2027 College Football Playoff National Championship Las Vegas: Tickets, Hotels, Transportation and Complete Fan Guide

Las Vegas will host the 2027 College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, January 25, 2027, bringing the final game of the 2026–27 college football season to Allegiant Stadium.

The championship game is scheduled for a 4:30 PM PT kickoff at Allegiant Stadium, where the College Football Playoff will crown its national champion. The stadium has a listed capacity of approximately 62,000 for the event.

But the championship is much larger than one football game.

Las Vegas is planning an entire championship week, with official fan activities beginning January 20. The schedule includes CFP Fan Central, AT&T Playoff Playlist Live!, Taste of the Championship, the Trophy Trot 5K, Media Day and the Championship Tailgate. Several of these activities are free and open to fans who do not have tickets to the championship game.

That makes January 2027 an unusually attractive time for college football fans to visit Las Vegas.

This guide explains how to plan the trip, where to stay, how to get to Allegiant Stadium, what to know about bags and stadium entry, how to structure championship weekend and how to avoid the transportation problems that can occur when tens of thousands of people converge on the same area.

When Is the 2027 College Football Playoff National Championship?

The championship game is scheduled for:

Monday, January 25, 2027

Kickoff: 4:30 PM Pacific Time

Venue: Allegiant Stadium

Address: 3333 Al Davis Way, Las Vegas, NV 89118

The College Football Playoff and Allegiant Stadium have both confirmed Las Vegas as the host city and Allegiant Stadium as the host venue.

The 2026–27 CFP schedule places the national championship after the quarterfinals and semifinals, with the semifinal games scheduled for January 14 and January 15, 2027.

What Is the College Football Playoff National Championship?

The College Football Playoff determines the national champion of major college football.

For the 2026–27 season, the CFP will continue using the 12-team playoff format.

The field consists of conference champions and other highly ranked teams selected through the CFP process. Four first-round games are played on campus sites, followed by the quarterfinals and semifinals at rotating bowl venues before the championship game in Las Vegas.

The teams playing in the January 25 championship will therefore not be known until the playoff field and preceding rounds are completed.

That has an important implication for travelers:

You can plan the Las Vegas trip and hotel before knowing which two teams will play, but you should not build your itinerary around a specific team until the playoff bracket is established.

Where Is the National Championship?

The game will take place at:

Allegiant Stadium
3333 Al Davis Way
Las Vegas, NV 89118

The stadium is located immediately west of the Las Vegas Strip, close to Mandalay Bay and Luxor.

Its location makes it possible to combine the championship with a Strip hotel, restaurants, sportsbooks, entertainment and other Las Vegas activities.

However, the location also creates a transportation challenge.

On a normal day, the distance between a Strip hotel and Allegiant Stadium may look short.

On championship day, tens of thousands of people will be traveling toward the same area at approximately the same time.

What Time Is the 2027 CFP Championship?

The official Las Vegas host-city information currently lists:

Kickoff: 4:30 PM PT

The Championship Tailgate opens four hours before kickoff, according to the official Las Vegas host-city program. That places the planned tailgate opening at approximately 12:30 PM, although fans should confirm final event-day instructions as the championship approaches.

This is an important difference from a typical NFL or college football game.

If you want to experience the championship atmosphere rather than simply arrive for kickoff, the afternoon should be treated as a full event.

Championship Week in Las Vegas

The official Las Vegas host-city program currently identifies January 20–25, 2027 as the championship period.

Events include:

• CFP Fan Central
• AT&T Playoff Playlist Live!
• Taste of the Championship
• Trophy Trot 5K
• Media Day
• Championship Tailgate
• The National Championship game

Several activities are free and do not require a ticket to the championship game.

This means fans without a game ticket can still travel to Las Vegas and participate in the championship atmosphere.

CFP Fan Central

CFP Fan Central is scheduled for Friday through Sunday, January 22–24.

The official host-city information describes it as a free fan experience featuring the national championship trophy, player autograph opportunities and combine-style activities.

