Fan’s Guide To NRG Stadium For College Football National Championship

Written By Drew Ellis | Last Updated January 7, 2024

The Michigan Wolverines will take on the Washington Huskies Monday in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your trip to the stadium. Fans in the stadium can also sign up for Underdog Fantasy and play in contests to win prize money. Use Underdog promo code THELINES to get a deposit match up to $100. More info on how to play is below.

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The CFP National Championship matchup

The Odds And What They Mean

The Matchup

On New Year’s Day, the Wolverines defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide in a Rose Bowl classic. That night, the Huskies downed the Texas Longhorns to advance to play Michigan for the national title.

Top-seeded Michigan is set to face off with No. 2 Washington in the CFP National Championship on Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The Wolverines (14-0) are coming off a thrilling 27-20 victory in overtime against Alabama in The Rose Bowl. Washington (14-0) held off a late surge from Texas in The Sugar Bowl to advance to the title game.

Michigan is making its third consecutive playoff appearance in the playoffs, but advancing to its first CFP National Championship Game. Washington is in just its second playoff appearance, also advancing to the championship game for the first time.

This matchup features the Big Ten and Pac-12 champions, but Washington is actually joining the Big Ten next season as part of the conference’s expansion.

These two programs have met 13 times over their histories. Michigan has won eight of the 13 meetings. That includes a 31-10 victory in the last contest in 2021.

College football odds currently list the Wolverines as a 4.5-point favorite against Washington.

No Sports Betting In Texas, But Use Underdog Fantasy

If you are going to CFP National Championship, you won’t be able to bet on the game while in Texas with an online sportsbook. The state has still not legalized sports betting.

However, you can use Underdog Fantasy while in Houston. Underdog is a DFS/Pick’Em app that will allow you to utilize a similar format to prop betting for the CFP National Championship.

If new to Underdog Fantasy, you can use promo code THELINES to get up to a $100 deposit match for your first deposit.

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CFP National Championship tickets — prepare to pay a lot

Getting a ticket to this title game is going to be costly.

Ticketmaster currently is offering tickets to the game in limited areas. The cheapest ticket is just under $1,400 before fees.

Seat Geek and Vivid are each offering tickets starting at nearly $1,100.

Michigan and Washington offered ticket and hotel packages for The Rose Bowl and The Sugar Bowl, respectively. But, the official websites for both teams say tickets through them will not be available for the general public for the national championship game.

Accessible seating for guests with disabilities is being sold on Ticketmaster or at the NRG Stadium ticket windows subject to availability.

How Much Were Flights To Houston

If flying over to Houston for the game, you will be directed to George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

For those looking to fly out on Sunday, Jan. 7, and return home on Tuesday, Jan. 9 there are some reasonable flights available.

Flying out of Detroit

Most require some layovers, but you can land flights through Spirit Airlines for $412. United and Delta also have options that begin at around $700. Delta does have direct flights, but will cost over $1,300.

If you have the flexibility to push your departure to Wednesday, Jan. 10, the flights become slightly cheaper, but that’s without factoring in the costs of staying in the area another night.

Flying out of Seattle

Flights out of Seattle to Houston are a little more expensive for Huskies fans.

Using the Sunday-Tuesday departure dates, the cheapest flights are running just shy of $1,000 and will require layovers. United and Delta have non-stop flight options, but it will cost $1,200 on up.

If you can afford to leave a day earlier, on Saturday, United does have an option for $715 with a long travel day on Saturday.

Getting to NRG Stadium

The NRG Stadium is located at NRG Pkwy, in Houston.

The stadium website states that NRG Stadium events utilize Gate 9 on the corner of Kirby and Westridge. For specific directions, NRG advises using the address 8825 Kirby Dr., Houston, TX 77054.

NRG Stadium advises the following directions based on where you will be coming from.

From the North

Take I-45 (south) or Hwy. 59 (south) to Hwy. 288 (south)
Take Hwy. 288 (south) to 610 Loop (west)
Take 610 (west) to Fannin or South Main exit
Exit and turn right on Fannin or South Main
From Fannin turn left on Naomi or Holly Hall
From South Main turn right on McNee
Enter main gate at NRG Park

From the South

Take I-45 (north) or Hwy. 288 (north) to 610 (west) to Fannin or South Main exit
Exit and turn right on Fannin or South Main
From Fannin turn left on Naomi or Holly Hall
From South Main turn right on McNee
Enter main gate at NRG Park

From the East

Take I-10 (west) to 610 (south)
Take 610 (south) to Fannin or South Main exit
Exit and turn right on Fannin or South Main
From Fannin turn left on Naomi or Holly Hall
From South Main turn right on McNee
Enter main gate at NRG Park

From the West

Take I-10 (east) to 610 (south)
Take 610 (south) to South Main or Fannin exit
Exit and turn left on South Main or Fannin
From Fannin turn left on Naomi or Holly Hall
From South Main turn right on McNee
Enter main gate at NRG Park

From Bush IAH Airport

Take Hwy. 59 (south) to Hwy. 288 (south)
Take Hwy. 288 (south) to 610 (west)
Take 610 (west) to Fannin or South Main exit
Exit and turn right on Fannin or South Main
From Fannin turn left on Naomi or Holly Hall
From South Main turn right on McNee
Enter main gate at NRG Park

You also have the option to take the METRO Rail to get to NRG Park. You can find more about routes and schedules at their website.

Any ride-share and taxi drop-off service requires people to be left on Holly St. between Fair Oaks Ave. and Raymond Ave. From there, use the free shuttle or walk to the stadium.

Parking/Tailgating at NRG Stadium

There are plenty of parking options around NRG Stadium as shown in the map above.

On-site parking for the 2024 CFP National Championship will be available to reserve on a limited basis for $50 plus fees for automobiles, as well as $200 plus fees for oversized vehicles.

The stadium parking lots will open at 11 a.m. CT on game day and close two hours after the end of the game.

RVs and recreational vehicles are open to park in Yellow Lot 36, but no overnight parking will be allowed for the CFP National Championship.

Accessible parking is available for purchase on game day only in all parking lots surrounding NRG Stadium. They are on a first-come, first served basis for $50 plus fees.

Guests with a valid accessible license plate or hangtag combined with a purchased parking permit will be directed to park in the closest accessible parking space. The individual to whom the accessible license plate or hangtag was issued must be present. Accessible drop-off and pick-up are available in Blue Lot 19.

If using rideshare options, use Yellow lots 35 and 38 through Gate 16B from Main Street as the pick-up and drop-off location.

Tailgating is allowed in any NRG Stadium lot. It is limited to the parking spot and space directly behind or in front of each vehicle without blocking the lane. Any Grills in tow will need to purchase an additional parking space.

What else to know about NRG Stadium

Like most large athletic facilities, NRG Stadium has converted to a cashless venue. Only card and mobile payments will be accepted inside the stadium. There are Reverse ATMs on the concourse that allow you to apply cash to a card in order to make purchases inside the stadium.

You can find answers to all your questions about visiting NRG Stadium in their A-Z stadium guide.

When it comes to bags, the following are approved: