Streets of Arlington Fan Guide: Cooler Policy, Bag Rules and What to Bring (2026)
The Happy Hour Racing IndyCar Fan Guide series continues, track by track, everything you need to know before you walk through the gate. Next stop: the temporary street circuit in Arlington, Texas, a 2.73-mile, 14-turn layout that wraps around AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field for the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington.
The Short Version
- Coolers: not allowed, period. This is a no-cooler venue. Bring an empty non-metal cup, max 32 ounces, and fill it at a water refill station inside.
- Bags: only a clear tote no bigger than 12"x6"x12", a one-gallon clear resealable bag, or a small clutch no bigger than 4.5"x6.5". Backpacks, briefcases and camera cases are not permitted.
- Food and drink: no outside food or beverages of any kind. The venue runs cashless, cards and digital payment only.
- Leave home: coolers, backpacks, alcohol, video cameras, drones, weapons, fireworks and anything else on the prohibited list below. Mobile lockers sit outside every gate for items that do not meet the bag policy.
Cooler Policy
Arlington is a hard no on coolers. Unlike a NASCAR oval where a small soft-sided cooler usually gets you through the gate, the Grand Prix of Arlington's official gate regulations list coolers, hard or soft, as a prohibited item across the board. The one thing you are allowed to carry in for a drink is an empty non-metal cup, 32 ounces or smaller, that you fill once you are inside. Outside beverages of any kind, alcoholic or not, do not get through the gate either way.
Bag Policy
This is a clear-bag venue built on the same rules a lot of NFL and MLB stadiums use, which makes sense given the circuit runs through AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field's footprint. Three bag types are approved: a clear plastic, vinyl or PVC tote no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches, a one-gallon clear resealable storage bag, or a small clutch purse roughly the size of a hand and no larger than 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches, with or without a strap. The clutch can be carried on its own or inside one of the approved clear bags. Backpacks, briefcases, fanny packs, luggage, and camera or binocular cases bigger than the clutch dimensions are not permitted through the gates. If you show up with a bag that does not fit the policy, mobile lockers are set up outside every gate to hold it for the day. Exceptions are made for medically necessary items and diaper bags after they are inspected at the gate.
Prohibited Items
Per the official Grand Prix of Arlington gate regulations, these are not permitted through the gates:
- Coolers of any kind, hard or soft-sided
- Outside food
- Outside beverages, including alcohol
- Backpacks, briefcases, fanny packs and luggage
- Bags, totes or cases larger than the approved sizes
- Weapons of any type, including firearms, ammunition and knives
- Fireworks, pyrotechnics or smoke bombs
- Video cameras
- Drones
- Animals, other than trained service animals
- Any other item deemed dangerous by event management
Security has final say at the gate on anything else that looks unsafe or does not fit the approved list.
What You Can Bring
An empty non-metal cup, 32 ounces or smaller, gets you set up for the free water refill stations inside. Sunscreen, bug spray and hand sanitizer are fine to bring in. Binoculars and headsets or scanners are permitted, along with a stopwatch, pen and paper for anyone scoring the race the old-fashioned way. Umbrellas are allowed but cannot be opened once you are in the grandstands. Signs and flags are fine as long as they do not have a stick and are sized to what one person can reasonably hold. Small, collapsible strollers and canvas wagons are allowed on the grounds, though they may get an extra look at security and are not permitted inside the grandstands themselves, where you will find designated storage underneath. Seat cushions without pockets or zippers are permitted in the seating areas.
Grandstands, Layout and the Track Map
The Grand Prix of Arlington circuit is a 2.73-mile, 14-turn temporary street course, nine rights and five lefts, built through Arlington's sports and entertainment district. It threads past AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field, includes a technical horseshoe section next to the Cowboys' stadium, and runs a 0.9-mile main straight, the longest straightaway IndyCar sees on any street or road course. Grandstands use aluminum bench seating, and wheelchair-accessible and companion seating is available in multiple locations through the ticketing platform. Two mothers rooms and sensory rooms are set up on both sides of the venue, and ADA restrooms are available throughout. Wristbands are issued on arrival and are required for both exit and re-entry, so hang onto yours if you plan to step out and come back.