For families and fans who arrive before championship day, this is one of the most useful activities to build into the itinerary.

It also gives visitors something football-related to do without requiring a championship ticket.

AT&T Playoff Playlist Live!

The official Las Vegas championship schedule currently lists AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! for Saturday and Sunday, January 23–24.

The event will feature two nights of free live music leading into championship day, with the lineup scheduled to be announced later.

This makes Saturday and Sunday particularly attractive for fans arriving early.

The combination of football activities, concerts and Las Vegas nightlife means visitors can turn the championship into a multi-day trip rather than a single-game visit.

Taste of the Championship

Taste of the Championship is scheduled for Friday, January 22.

The official Las Vegas program describes it as an evening featuring Las Vegas chefs and culinary talent connected with the championship community.

For travelers who enjoy combining sports with food and entertainment, this can be a strong way to begin championship weekend.

Trophy Trot 5K

The Trophy Trot 5K is scheduled for Saturday, January 23.

The official host-city information describes it as a run along the Las Vegas Strip before the city fully wakes up, with proceeds supporting Extra Yard for Teachers.

This provides an entirely different way to participate in championship weekend.

You do not have to spend the entire weekend watching football.

Media Day

Media Day is scheduled for Sunday, January 24.

According to the official Las Vegas host-city information, both championship teams will meet the press, and the event will be open to the public with live coverage from ESPN and conference networks.

For serious college football fans, this may be one of the most interesting pre-game experiences in the entire week.

It is also a reason to consider arriving in Las Vegas by Saturday rather than flying in on championship day.

Championship Tailgate

The Championship Tailgate is scheduled for Monday, January 25.

The official host-city program says it will open four hours before kickoff and include interactive games, sponsored activations, concessions and live performances.

With the current 4:30 PM kickoff, that means fans should plan around an approximately 12:30 PM tailgate opening.

This makes championship day considerably longer than the game itself.

Should You Arrive Before Championship Day?

For fans traveling from outside Nevada, arriving before Monday is strongly recommended if the purpose of the trip is to experience the championship rather than simply attend the game.

A practical arrival schedule is:

Friday, January 22: Arrive and attend Taste of the Championship or begin exploring Las Vegas.

Saturday, January 23: Fan Central, Trophy Trot and evening entertainment.

Sunday, January 24: Fan Central, Media Day and Playoff Playlist Live!

Monday, January 25: Championship Tailgate and National Championship.

This creates a complete college football vacation.

A One-Day Championship Trip

If you are attending only the game, the strategy changes.

You will need to think about:

• Airport arrival
• Hotel check-in
• Stadium transportation
• Tailgate
• Security
• Stadium entry
• Post-game transportation

Flying into Las Vegas on January 25 and trying to reach Allegiant Stadium for the afternoon game is significantly riskier than arriving the previous day.

A flight delay, baggage problem or traffic disruption could affect your ability to attend the championship.

For a ticket as important and potentially expensive as a national championship, arriving at least one day early is the safer approach.

Where Should You Stay?

The best hotel depends on what you want from championship week.

Near Allegiant Stadium

Staying near the south end of the Strip can make game-day transportation easier.

Mandalay Bay and Luxor are particularly relevant because they are close to Allegiant Stadium and connected to the stadium area by the pedestrian route over Hacienda Bridge.

However, hotel availability and pricing can change substantially around major events.

Central Strip

Hotels around Bellagio, Caesars Palace, The Cosmopolitan and ARIA provide a more central Las Vegas experience.

They are farther from Allegiant Stadium than Mandalay Bay, but they offer excellent access to restaurants, entertainment and other Strip activities.

North Strip

Resorts farther north can be attractive for visitors who want to combine the championship with Sphere, nightlife or other entertainment.

The trade-off is a longer journey to Allegiant Stadium.

The right hotel therefore depends on whether the trip is primarily about football or about Las Vegas as a whole.

Should You Stay at Mandalay Bay?

