Every child deserves the opportunity to experience the fun and excitement of sporting events. Watching a game is a fantastic way for your little one to experience new things and enjoy quality family time.
Sensory-friendly sporting venues celebrate your child and offer thoughtful supports that reduce stimuli, helping them feel calm and at ease. From fidget toys to quiet sensory rooms, you can plan an unforgettable day out with your kiddo.
How Sensory Rooms and Bags are Transforming Sporting Arenas
Thanks to KultureCity® — a nonprofit group that trains venues on how to be more sensory inclusive — more arenas are ready to support fans who prefer a quieter, less stimulating environment. From the moment you arrive, supportive features help your kiddo enjoy the excitement in a way that feels good to them.
KultureCity has helped design and certify sensory rooms at several venues across the country. These are quiet places you and your child can visit any time they need a break from the cheering crowds. Sensory areas often feature adjustable lighting, interactive sensory toys, textured walls, and comfortable seating to help your kiddo rejuvenate and find their calm. Many venues also offer KultureCity sensory bags with comfort items such as:
- Noise-cancelling headphones
- Sunglasses
- Fidget toys
- Verbal cue cards
- Weighted lap pads
21 Accessible Sporting Arenas for Children With Autism
Help your child enjoy the action and excitement at their own pace when you visit these sensory-friendly venues:
1. Petco Park — San Diego
Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres, was the first sensory-inclusive stadium on the West Coast.
Before heading to a game, walk your little one through their stadium adventure with the illustrated “We’re Going to a Padres Game!” storyboard. Then, on the day, use a stadium map to locate a sensory bag at the Sensory Activation Vehicle in Park Blvd Plaza or at Guest Services locations in sections 108, 131, or 303.
If your kiddo needs a break from the excitement, you can find designated quiet areas on your map or ask a friendly staff member who is trained to support special guests with sensory needs.
2. United Center — Chicago
United Center is a sensory-inclusive stadium where you and your family can catch a Chicago Bulls or Chicago Blackhawks game. Staff are trained to recognize and support guests with sensory needs, so you can rest assured that your family is welcome and cared for during your visit.
Grab a sensory bag from Guest Relations near Gates 2 and 6 to create a cozier experience for your child. You and your kiddo can also visit United Center’s sensory room at Gate 2 ½ for a relaxing break from the stadium’s excitement.
3. Rate Field — Chicago
Rate Field is home to the Chicago White Sox and hosts an annual Autism Inclusion Night. During this event, your family can enjoy the game without fireworks for a gentler sensory experience. If your little one needs a quiet space to enjoy the game, you can watch from the peaceful sensory pod in section 530. You can also take a fun break in Suite 460’s sensory room or grab a sensory bag from Guest Services.
4. Allstate Arena — Rosemont, Illinois
Allstate Arena in Rosemont is a Certified KultureCity arena where your kiddo can enjoy a sensory bag during their visit. You can use KultureCity’s Social Story App to familiarize yourself with the arena’s environment through pictures, and consider bringing a weighted lap pad to help them feel comfy and cozy during the game. Whether your family enjoys hockey, wrestling, bull riding, or college basketball, you can all have a wonderful time at Allstate Arena.
5. Denny Sanford PREMIER Center — Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Denny Sanford PREMIER Center is another certified KultureCity venue, making it easier for families with sensory needs to enjoy events. Your little one can attend a Sioux Falls Stampede hockey game with a free sensory bag full of comfort items and fun fidgets. If they need a break from the thrill of the game, they can also rest in the quiet sensory pod located outside section 118.
6. Kinnick Stadium — Iowa City, Iowa
As a certified KultureCity venue, Kinnick Stadium welcomes you and your family to enjoy events in comfort. Staff are trained in sensory inclusion and are ready to offer support whenever you need it. You can also check out the KultureCity app before you arrive and grab a sensory bag full of everything they need to enjoy the event. With these extra supports, you and your little one can cheer on the University of Iowa Hawkeyes at your own pace and volume.
