Denny Sanford Center Bag Policy

Let’s be honest: heading to the Denny Sanford Premier Center for a concert or a hockey game feels a bit like preparing for a secret mission.

First, you have to decide if you really need that crossbody bag, or if you’re willing to risk the wrath of the bag-check gods by shoving everything into your jeans pockets.

The official Denny Sanford Center bag policy is, in a word, strict. But it’s not trying to ruin your night—it’s just trying to keep you from looking like a contestant on “Hoarders: Arena Edition.”

Size Matters (And We Mean It)

Picture this: you’ve waited months for your favorite band, you’ve found parking after circling the block like a hungry shark, and then—bam—you hit the security line.

A very polite but stern person in a yellow vest eyes your bag the way my grandmother eyes a stained tablecloth. They produce a plastic box roughly the size of a large potato.

That box is the law. If your bag doesn’t fit inside it (6.5” x 4.5” x 1.5”, if you’re taking notes), you have two choices: turn back, or pay $10 to check it at the box office.

Clearing Out Your Emotional Support Bags

I once brought a lovely canvas tote I’d bought at a farmers’ market. It was the exact size of a small cat. I was so proud of it.

The security guard looked at me, looked at the box, and then gave me a look that said, “Honey, we both know that cat isn’t fitting in that shoebox.” I ended up shoving my entire life—keys, phone, lip balm, and a rogue granola bar—into my coat pockets like a digital nomad fleeing a fire.

Denny Sanford Premier Center Seating Chart Garth Brooks | Cabinets Matttroy

The moral of the story? Pockets are your best friend. Seriously, invest in cargo pants or a jacket with zippered pouches. You’ll thank me when you’re not holding a wad of cash and a phone in your shaking hands during the opening act.

What You Can Bring (The VIP List)

Don’t panic. You aren’t forbidden from bringing anything fun. The policy is actually pretty simple once you read it without a hangover or a sugar rush.

Clear bags are your golden ticket. If you roll up with a transparent drawstring bag or a clear plastic clutch, you’re basically the queen of the queue. You’ll sail through security like a hot knife through butter.

Regular clutch bags that are smaller than your hand are also allowed. Think: a wallet on a chain that looks more like a fashionable Band-Aid than a purse.

Oh, and medical bags and diaper bags get a special hall pass. You’re not subject to the potato-box rule if you have a valid medical or parenting need. Just be ready to explain why you need fourteen tubes of lip gloss in there. (Pro tip: you don’t.)

What Gets You Sent to Bag Jail

Now, let’s talk about the items that will get you turned away faster than a mime at a heavy metal concert.

Sioux Falls To Host Cinch Playoffs

Backpacks are a no-go. Even if it’s a tiny “kawaii” backpack that holds exactly two pencils and a dream, it’s out. The Sanford Center sees a backpack and thinks, “Potential smuggler of a 12-pack of soda and a raccoon.”

Large totes, duffel bags, camera bags, and laptop bags are also banned. You can’t bring in a bag that looks like it could double as a weekend getaway.

And please, please don’t try to bring in a selfie stick. You aren’t a film director, and nobody wants to watch the concert through your phone mounted on a broomstick.

The Great Pockets Debate

Here’s where it gets tricky. The policy says you can bring a “small clutch” but also says “no large pockets.” This led to a famous incident where a friend of mine wore a jacket with huge kangaroo pockets.

He walked in looking like a marsupial delivery man. Security made him turn every pocket inside out. He had a backup charger, three pairs of sunglasses, a paperback novel, and half a bag of trail mix. He looked like he was fleeing a apocalypse.

Denny Sanford PREMIER Center Has New Bag Policy

The bag policy isn’t trying to ruin your style. It’s trying to keep lines moving and keep dubious objects out. You know, normal stuff like weapons, outside food, and laser pointers. (Sorry, your cat won’t be amused tonight.)

How to Survive the Line (A Survival Guide)

First, leave your bag in the car. I know it hurts. Your purse is your “identity.” But trust me—the feeling of walking through those doors with nothing but your phone and your car keys is pure freedom.

Second, if you must bring a bag, make it clear. You can buy a cheap clear stadium bag online for like eight bucks. It’s the unsung hero of concert attendance.

Third, accept the $10 bag check fee as a life tax. It’s cheaper than a parking ticket, and you get to enjoy the show without playing “where’s my credit card?” in the dark.

The Denny Sanford Center bag policy is basically a grown-up version of the “one toy” rule at the grocery store. It feels restrictive, but it makes everyone’s life easier. Embrace the small bag. Wear cargo pants. And for the love of all that is holy, empty your pockets before you get to the gate. Your future self, standing in the middle of the third row with a cold drink in hand, will thank you.

Now go have fun. And maybe leave the potato at home.