For fans whose priority is minimizing game-day transportation, the Mandalay Bay area is particularly attractive.

The official Allegiant Stadium transportation information identifies the Hacienda Bridge as a walking route from Las Vegas Boulevard, and the bridge can be closed to vehicle traffic before and after select major events to facilitate pedestrian movement.

That means some visitors staying near Mandalay Bay may find walking more predictable than trying to drive directly to the stadium.

However, walking should only be considered if everyone in your group is comfortable with the distance and weather.

Walking From the Strip to Allegiant Stadium

The official stadium transportation page identifies the route from Las Vegas Boulevard via Hacienda Bridge as the best walking option.

On selected event days, the bridge can be closed to automobiles to create a safer pedestrian route.

This is useful because the Strip is very close to Allegiant Stadium geographically.

But there is an important distinction:

Close by car does not necessarily mean easy by car.

On a major event day, walking from the Strip can sometimes be more predictable than dealing with event traffic.

Using the Deuce Bus

The RTC’s Deuce bus operates 24 hours a day along Las Vegas Boulevard.

Allegiant Stadium’s official transportation information says the Deuce runs every 15 minutes from numerous stops along the Strip, with a stop near Hacienda Bridge at Mandalay Bay. The stadium currently lists an $8 24-hour pass through the RTC app.

This can be an economical option for visitors staying along the Strip.

However, championship day will have unusual crowd levels.

If you choose public transportation, allow additional time rather than planning your arrival around the exact minute you want to reach the stadium.

Rideshare to Allegiant Stadium

Rideshare services are available, but the designated pickup and drop-off system is important.

The stadium’s current transportation information identifies Lot N on Dean Martin Drive as the rideshare pickup and drop-off area.

That means you should not assume your Uber or Lyft can stop directly outside your preferred stadium entrance.

For post-game pickup, this becomes especially important.

Thousands of fans may leave simultaneously, and the designated rideshare area can be considerably busier than a normal event.

Taxi and General Drop-Off

The stadium identifies a dedicated area near Diablo Drive and Procyon Street for taxis, shuttles and general drop-off/pick-up.

This can be useful for private transportation and larger vehicles.

Event-day traffic controls can change, so travelers should always verify the current instructions shortly before the championship.

Driving to the National Championship

Driving is possible, but it requires planning.

Allegiant Stadium says single-event parking passes are available through SpotHero and should be purchased in advance. It also warns that parking lots do not allow re-entry.

This creates a problem for fans who plan to park, leave the stadium area for dinner or another activity and then return.

If you drive, treat your parking location as a commitment for the entire event.

Do not assume you can leave and come back using the same parking pass.

Why Parking Is Not Necessarily the Best Option

On championship day, the objective should be getting to the stadium without creating an unnecessary transportation problem.

Driving yourself means dealing with:

• Event traffic
• Parking availability
• Advance parking reservations
• Pedestrian congestion
• Post-game traffic
• Finding your vehicle
• No re-entry to stadium parking lots

For groups that want a more controlled experience, prearranged transportation can be easier.

The Best Transportation Strategy for Groups

College football championship trips are often group trips.

You may have:

• Friends
• Family
• Alumni
• Corporate guests
• Clients
• Alumni association members
• School supporters

For a group, the transportation decision should be made before game day.

Instead of asking everyone to independently order an Uber after the game, establish:

One pickup location

One departure time

One transportation provider

One backup plan

This is particularly important if the group intends to continue to dinner or nightlife after the championship.

A Better Game-Day Timeline

With the current 4:30 PM kickoff, a comfortable schedule could look like this:

10:00 AM–11:00 AM

Breakfast at the hotel.

Avoid making this a complicated cross-town excursion.

11:00 AM–12:00 PM

Return to the hotel, collect your game-day essentials and prepare to leave.

Around 12:00 PM

Begin traveling toward the stadium area.

Around 12:30 PM

Championship Tailgate is scheduled to open four hours before kickoff.