7. Werner Park — Papillion, Nebraska
Treat your family to a memorable Omaha Storm Chasers game at Werner Park. You can request a sensory kit at every home game and visit the venue’s Autism Action Partnership Quiet Zone if your little one wants a break from all the action.
8. Wrigley Field — Chicago
Wrigley Field is a must-visit venue if your kiddo is a big baseball fan. Thanks to KultureCity sensory bags and a certified sensory room, you and your family can enjoy this iconic stadium to the fullest. Help your little one manage sensory input with fidget toys and noise-cancelling headphones, and decompress in the sensory room if they need a calmer space. The sensory room is equipped with soft lighting, a sound machine, a texture wall, and interactive light cubes.
9. Ford Field — Detroit
Ford Field is home to the Detroit Lions and offers support to help your family have a fantastic experience. Ask Guest Services for a sensory kit or pause for a moment in the Sensory Room. Your little one can cuddle up in a cozy sensory pod, hang out on a bean bag chair, and play with the room’s sensory toys until they feel refreshed.
10. GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium — Kansas City, Missouri
Enjoy a Kansas City Chiefs or Kansas Jayhawks game in the way that works best for you and your family. GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium offers sensory kits and features two sensory rooms on the Plaza level inside Gate G for your child can ground themselves in a calm atmosphere until they’re ready to rejoin the action on their timeline.
11. PNC Park — Pittsburgh
Take your kiddo to a Pittsburgh Pirates game to create a core memory they’ll cherish. The stadium’s KultureCity sensory bags are filled with calming tools to help children remain comfortable watching the game from their seats. You and your little one can also visit the quiet sensory room in Suite 62 to explore sensory touch panels, art panels, bean bags, and bubble walls. This serene area is the perfect place to catch a breath between innings or any time a quiet moment feels right.
12. Pocono Raceway — Long Pond, Pennsylvania
NASCAR races are known for speeding cars, roaring motors, and cheering crowds. If your child wants to see their favorite cars zip past without the extra noise, help them enjoy the excitement in comfort with the raceway’s sensory bags.
When they start feeling restless or need to get up and move, your kiddo can run and play at the Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital Inclusive Playground right outside the raceway. You can also stop at one of the raceway’s two sensory rooms for a calm, quiet recharge.
13. Lincoln Financial Field — Philadelphia
Whether your family wants to catch a Philadelphia Eagles game, watch the annual Army vs. Navy game, or attend a soccer match, Lincoln Financial Field has your back. As one of the first certified KultureCity Sensory Inclusive Venues, this stadium features sensory bags and a fantastic, state-of-the-art sensory room. Your little one can relax in a soundproof space and enjoy comfort items such as weighted blankets, visual light panels, bean bags, and sensory toys any time they need a break.
14. Sports Illustrated Stadium — Harrison, New Jersey
Treat your soccer fan to an exciting New York Red Bulls game at Sports Illustrated Stadium. If they need to move around or rest for a bit, you can take them to the stadium’s Altec Lansing Sensory Room. This KultureCity-approved space on the 5th floor provides a calm environment with dim lighting, fidget toys, and bean bags. The stadium also offers sensory bags so your kiddo has some comfort items they can use at their seat.
15. Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Atlanta
Enjoy an Atlanta Falcons football game or an Atlanta United soccer game with your family at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. You and your little one can step away from the stadium’s sights and sounds in a sensory room full of weighted animals, fidget toys, and bubble walls. The stadium also offers KultureCity sensory bags, which you can find at any of the Guest Services Booths.
16. Highmark Stadium — Orchard Park, New York
Highmark Stadium makes it easy to enjoy a Buffalo Bills game with sensory-inclusive features. Grab a Sensory Inclusion Kit from a Guest Experience Booth or visit the sensory room on the fifth floor of the stadium’s Old Admin building. This peaceful space offers the perfect breather from the game’s bright lights and big sounds.
