Soldier Field Bag Policy 2026 | Clear Bag Rules, Lockers & Size Limits
Heading to Soldier Field in Chicago for a Bears game, a Fire FC match, or a concert? Soldier Field follows the NFL’s leaguewide All-Clear Bag Policy — and unlike many NFL venues, it also offers paid on-site lockers for bags that don’t comply. Here’s exactly what’s allowed under the official Soldier Field bag policy.
Quick Answer: Soldier Field Bag Policy at a Glance
Soldier Field allows one clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″, or a one-gallon clear freezer bag, plus a small non-clear clutch no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″. Backpacks aren’t allowed. Unlike some NFL stadiums, Soldier Field offers $10 cash or credit lockers near 18th Street and Lake Shore Drive for anything that doesn’t comply.
| Question / Feature | Policy Rule |
|---|---|
| Clear bag required? | Yes — clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC only |
| Max clear bag size | 12″ x 6″ x 12″ |
| Max clutch size | 4.5″ x 6.5″, clear not required |
| Backpacks allowed? | No, at any size |
| Medical bags | Allowed, must be searched and approved |
| Diaper bags | Diapers must be carried in a clear bag, not a separate diaper bag |
| Bag check/lockers | Yes — $10 cash/credit lockers near 18th Street and Lake Shore Drive |
| Best safe choice | A 12″x6″x12″ clear tote or freezer bag, plus a small clutch under 4.5″x6.5″ if needed |
| Last verified | September 2026 (Soldier Field and Chicago Fire FC official policy pages) |
Official Policy Verification & Source Check
- Official policy source: Soldier Field’s own Bag Policy and A-Z Guide pages (soldierfield.com), corroborated by the Chicago Bears’ A-Z Guide and the Chicago Fire FC’s official Stadium Policies page
- Source type: Official venue and team websites
- Last checked: September 2026
- Confidence level: High on sizes; one notable internal inconsistency worth flagging
- Notes on conflicting figures: The Chicago Fire FC’s own official stadium policies page contains a real internal contradiction. Its dedicated “Bag Policy” section describes the standard All-Clear setup — clear totes up to 12″x6″x12″, freezer bags, and small clutches up to 4.5″x6.5″ are all explicitly approved. But its separate “Prohibited Items” list, further down the same page, states “any bag, case or purse other than the Stadium approved and searched medical bags” is prohibited — language that, read literally, would ban even the clear totes and clutches the Bag Policy section just approved. This reads like leftover or copy-paste language from a stricter no-bag policy that wasn’t fully reconciled with the Bag Policy section above it. Given the dedicated Bag Policy section is more detailed and specific, and matches the Bears’ own A-Z Guide and the general NFL standard, we treat it as the accurate, current rule — but it’s worth knowing that the same official page technically contradicts itself.
How We Check This Policy: We prioritize the dedicated, detailed Bag Policy section on official pages over a general Prohibited Items list that appears to contain leftover language, and we flag the contradiction rather than silently picking one without explanation.
What Makes Soldier Field’s Bag Policy Different
Compared with Mercedes-Benz Stadium or Bank of America Stadium, neither of which offers any on-site storage, Soldier Field provides $10 cash or credit lockers near 18th Street and Lake Shore Drive for bags that don’t meet the clear bag or clutch requirements — a real fallback option that many NFL venues don’t have.
One detail that’s easy to miss: Soldier Field allows a logo on only one side of an approved clear tote — a tote bearing the NFL logo or your team’s logo is fine, but any other brand logo isn’t approved, and a bag not bearing one of those logos needs to be completely clear with no pattern or decoration at all.
Allowed Bags and Size Limits Under Soldier Field’s Bag Policy
| Bag Type | Entry Status | Max Dimensions | Conditions & Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear Plastic/Vinyl/PVC Tote | Allowed | 12″ x 6″ x 12″ | Logo allowed on one side only (NFL or team logo) |
| One-Gallon Clear Freezer Bag | Allowed | 1 gallon | Ziploc-style |
| Small Clutch/Purse/Wallet | Allowed | 4.5″ x 6.5″ | Does not need to be clear; with or without strap |
| Medical Bags/Kits | Conditional | N/A | Must be searched and approved by security and EMS |
| Diaper Supplies | Conditional | N/A | Must be carried in a clear bag, not a separate diaper bag |
| Backpacks | Prohibited | Any size | No exceptions, clear or not |
| Computer Bags, Briefcases, Luggage | Prohibited | Any size | No exceptions |
| Coolers (hard or soft-sided) | Prohibited | Any size | No exceptions |
| Camera Bags | Prohibited | Any size | No exceptions |
| Seat Cushions with Pockets/Zippers | Prohibited | Any size | Only cushions without compartments are allowed |
Clear Totes and Freezer Bags
A clear tote up to 12″x6″x12″, or a standard one-gallon freezer bag, is the primary option. Keep decoration to a single approved logo if any — a tote with multiple brand logos or a pattern won’t pass.
Small Clutches
A clutch, purse, or wallet up to 4.5″x6.5″ is allowed regardless of material, carried on its own or alongside a compliant clear bag.
Medical Bags and Diaper Supplies
Medical bags and kits go through their own search-and-approval process with security and EMS. Diaper supplies specifically need to travel inside an approved clear bag — Soldier Field doesn’t treat a diaper bag as its own separate category.
Security Screening: How Entry Actually Works
Stadium management reserves the right to inspect, search, or seize any item carried into Soldier Field. Guests who violate the policy can be denied access, evicted, or arrested at management’s discretion.
Bag Lockers: What to Know
For bags that aren’t approved, lockers are available on the south end of the stadium near 18th Street and Lake Shore Drive for $10, payable by cash or credit. This gives Soldier Field a real fallback most comparable NFL stadiums don’t offer — worth knowing before you assume a non-compliant bag means turning back to your car.
Prohibited Items Under Soldier Field’s Bag Policy
- Backpacks, computer bags, briefcases, and luggage of any kind
- Coolers and soft-sided ice chests
- Camera bags, and cameras with lenses exceeding 6″ when fully extended
- Video or movie cameras (professional equipment requires media credentials)
- Seat cushions with zippered covers, pockets, or flaps
- Weapons and firearms
- Alcoholic beverages and powdered alcohol (“Palcohol”)
- Cans, bottles, or other beverage containers
- Balloons, beach balls, and confetti
- Fireworks and smoke bombs
- Laser pens and pointers
- Noise-making devices (horns, whistles)
- Poles of any kind, including selfie sticks
- Strollers (check at Gate 10 outside the stadium) and umbrellas
- Drones and other unmanned aircraft systems
- Binocular cases (binoculars themselves are fine, hand-held)
Packing Strategy for Faster Entry
- Default to a clear tote or freezer bag: 12″x6″x12″ or a 1-gallon Ziploc-style bag is the most predictable option.
- Keep the clutch under 4.5″x6.5″: doesn’t need to be clear.
- Skip the backpack entirely: no size or clarity exception applies.
- Pack diaper supplies in a clear bag, not a separate diaper bag: this venue doesn’t recognize a standalone diaper bag category.
- Budget $10 for lockers as backup: near 18th Street and Lake Shore Drive, if you’re carrying something that won’t pass.
Category-Specific Packing Tips
Families with young kids: Diaper supplies need to travel in a clear bag rather than a standard diaper bag, and strollers must be checked at Gate 10 rather than brought inside.
Fans with medical needs: Medical bags and kits go through search and approval by security and EMS — bring them clearly identifiable and budget a little extra time.
Chicago Fire FC match-goers: The same clear bag rules apply for MLS matches as for Bears games — don’t assume the Fire FC’s stricter-sounding prohibited items language means a total bag ban; the dedicated Bag Policy section is the accurate current rule.
Fans with binoculars: Bring them hand-held — binocular cases specifically are prohibited, even though the binoculars themselves are fine.
Before You Go Checklist
- [ ] Bag is clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC, and confirmed under 12″x6″x12″ — or a 1-gallon freezer bag
- [ ] Clutch (if used) measured and confirmed under 4.5″x6.5″
- [ ] No backpacks, computer bags, briefcases, or coolers packed
- [ ] Diaper supplies packed inside a clear bag, not a separate diaper bag
- [ ] Medical bag ready for search and EMS approval if applicable
- [ ] $10 cash or card ready in case lockers near 18th Street/Lake Shore Drive are needed
- [ ] Cameras with lenses under 6″; no binocular cases, poles, or selfie sticks packed
Soldier Field Bag Policy FAQs
Does Soldier Field require clear bags?
Yes — clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags up to 12″x6″x12″ are required for anything beyond a small clutch.
Are backpacks allowed?
No, at any size, clear or otherwise.
Is there a bag check at Soldier Field?
Yes — $10 cash or credit lockers are available near 18th Street and Lake Shore Drive for non-compliant bags.
Can I bring a diaper bag?
Not as a separate bag — diaper supplies need to be carried inside an approved clear bag.
Are strollers allowed inside?
No — strollers must be checked at Gate 10 outside the stadium.
Can I bring binoculars?
Yes, hand-held, but binocular cases are specifically prohibited.
Related Bag Policies
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium Bag Policy Guide
- Bank of America Stadium Bag Policy Guide
- State Farm Stadium Bag Policy Guide
- Hard Rock Stadium Bag Policy Guide
Conclusion
Soldier Field follows the NFL’s clear bag standard: a compliant clear tote or freezer bag up to 12″x6″x12″, plus a small non-clear clutch under 4.5″x6.5″ if needed. Backpacks are out entirely, and diaper supplies need to travel in a clear bag rather than their own bag. Unlike many NFL venues, Soldier Field offers a real fallback — $10 lockers near 18th Street and Lake Shore Drive — for anything that doesn’t comply at the gate.
