Paycom Center Clear Bag Policy

So, you’ve snagged tickets to the big game at the Paycom Center. You’re picturing yourself, popcorn in hand, cheering so loud your great-aunt two states away hears it. But first, you have to get past what I call The Bag Inquisition.

Let me introduce you to the Paycom Center Clear Bag Policy. It sounds like something a neurotic airport security agent would dream up after drinking five espressos. And honestly? It kind of is.

The Great Purse Panic of 2023

Picture this: you pull up to the arena with your favorite leather satchel, the one that smells like ambition and old receipts. A security guard gives you a look that says, “You brought that into my house?”

You’ll be turned away faster than a punter at a quarterback convention. The rule is simple: your bag must be completely clear, like a sad, jello-molded version of your purse. And it can’t be bigger than 12” x 6” x 12”—roughly the size of a large loaf of bread, but with fewer carbs and more security theater.

What Actually Counts as a “Clear Bag”?

Think of a Ziploc bag that went to finishing school. You can bring a clear plastic tote, a clear drawstring backpack, or a tiny clutch (that’s 4.5” x 6.5”) that is not required to be clear. That clutch is your secret weapon, like a tiny VIP for your lip balm.

Make sure your bag is transparent enough that you can see last week’s crushed granola bar at the bottom. If a security guard has to squint and say, “Is that a phone or a burrito?”—you’ve failed.

LUKE BRYAN | CAJUNDOME

Why Does This Exist? The Surprising (Slightly Bonkers) Reason

You might think this is just a way to make you buy a $20 clear fanny pack from the gift shop. Nope! The policy was inspired by NFL stadiums and the FBI, because apparently we can’t be trusted with opaque bags anymore. The logic: if your bag is clear, bad guys can’t hide rocket launchers next to your tampons.

Fun fact: Paycom Center adopted this policy in 2013, making it one of the first arenas in the country to go full see-through. Since then, they’ve caught precisely zero rocket launchers. But they have prevented several minor crises involving smuggled oranges and illicit cheese sticks.

The One Thing You Can Bring (That Feels Illegal)

Here’s where it gets weird: you can bring a camera with a lens shorter than six inches. So, feel free to capture blurry shots of the jumbotron, but don’t you dare bring a tote bag with a zipper that’s not crystal-clear. The policy is like a grumpy bouncer who hates color but loves photography.

Also, diaper bags are allowed, but only if they’re clear. Imagine carrying a transparent bag full of baby wipes and a spare onesie while the crowd chants. You’ll look like a very vulnerable, very prepared parent on a reality show.

What Is A Clear Bag Policy at Loren Bona blog

How to Survive the Clear Bag Apocalypse

First, go minimal. Take your phone, your ID, a credit card, and maybe a single, soul-crushing mint. Put them in a clear bag you bought on Amazon for $4.99. Compliment the gate guard’s haircut. You’ll be inside in 12 seconds.

Second, if you show up with a non-clear bag, don’t panic. You can rent a locker outside or run it back to your car—which is a great way to do a surprise cardio warm-up. The walk of shame from the gate to the parking lot is now an official Paycom Center tradition.

Pro tip: wear pants with deep pockets. Like, cargo-shorts-in-the-90s deep. You can bypass the whole bag drama and just shove your entire life into your thigh pockets. You’ll look ridiculous, but you’ll be free.

The Secret of the Concealed Carry Holder

Surprise! Oklahoma law allows concealed carry in the Paycom Center, but you bet your bottom dollar it has rules too. You can’t have it in a clear bag (that would defeat the whole “concealed” part), but you can carry it concealed on your person. So, the policy isn’t about banning everything—it’s about making your stuff look like a fishbowl.

Paycom Arena Bag Policy: New Bag Rules for 2023

This has led to hundreds of people confidently walking in with a gun in their waistband and a clear fanny pack full of Tums. It’s Oklahoma’s version of high fashion meets high anxiety.

The Unwritten Rules of the Clear Bag Line

Never, ever bring a backpack that isn’t clear. Security will look at you like you just tried to bring a live goat. Also, don’t gawk at the person in front of you whose clear bag is stuffed with two dozen mini bottles of water—they are a hydration hero, and you are a mere spectator.

And if you forget your bag entirely and buy one at the arena? Congratulations. You now own a piece of expensive, clear PVC plastic that you will never use again. It will live under your car seat for eternity, next to a dried-out pen and the ghost of your dignity.

So, heed my warning: check your bag before you leave the house. If it’s not see-through, leave it in the car. You’re not smuggling a giraffe—you’re going to watch people run up and down a court. Embrace the transparency. Your eyes, your soul, and the Paycom Center security team will thank you.