1:30–2:30 PM

Enjoy tailgate activities, concessions and entertainment.

Around 2:30–3:00 PM

Begin moving toward stadium entry.

3:00–3:30 PM

Complete security and find your seating area.

4:30 PM

National Championship kickoff.

After the game

Follow your prearranged transportation plan.

The exact stadium entry and event-day schedule can change, so always verify final instructions before the event.

What Should You Bring Into Allegiant Stadium?

Allegiant Stadium currently operates under a strict clear-bag policy.

Approved bags include:

• Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″
• A one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag
• Small clutch bags, purses or wallets no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″ x 2″

Necessary medical items are an exception but are subject to inspection.

This is one of the most important things to check before leaving your hotel.

Do not arrive at the stadium with a normal backpack, large purse or suitcase and assume it will be allowed.

Can You Bring Luggage?

Luggage is not permitted inside Allegiant Stadium.

The stadium does provide three bag-check locations, and its current published policy says checked bags cost $20 per bag, with cashless payment. The bag checks accept luggage and suitcases and close one hour after the event.

For championship travelers arriving directly from the airport, this is particularly important.

It is far better to send your luggage to the hotel before heading to the stadium than to arrive with a suitcase and discover that you need to check it.

Allegiant Stadium Is Cashless

Allegiant Stadium is a cashless venue.

Cash is not accepted for parking, concessions or retail purchases. The stadium provides cash-to-card kiosks where guests can convert cash to a debit card.

For visitors from outside the United States, using a credit or debit card with international transaction capabilities may therefore be much easier than relying on cash.

What Should You Wear?

January in Las Vegas can be cool, especially in the evening.

The championship starts in the afternoon, but the trip back to your hotel may take place after sunset.

A practical approach is to dress in layers.

For football fans, team colors and jerseys are obvious choices, but remember that you may spend several hours walking or standing before and after the game.

Comfortable footwear is more important than it might seem.

Championship Weekend for Families

The official championship schedule makes Las Vegas particularly suitable for families.

CFP Fan Central is free and includes interactive football activities, the championship trophy and player autograph opportunities.

Families can therefore participate in championship week without purchasing a championship-game ticket for every member.

If traveling with children, however, avoid assuming that every event is located near your hotel.

Build transportation time into the itinerary.

Championship Weekend for Alumni Groups

College alumni groups can take advantage of the Las Vegas setting by organizing a complete weekend around their school.

A possible schedule is:

Friday: Arrival and group dinner

Saturday: Fan Central and Las Vegas activities

Sunday: Media Day and school-related gathering

Monday: Tailgate and championship game

This can be particularly effective for alumni associations or large groups traveling from another state.

Championship Weekend for Corporate Guests

The CFP National Championship is also an opportunity for corporate entertainment.

Companies may use the weekend to host:

• Clients
• Business partners
• Employees
• Executives
• Prospective customers

For corporate groups, the most important consideration is coordination.

The championship itself is only one part of the experience.

Transportation may need to cover:

Airport → Hotel

Hotel → Business Meeting

Business Meeting → Dinner

Dinner → Championship Event

Stadium → Hotel or Nightlife

A single transportation plan can be considerably easier than asking each guest to coordinate individual rides.

What to Do After the Championship Game

The game is scheduled to begin at 4:30 PM, so the final whistle will likely occur in the evening depending on game length and stoppages.

That makes post-game planning particularly important.

Possible options include:

Return to the hotel

The simplest choice for families and travelers who have an early flight the following day.

Celebrate with your group

Reserve a restaurant in advance and use prearranged transportation.

Continue into Las Vegas nightlife

A good option for groups of friends or adult travelers.

The key is to make the decision before entering the stadium.

Do not wait until the final whistle to ask 10 people where they want to go.

Restaurants on Championship Day

If you want dinner after the game, reservations are strongly recommended.

A national championship attracts visitors from across the country, and many fans will want to celebrate immediately after the game.

Choose a restaurant based on your transportation plan rather than simply its rating.

