Streets of St. Petersburg Fan Guide: Cooler Policy, Bag Rules and What to Bring (2026)
Welcome to the Happy Hour Racing IndyCar Fan Guide series - track by track, everything you need to know before you walk through the gate. First up: the season opener at the Streets of St. Petersburg.
The Short Version
- Coolers: not allowed, period - no coolers of any kind pass through the gates.
- Bags: small bags like purses and backpacks are fine and get searched at the gate. Duffel bags, luggage, and other large bags are not permitted.
- Food and drink: no outside food or beverage of any kind, other than an approved medical exception arranged in advance.
- Leave home: folding chairs, stadium seats, glass containers, drones, and anything on the prohibited list below.
Cooler Policy
Here is the one that trips up fans coming from an oval race: the Streets of St. Petersburg does not allow coolers at all. The official A-Z guide from the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg lists "coolers" - including any food and beverage packed inside one - as a straight prohibited item, with no size exception. If you are used to hauling a soft-sided cooler into a NASCAR grandstand, leave that habit at home for this one. It is a downtown street circuit with no infield or tailgating lot to stage a cooler in anyway - concessions and the surrounding Edge District and Grand Central District restaurants are the plan for food and drink.
Bag Policy
The bag policy here is more relaxed than a hard clear-bag rule, but everything still gets checked. Per the official guide, "purses, backpacks and other small bags" are permitted onsite, and every bag brought through the gates and into the grandstands is subject to inspection. What is not allowed: large bags, specifically duffel bags, grocery bags, and luggage. Pack light, expect a bag check at the gate, and build in a few extra minutes for the line.
Prohibited Items
Straight from the official Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg A-Z guide, the following are not permitted on event grounds:
- Coolers (food and beverage included)
- Food and beverage brought from outside
- Large bags, duffel bags, luggage
- Folding chairs and stadium seats
- Glass bottles or containers
- Drones
- Firearms, knives, explosives, and other weapons
- Personal protection devices such as mace or pepper spray
- Fires, grills, and fireworks
- Aerosol cans, except sunscreen
- Laser lights or pointers
- Laptop computers
- Noise makers, horns, and helium balloons
- Inflatables and obstructive items
- Poles or sticks
- Roller blades, skateboards, skates, scooters, and bicycles
- Golf carts, motorcycles, and off-road vehicles for personal use
- Scaffolding or other structures
- Pets, other than trained service animals
- Banners, hateful flags, signs, or imagery, including the Confederate flag
- Handbills or samples without written approval from the event
- Camera lenses exceeding 10 inches, and camcorders
What You Can Bring
The permitted list is shorter but covers the essentials. You can bring in aerosol sunscreen, binoculars, scanners and cameras in a small case, a seat cushion, a stroller for the kids, an umbrella (as long as it does not block the view of people around you), a refillable water bottle, and small personal electronics like a phone. Camera stands such as tripods and monopods are fine on the grounds as long as they are not obstructive, but they are not permitted inside the grandstands themselves. If you have allergies or a medical condition that requires you to carry your own food or drink, the event allows an exception - email tickets@gpstpete.com at least a week before the race to arrange it.
Grandstands, Layout and the Track Map
The Streets of St. Petersburg is a 14-turn, roughly 1.8-mile temporary circuit built on downtown streets and one runway of Albert Whitted Airport, which doubles as the front straight past the start-finish line. Grandstands line the front straight and several of the harder braking zones, and the paddock sits adjacent to the airport apron. Standard rules apply once you are seated: no standing on the grandstand seats, no standing or sitting in walkways, aisles, or ramps, no smoking or vaping in grandstand or hospitality areas, and no leaving cups balanced on the walls. Re-entry works with a hand stamp - if you leave for a break, a staffer stamps your hand at the gate, and you will need that stamp along with your digital ticket to get back in.
Getting There and Race-Day Tips
This is a downtown street race, so parking works differently than a track with its own lots. Tropicana Field offers race-day parking in lots 6 and 7 for $30 a day, cashless only, with a free shuttle running Friday 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. City-owned garages downtown run about $25 a day, including the newer Central Garage at 1398 1st Ave. N. Motorcycle parking is $10 along 1st Street South. If you would rather skip parking, the SunRunner bus offers discounted race-weekend fares with a promo code, and the free Looper Downtown Trolley runs between Grand Central Station and the Pier. Gates open Friday at 7:30 a.m., Saturday at 7 a.m., and Sunday at 8 a.m., with entry at Gate 1 (1st Avenue S. and 1st Street S.) or Gate 5 (5th Avenue S. and 2nd Street N.).
Fan Tips
Since coolers and outside food are off the table entirely, budget for concessions and plan a stop in the Edge District or Grand Central District. St. Petersburg in late February and early March runs warm, so bring sunscreen (aerosol is allowed), wear real shoes for a lot of walking between viewing spots, and pack a small bag rather than anything oversized so the gate check goes fast. A seat cushion is worth it, since most grandstand seating is aluminum bleacher bench. For accessibility needs, call 727-898-4639 or the City of St. Petersburg Community Affairs Division at 727-893-7345 (TDD/TTY 727-892-5259) ahead of the weekend.
Common Questions About the Streets of St. Petersburg
Can you bring a cooler to the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg?
No. Coolers of any kind, including any food or drink packed inside, are on the official prohibited items list with no exception.
What is the bag policy at the Streets of St. Petersburg?
Small bags like purses and backpacks are allowed and will be searched at the gate. Large bags, duffel bags, and luggage are not permitted.
Can you bring food and drinks into the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg?
No outside food or beverage is allowed. The only exception is a documented medical or allergy need arranged in advance with tickets@gpstpete.com.
Are chairs or seat cushions allowed at the Streets of St. Petersburg?
Seat cushions are allowed. Folding chairs and stadium seats are not.
What items are prohibited at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg?
Coolers, outside food and drink, large bags, glass containers, drones, weapons, folding chairs, fireworks, and several other items are banned - see the full list above from the official A-Z guide.
Are umbrellas allowed at the Streets of St. Petersburg?
Yes, as long as the umbrella does not obstruct the view of other fans around you.
What is the re-entry policy at the Streets of St. Petersburg?
You can leave and come back with a hand stamp applied at the gate, shown along with your digital admission ticket.
How much does parking cost at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg?
Tropicana Field lots 6 and 7 run $30 a day with a free shuttle, and downtown city garages run about $25 a day. Both are cashless.
The Bottom Line
The Streets of St. Petersburg runs the strictest cooler and food policy of any track on the IndyCar calendar - no coolers, no outside food or drink, period - but the bag and item rules are otherwise straightforward if you pack light and expect a search at the gate. Policies change season to season, so confirm the current rules against the official Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg A-Z guide before you travel.
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