

What we know about State Farm Stadium

Where visiting fans stay

Checked at the source
  • Westgate Entertainment District, Glendale. 10 min by walk. There's no rail to Glendale, so anywhere else in the Valley means you need a car for every trip. Westgate is an open-air district north of the stadium with bars, restaurants, and shops, and it has eight hotels in or next to it: Aloft, Renaissance Phoenix Glendale, Hampton Inn, Home2 Suites, SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, and Vacation Inn. TownePlace Suites advertises a five-minute walk to the stadium. This is the only place in metro Phoenix where you can walk to the stadium without a car.
  • Downtown Phoenix. 30 min by rideshare. Pick this only if you're also doing a Phoenix trip. It puts you on the Valley Metro light rail for everything else in the Valley, but you'll still pay for a long rideshare to Glendale and back on game day, on the Loop 101, which gets packed on game days, especially heading north.
  • Scottsdale. 50 min by rideshare. Skip this for a Cardinals game. Scottsdale sits on the far eastern side of the metro area and Glendale is on the far western side, so this is a cross-valley trip. Getting to Glendale from the East Valley can be a hassle, and even people who live in Scottsdale, Tempe, and Mesa often don't want to make the drive. Only book here if the game is a side trip to a Scottsdale vacation.

Around the stadium

Checked at the source
Westgate Entertainment District has real options. Bars and restaurants include Whiskey Rose (0.4 mi), Saddle Ranch Chop House (0.4 mi), and Yard House (0.5 mi), plus Tanger Outlets and Desert Diamond Arena in the same complex. Parking there can cost as little as $10. Get there early or make a reservation, since the district can fill up hours before kickoff.

Getting in from the airport

Checked at the source
Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), 30 minutes by rideshare or taxi. There's no rail to Glendale.

Getting to the stadium

Checked at the source
No light rail to Glendale. Walk from Westgate Entertainment District hotels, about 5 min to n/a. Uber or Lyft drop you at the Black Lot to Black Lot is south of the stadium.

Tailgating

Checked at the source
You need a car to tailgate here. Tailgating happens in designated parking lots and starts when they open, so there's no walk-up option. Sportsman's Park is the main tailgating area for Cardinals games. If you don't have a car, Westgate Entertainment District is a five-minute walk away and works as a solid substitute, with bars and restaurants instead of grills but real atmosphere. Westgate Entertainment District bars and restaurants are free to enter, with food and drinks priced individually. Hours depend on the venue, and the district can fill up hours before kickoff.

Getting in

Checked at the source
  • Bag policy: Bring a clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag, tote, backpack, fanny pack, or cinch bag no bigger than 12" x 12" x 6". Note the size order and that clear backpacks are allowed here, unlike at Soldier Field. Small clutch bags and wallets can't be bigger than 4.5" x 6.5" x 2", and this is the only stadium in the group that publishes a depth limit for clutches. Medically necessary items are the only named exception; diaper bags aren't mentioned.
  • Re-entry: Re-entry is not allowed, and the Cardinals state it more firmly than anywhere else in this group: no exceptions to the policy. Club and Loft members also need to rescan their tickets to get back into those areas.
  • Prohibited items: Banned items include umbrellas over 12 inches (so small umbrellas are fine here, unlike at SoFi and Soldier Field, which ban all umbrellas), laptops, professional cameras, video cameras, GoPros, tripods, poles, selfie sticks, noise makers, outside food except infant formula or milk, all drinks besides water, chairs, coolers, balloons, beach balls, aerosol cans, and chewing tobacco.

Touring the stadium

Checked at the source
Game-day tours are available. State Farm Stadium runs Gameday Prep Tours, a behind-the-scenes look at the stadium while it's being prepared on gameday, and you can book them publicly on SeatGeek instead of through group sales. Check that your date is listed before buying. The Field Roll-In Tour runs two days before gameday, at 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Price isn't published.

One thing to avoid

From a specialist guide
Don't book Scottsdale, Tempe, or Mesa for a Cardinals game. They sit on the opposite side of the metro area and there's no transit link to the stadium. Don't count on the Valley Metro light rail either. It's a good system, it just doesn't reach Glendale.

Bars near the stadium

From a specialist guide

  • Westgate Entertainment DistrictDistrict

    6770 N Sunrise Blvd, Glendale, AZ 85305

    Westgate is an open-air strip built right next to State Farm Stadium, with over 70 restaurants and bars and a free Westgate Circulator shuttle that loops the district. It's the main pre-game spot for Cardinals fans and can fill up hours before kickoff.

  • Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar

    Westgate Entertainment District, Glendale, AZ 85305

    This spot held up from the first look. It's a large chef-driven sports bar with craft cocktails, and it's still listed in Visit Phoenix's official gameday guide, so it's open for business.

