State Farm Stadium Guide: Cardinals Games, Concerts and Events in Glendale

State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona is one of the most versatile large-venue event facilities in the United States. It is the permanent home of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, but the retractable roof and convertible field system allow it to host everything from major concerts and college football championships to soccer, monster trucks, and large-scale conventions. If you are coming to the West Valley for any kind of major event, there is a reasonable chance State Farm Stadium is involved.

The stadium

State Farm Stadium seats approximately 63,400 for NFL games, with capacity configurable upward to over 72,000 for special events. The retractable roof is the defining technical feature — it allows the venue to operate in a climate-controlled environment during the brutal Arizona summer while opening for the perfect weather of fall and spring. The natural grass field rolls out on a tray system, which means the playing surface grows outside the stadium in sunlight and rolls in for game day. It is one of only a handful of venues in the world with this setup.

The stadium sits at 1 Cardinals Drive, Glendale, AZ 85305, within walking distance of Westgate Entertainment District and adjacent to a major hotel corridor. The State Farm Stadium stop on the light rail extension that serves the western metro is the best public transit option for Cardinals games and major events, as driving and parking on NFL game days involves significant pre-planning.

Arizona Cardinals football

The Cardinals play their home schedule from August (preseason) through January, with the bulk of the regular season running September through December or early January. The team plays eight home games per regular season plus any home playoff games. Single-game tickets are available through the Cardinals' official site and secondary markets, with prices varying significantly by opponent and week. Preseason games are the cheapest tickets in the building. Division games against the Rams, 49ers, and Seahawks command the highest prices.

Major events

State Farm Stadium has hosted:

• Super Bowls — multiple, including Super Bowl LVII in February 2023
• College Football Playoff National Championship — recurring host
• WrestleMania — hosted in 2024
• Major touring concerts — Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, Beyoncé, U2, and similar stadium-scale acts
• International soccer — State Farm Stadium hosted Copa América 2024 group stage matches and is regularly considered for future international events.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 games make State Farm Stadium one of the most watched venues in the world during the summer of 2026. Tickets for those matches sold out quickly, but the broader event calendar around the World Cup will activate Westgate and all of Glendale significantly.

Parking and getting there

State Farm Stadium has extensive on-site parking lots and structured garages surrounding the venue. On NFL game days, the recommendation is to arrive at least 90 minutes before kickoff if you are driving — lots fill and traffic on Cardinal Drive and the 101 slows to a crawl in the final 30 to 45 minutes before games. The Glendale light rail extension provides a reasonable alternative for Cardinals games if you are staying near a station in the western metro.

For concert events, the parking and traffic pattern is similar. Arriving early and building in time for Westgate is the standard move — the pre-show atmosphere there is worth the extra time.

Westgate Entertainment District

Directly adjacent to State Farm Stadium, Westgate is the pre- and post-event hub. The outdoor plaza is walkable, lined with sports bars, chain restaurants, and retail. It is designed for event crowds and functions well for that purpose. See the full Glendale guide for a broader look at the city around the stadium.

Check the Arizona events calendar for current and upcoming events at State Farm Stadium and across the West Valley.