17. M&T Bank Stadium — Baltimore
If your kiddo is a Baltimore Ravens fan, you and your family can enjoy an unforgettable time at M&T Bank Stadium. Sensory kits are available, and multipurpose rooms in the lower level provide a quiet, private space for your child to relax whenever a calm moment helps.
18. Angels Stadium — Anaheim, California
Catch a Los Angeles Angels game at Angels Stadium, which partners with Easterseals to provide sensory bags full of fidget toys and comfort items. You and your little one can also take a moment away from the crowds in the stadium’s sensory room, where you’ll find tactile toys, calming lights, and a peaceful space to unwind.
19. Oakland Coliseum — Oakland, California
The Oakland Coliseum is a fun venue to catch an Oakland Roots soccer match or a Major League Cricket (MLC) game. If your little one wants a break from the cheering crowd, you and your child can enjoy the sensory room’s soothing atmosphere and head back to your seats when they feel ready.
You can also treat your kiddo to a fun hockey game, monster truck show, concert, or Disney on Ice event at the Oakland Arena. This certified KultureCity Sensory Inclusive Venue is in the same sports and entertainment complex as the Oakland Coliseum and hosts various events throughout the year. Your little one can enjoy their favorite artist or watch Disney characters glide across the ice with noise-cancelling headphones and a sensory bag.
20. Yankee Stadium — New York City
Visiting Yankee Stadium in the Bronx is an unforgettable moment for any baseball fan. Your family can enjoy this iconic New York landmark’s vibrant atmosphere, delicious food, and fascinating history help from sensory bags and access to a sensory room on Section 320C’s Terrace Level.
21. CitiField — New York City
While exploring the Big Apple, continue the fun at CitiField in Queens and catch a New York Mets game. Ask for a KultureCity sensory bag, and be sure to visit the Sensory Nook on the Empire Level any time your kiddo wants a quieter moment from the game.
Sensory-Friendly Preparation Tips
Navigating sporting events and autism is easier than ever thanks to supportive features and welcoming venues. These helpful tips can help you plan a fun, memorable day out together:
- Bring a favorite toy or comfort item: If your child has a favorite blanket, stuffed animal, or toy, they may find comfort in it during a game.
- Identify quiet areas ahead of time: Map out quieter zones before you arrive so you know where to go if your kiddo needs a break. Sensory rooms, upper concourses, and outdoor patio spaces are some of the best places your little one can explore, stretch their legs, and enjoy quiet moments.
- Schedule movement and exploration moments: Children often let us know when they need a break, but scheduling quiet or movement moments ahead of time is a fantastic way to proactively meet your child’s sensory needs. Take a walk or visit a sensory room between innings to help keep your little one’s energy and spirits high.
- Help your child know what to expect: Adjusting to a new environment is easier and more fun when you know what to expect. Help your child feel comfortable by taking time to explain the venue’s atmosphere, what happens at a game, and the reasons to get excited for the day through printed pictures or storytelling.
- Pick comfortable clothing: What outfit is your little one most comfortable in? Let them wear a cozy hoodie and slip-on sneakers if that’s what makes them feel snug and safe. You can also take a compression vest to help your child feel calm and grounded during your fun day together.
- Bring sunglasses and a brimmed hat: Sunglasses and a brimmed hat can reduce the light and visual buzz that may become overstimulating.
- Arrive early or after the game starts: Arrive a little early — or a bit after the first inning or kickoff — to skip the busiest lines and settle in at your family’s pace.
Help Your Child Thrive With Supportive ABA Therapy
Sensory-friendly venues help your child discover the world around them in comfort. Stride Autism Center is also dedicated to helping your kiddo experience as much as they can at the pace that works best for them.
We offer tailored, compassionate ABA therapy that supports your child’s growth, builds everyday confidence, and honors their pace. Contact us online or call us at (515) 207-5251 to schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can help your little one thrive.
