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Just because stadiums require a clear, 12″ by 6″ by 12″ bag to tote your essentials in doesn’t mean it has to be an eyesore. There are a few easy ways to customize a clear stadium bag to make it something you actually look forward to wearing, and I’ll prove it. (Psst: If you haven’t found the right clear tote just yet, here are 10 cute stadium bags to consider.)
What You Must Keep in Mind Before Customizing the Bag:
First, it’s worth checking with the venues you frequent the most to see if they have any specific policies you’ll need to adhere to. The NFL has established a few requirements for the stadiums its teams play in, which are a solid set of guidelines to follow as you DIY your bag.
Beyond being 12″ by 6″ by 12″ in size, your stadium bag must meet the following requirements:
- It should be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC (fanny packs, backpacks and other styles are OK, as long as they fit the size requirements)
- Buckles, grommets, stickers, patches and other decorative elements can’t conceal part of the bag
- You can have a logo—such as your monogram or another design—but it can only appear on one side of the bag and cannot exceed 4.5″ tall by 3.5″ wide
1. Add Your Monogram
No DIY skills? No problem. Amazon sells monogram stickers that you can customize with the colors you like, as well as sporty, varsity letter-esque fabric ones. It doesn’t get easier than that. (Just make sure your final design isn’t larger than the 4.5″ logo size requirement.)
2. Stick on a Vinyl Phrase—or Social Handle
If you have a Cricut machine, you can use the Cricut Design Space app to create a phrase that nods to wherever you’re headed—be it a concert or baseball/football game—or simply shows off your Instagram handle. (The latter isn’t just a shameless plug; should something happen and you lose your bag, you’ve made it a little easier for people to track you down.)
To create this design, I used Cricut permanent vinyl, cutting out my handle in pale pink—ensuring it was just under the 4.5″x3.5″ requirements by the NFL—and an outline of the text in black, then I weeded out the design and applied the first layer before adding the outline on top. Easy!
3. Swap Out Your Strap
Depending on your bag’s style, you may be able to trade out the strap for a guitar or camera bag style (Etsy has a bunch of beaded ones that nod to specific schools and teams), or even a fun chunky acrylic chain strap, like this pastel rainbow number.
4. Try a Chenille Sticker
Instead of a monogram or vinyl phrase, you can get in on the chenille sticker trend with a fuzzy design that’s more aligned with your style. Rainbow? Smiley face? Heart? Cinderella’s Castle? Amazon’s loaded with options.
5. Insert a Fun Zippered Pouch
While you want your bag to be easily scannable by security, you may not want every personal item on display. Or just jumbled around loose in the bag. The NFL allows one non-clear bag, provided it does not exceed 4.5″ by 6.5″, that you can wear as a wristlet or carry it inside the clear bag. A tiny zippered pouch or wallet—like this confetti-coated number from Packed Party—will reduce the visual clutter in your bag, creating a more streamlined look.