Getting There and Race-Day Tips
Multiple parking lots surround the circuit, with ADA spaces available first-come, first-served, and golf cart shuttles running inside each lot to the closest entrance. Lots open one hour before the gates. RV parking is available in a dedicated lot on an availability basis. If you are using a rideshare app, set your pickup or drop-off to either Lot 15 at AT&T Stadium on the west side or Globe Life Field Car Park D on the east side. Three separate shuttle routes run around the venue for anyone who wants help getting between gates. Gates on the official 2026 race weekend opened at 9:00 a.m. Friday, 8:00 a.m. Saturday and 7:30 a.m. Sunday, and the event runs rain or shine. Every concession stand and vendor is cashless, cards and digital payment only, so leave the cash at home. First aid stations are staffed throughout the venue during operating hours, and information booths are set up around the grounds for anything you need.
Fan Tips
Arlington in March runs mild but sunny, so pack sunscreen and expect to buy your drinks once you are inside since nothing outside gets through the gate, cooler or cup. Bring the empty 32-ounce cup and use the free refill stations rather than paying for water all day. Because there is no cooler and only a clear-bag option, pack lighter than you would for a typical oval race, valuables, phone, sunscreen, and whatever fits in the approved bag is about it. If you are torn on a bag, the mobile lockers outside the gates are there so you do not have to leave something behind entirely. For emergencies call 911, and for anything else during the event weekend, non-emergency support is available at (214) 814-9912 or by emailing info@gparlington.com.
Common Questions About the Grand Prix of Arlington
What size cooler can you bring to the Grand Prix of Arlington?
None. Coolers, hard or soft-sided, are not permitted at all. The only drink container allowed in is an empty non-metal cup, 32 ounces or smaller, filled once you are inside.
What is the bag policy at the Grand Prix of Arlington?
Only three bag types are approved: a clear tote no bigger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, a one-gallon clear resealable bag, or a small clutch no bigger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Backpacks and larger bags are not permitted, though mobile lockers outside the gates can hold them.
Can you bring food and drinks into the Grand Prix of Arlington?
No. Outside food and beverages, including alcohol, are not permitted through the gates. The venue is cashless for all concessions once inside.
Are umbrellas allowed at the Grand Prix of Arlington?
Yes, umbrellas are permitted, but they cannot be opened once you are inside the grandstands.
Are chairs or seat cushions allowed at the Grand Prix of Arlington?
Grandstands use aluminum bench seating, and seat cushions without pockets or zippers are permitted. The official gate regulations do not list separate folding chairs as a permitted item for the general grounds.
What items are prohibited at the Grand Prix of Arlington?
Coolers, outside food and drink, backpacks and oversized bags, weapons, fireworks, video cameras, drones and animals other than service animals are all banned at the gates. See the full list above from the official gate regulations.
Is there re-entry at the Grand Prix of Arlington?
Yes. Wristbands are issued when you arrive and are required for both exit and re-entry during the event.
How do you get to the Grand Prix of Arlington?
The circuit sits in Arlington's sports and entertainment district around AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field. Parking lots ring the venue with golf cart shuttles to the gates, and rideshare pickup and drop-off is set at Lot 15 at AT&T Stadium or Globe Life Field Car Park D.
The Bottom Line
Arlington runs a stricter policy than most ovals on the IndyCar calendar. No coolers at all, and only a clear bag, a one-gallon resealable bag, or a small clutch gets through the gate. Plan to buy your food and drinks inside, bring an empty cup for the water stations, and pack light. Policies change year to year, so confirm the current rules against the official Grand Prix of Arlington gate regulations before you travel.
Shop the Story
Heading to Arlington or just gearing up for the season? Here is IndyCar gear in stock right now:
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Nothing here catch your eye? Browse the full IndyCar collection, and check back every Wednesday and Sunday as this fan guide series works through the rest of the 2026 calendar.