What to eat

The local food this city is known for: the Sonoran hot dog.

Inside the stadium, 2026 season

  • Year-round, an Indian Frybread Dog and a chiltepin honey hot chicken sandwich. Reported, not confirmed by the stadium. Source

Stand line-ups change every season.

Sidequests in Glendale

Listed in the order they happen. Each one earns points.

  1. Outing40 points

    Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium and Safari Park

    This zoo and aquarium in Litchfield Park has over 600 species, rides and daily animal shows, about ten miles west of the stadium. It's open every day, 9am to 6pm starting in October.

    $$. The day before

  2. Landmark65 points

    Historic Downtown Glendale and Catlin Court

    Ten blocks of old bungalows have been turned into shops and antique stores here, with free covered parking at the Palmaire garage. It makes for an afternoon walk about five miles east of the stadium.

    Free. The day before

  3. Eat65 points

    Pizzeria Bianco at Heritage Square

    Chris Bianco's original wood-fired pizzeria has been in downtown Phoenix since 1997, with six pizzas on the menu and no reservations. It's closed Sunday, so go Saturday and plan on waiting in line.

    $$. 19 hours before kickoff

  4. Eat65 points

    Sonoran hot dog at Nogales Hot Dogs

    It's a bacon-wrapped dog in a bolillo bun loaded with beans, tomato and onion, served out of a tent at 20th Street and Indian School starting at 7pm. Cash only, and a dog runs about $3 to $6.

    $. 18 hours before kickoff

  5. Landmark65 points

    Westgate Entertainment District

    This outdoor dining and shopping district sits just north of the stadium with dozens of bars and restaurants. Fans park here and walk to the gates, or just spend the evening before the game.

    Free. 18 hours before kickoff

  6. Tour100 points

    State Farm Stadium tour

    This tour runs 75 to 90 minutes through the press box, visiting locker room, private loft and field level. A Gameday Prep Tour runs on game days before the crowds show up, and Field Roll-In tours run two days before.

    $$. 6 hours before kickoff. Bookable

  7. Eat65 points

    Matt's Big Breakfast, Glendale Arrowhead

    This Phoenix spot cooks breakfast from scratch, with cage-free eggs, pancakes and benedicts, open daily 7am to 2pm. The Arrowhead location is the closest one to the stadium.

    $$. 5 hours before kickoff

  8. Eat65 points

    Haus Murphy's, downtown Glendale

    This German restaurant sits on Glendale Avenue in Historic Downtown Glendale, about five miles east of the stadium. It's open Sunday 11am to 8pm, and Friday and Saturday 11am to 9pm.

    $$. 4 hours before kickoff

  9. Drink25 points

    Yard House at Westgate

    This bar pours 130 taps in the Westgate Entertainment District next to the stadium. It's open Sunday 11am to midnight, so it works before a 1pm or 2pm kickoff and after the game too.

    $$. 3 hours before kickoff

  10. Tailgate65 points

    Great Lawn and Beer Garden at Heritage

    This eight-acre lawn beside the stadium has stages, a video wall showing early NFL games, and a free beer garden that's first come, first served. You don't need a car or parking pass to walk in.

    Free. 3 hours before kickoff

  11. Photo25 points

    Pat Tillman statue at Tillman Freedom Plaza

    A bronze statue of Pat Tillman celebrating stands outside the stadium at Pat Tillman Freedom Plaza, backed by a 42-foot wall and a 60-foot reflecting pool. It was dedicated November 12, 2006.

    Free. 2 hours before kickoff

Seats and views

Where each part of State Farm Stadium sits, and what you see from it.

What kind of game day do you want?

Pick one and Scout shows you where to sit.

Main Level, end zoneMain Level, corner, home sideMain Level, home sidelineMain Level, corner, home sideMain Level, end zoneMain Level, corner, visitor sideMain Level, visitor sidelineMain Level, corner, visitor sideGila River Club Level, end zoneGila River Club Level, corner, home sideGila River Club Level, home sidelineGila River Club Level, corner, home sideGila River Club Level, end zoneGila River Club Level, corner, visitor sideGila River Club Level, visitor sidelineGila River Club Level, corner, visitor sideLoft Level, end zoneLoft Level, corner, home sideLoft Level, home sidelineLoft Level, corner, home sideLoft Level, end zoneLoft Level, corner, visitor sideLoft Level, visitor sidelineLoft Level, corner, visitor sideTerrace Level, end zoneTerrace Level, corner, home sideTerrace Level, home sidelineTerrace Level, corner, home sideTerrace Level, end zoneTerrace Level, corner, visitor sideTerrace Level, visitor sidelineTerrace Level, corner, visitor sideHomeVisitors
Main Level101 to 137Gila River Club Level201 to 248Loft LevelL301 to L367Terrace Level401 to 455Tap any part of the stadium to see its view.