Northwest Stadium

Getting there

35 minby car from Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA); also BWI 45 min, IAD 80 min

Take the Metrorail Blue or Silver Line to Morgan Boulevard, a walk of about a mile (roughly 20 minutes) to the stadium; there are no shuttles except pre-booked Metro Access vans. After games only Morgan Boulevard and Downtown Largo stations are open for entry, so head straight to the station when the game ends. Uber, Lyft and drop-off traffic use the Red Zone Lot, a 5-minute walk from Gate A.

Parking

Passes bought in advance are required in every lot except the Gray Lot, which is cash-only, day-of and first-come, and can sell out two to three hours before kickoff. Lots open four hours before the game (the Red Zone lot opens five hours before) and close two hours after it. The stadium recommends arriving about three hours early, and a pass is good only for the lot printed on it. Use Waze with your lot name as the destination.

Tailgating

Tailgating is allowed in every lot except H-Burgundy, from when lots open until kickoff. The Red Zone Lot is the stadium's preferred tailgate lot because its wider spaces suit bigger vehicles. Vehicles over 17 by 7 feet are not allowed in regular lots and need an RV pass, and drones and any selling of food, drinks or merchandise are banned. Tents and grills must be put away before you head inside.

Where to sit

The stadium has five levels: the Bobby Mitchell Lower Level, the Joe Gibbs Club Level, the Pete Rozelle Upper Level and two suite levels (257 suites as of 2023). Several thousand upper-deck seats were removed in the early 2010s, which is why the venue now seats 64,000 rather than the 91,000 it held in the 2000s.

What to eat

• Ben's Chili BowlSection 123, also Sections 415 and 441
• DMV Crab CageSection 137
• Pardon My CheesesteakSection 120
• Factoria Maria PupuseriaSection 134
• Stuggy'sSection 420

Good to know

1. 01

   The stadium opened on September 14, 1997, as Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, with a game against the Arizona Cardinals.

2. 02

   It was renamed Northwest Stadium on August 27, 2024, after FedEx opted out of its naming deal before it ran out in 2026.

3. 03

   The Commanders plan to leave for a new stadium on the RFK Campus in Washington, D.C., expected to open in 2030.

Weather

Washington game days are mild early and cold late: daytime highs run near 81 F in September, 69 F in October, 58 F in November, 49 F in December and 45 F in January, with January lows around 30 F. The stadium is open air.