Football season has arrived!

A football game is a great way to get your kids out of the house on the weekend and can be a fun, outdoor and indoor learning experience for the whole family. We are huge Arizona Cardinals fans. As season ticket holders for many years, we enjoyed going to the games always bought an extra ticket so our young daughter could attend the home games with us. Attending a football game is a major event and can cost a lot of money, so take time to plan ahead and maximize your enjoyment. Here are a few things we recommend when taking a kid to a professional football game.

Football Tickets

Scope out your seats and buy tickets in a location that works best for your family. Upper level seating can be a bit quieter and is less expensive. While the club level is more expensive, it also has a less rowdy crowd and great options for taking care of restless or over stimulated children. Be aware that you must have a ticket for your child, although an infant who is small enough may be able to sit on your lap. But be sure to check with the team’s website before you go to verify what age gets in free.

Parking

Be sure to plan ahead and know where you need to park, and the directions for getting into the parking lot and then the stadium. The parking lots range from near to far and cover a huge area. Some lots are even blocks away from the stadium and can be a really long walk in the August and September heat. Take time to know where you plan to park and, if possible, purchase passes in advance to make walking into the stadium easier.

Food

Anticipate meal times and plan food purchases and locations before you go. There are many food options in the stadium, but Westgate also has tons of great places to eat, where you can get better food at a better price. Plan mealtimes to make sure your kids stay on schedule and avoid the crankiness. You are not allowed to bring snacks and beverages into the stadium.

Safety and Stadium Policies

Before you head out to the game, take a look at the stadium layout, clear bag policies, and prohibited items. It’s important to plan your safety and exit strategies, so you know how to keep track of your children and when to bail on watching the game. And believe me, it’s no fun to have to run back to your vehicle because you didn’t bring a clear purse or bag for the stuff you want to bring to the game!

Pre-Game Activities

There are many activities for both adults and kids to enjoy before the game, including tailgating and activities inside the gates. The Cardinals organization loves kids and provides events inside the gates for people before they enter the stadium, including: cheerleader autographs, Big Red visits, football toss and games, photos, food, gift shops, freebies and handouts, and much more.

Participate in the Cardinals Kids Club

The Cardinals Kids Club is open to kids aged 5 to 17, and is a great way to help your kids get excited about going to a football game. Some of the benefits of Kids Club include the opportunity for kids to meet and hangout with players after training camp practice, a special Kids Club Kids Zone at Training Camp, and even a chance to be randomly selected as a Kids Club Captain of the Game where kids can join the Cardinals captains at midfield for the coin toss.

A few other highlights especially for kids include:

• Cardinals Youth Football Programs
• Kids Club Connect video series
• Cardinals Cheerleaders Junior Cheer and Cards Crew Program
• Girls Flag Football sponsorship
• High School Player and Coach of the Week
• Cardinals Youth Football Training Camps

Be Prepared for Noise and Hoopla

There is some controversy among fans about whether a professional football game is an appropriate venue for a child. With that in mind, please remember that a football crowd can be loud, very excited and at times can become really rowdy. If you are concerned about exposing your child to adults engaging in less than adult-like behavior, check out the stadium layout in advance to find places to take your kid to get out of the crowd. Many parents also bring headphones and a mobile device with movies, music or games to help smaller children avoid the noise. My advice is that you know your kid best. Think about how they will react to huge, noisy crowds and sudden loud sounds. Some kids absolutely love football, while others not so much.

The most important thing to prepare for is to have fun and enjoy cheering for your team. Football is a game, and games are all about having fun. This should be a fun adventure with your kids. You can make it one of the lifetime memories for your whole family.

This article was originally published in the September 2017 edition of the Deer Valley Times and the North Tatum Times.