For example, a restaurant near your hotel may be more convenient than a highly rated restaurant on the opposite side of the Strip.

Sportsbooks and Watch Parties for Fans Without Tickets

One of the unique aspects of Las Vegas is that you do not need a championship ticket to participate in the atmosphere.

The official Las Vegas host-city page explicitly promotes the city as a destination for fans without game tickets, highlighting sportsbooks, poolside watch parties and entertainment throughout Las Vegas.

This creates two different championship experiences:

Ticketed fans: Tailgate + Allegiant Stadium + game

Non-ticketed fans: Fan events + watch parties + sportsbooks + concerts + Las Vegas entertainment

For groups that cannot secure enough stadium tickets, this is an important alternative.

A Complete Championship Week Itinerary

Wednesday, January 20

Arrive in Las Vegas.

Explore the city and begin experiencing championship-related activities as the official week gets underway.

Thursday, January 21

Enjoy Las Vegas and look for additional championship programming.

Friday, January 22

Attend CFP Fan Central and consider Taste of the Championship.

Saturday, January 23

Trophy Trot 5K in the morning, Fan Central during the day and Playoff Playlist Live! in the evening.

Sunday, January 24

Visit Fan Central, attend public Media Day and enjoy the second night of Playoff Playlist Live!

Monday, January 25

Breakfast, prepare for the game, travel to Allegiant Stadium, enjoy Championship Tailgate and attend the National Championship.

This is the ideal itinerary for fans who want to experience the entire event rather than only the final game.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Arriving in Las Vegas on Monday afternoon

A flight delay could put your championship ticket at risk.

Driving without pre-planning parking

Event-day traffic and parking can be very different from an ordinary Las Vegas day.

Taking a normal backpack into the stadium

Allegiant Stadium’s clear-bag policy is strict.

Carrying luggage to the stadium

Luggage is prohibited inside the stadium.

Waiting until after the game to arrange transportation

Thousands of fans will be leaving simultaneously.

Booking dinner too far away

Post-game traffic can make a short distance take much longer.

Assuming the game is the only championship activity

The official Las Vegas program includes nearly a full week of fan events.

Ignoring the non-ticketed experience

You can still experience championship week without a game ticket.

Planning National Championship Transportation With Vegas VIP Limo

For fans traveling in groups, corporate guests, alumni organizations and families looking for a more controlled championship-day experience, Vegas VIP Limo can provide private transportation around the Las Vegas itinerary.

A transportation plan can be organized around the complete day rather than only the stadium transfer.

For example:

Hotel → Championship Tailgate → Allegiant Stadium → Dinner → Hotel

Or:

Airport → Hotel → Fan Event → Dinner → Championship Event → Hotel

For corporate groups, transportation can also include multiple meetings and hospitality destinations before or after the game.

The advantage of arranging transportation in advance is that your group does not have to make its transportation decisions when thousands of other fans are doing exactly the same thing.

For transportation planning and availability:

Vegas VIP Limo
Phone: +1.702.4420210
Email: info@vegasviplimo.com
Website: https://www.vegasviplimo.com/

2027 CFP National Championship Travel Checklist

Before traveling to Las Vegas, confirm:

• Championship date: January 25, 2027
• Kickoff: 4:30 PM PT
• Allegiant Stadium location
• Hotel reservation
• Airport transportation
• Championship-week events you want to attend
• Game tickets, if applicable
• Stadium bag requirements
• Transportation to the stadium
• Post-game transportation
• Restaurant reservations
• Credit/debit card for cashless purchases
• Comfortable shoes
• Team apparel and appropriate layers
• Flight departure schedule

If you are attending with a group, establish a meeting point in advance in case phones become difficult to use in crowded areas.

Final Takeaway

The 2027 College Football Playoff National Championship is scheduled for Monday, January 25, 2027, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, with kickoff at 4:30 PM Pacific Time.

But the real opportunity for visitors is the championship week surrounding the game.

From January 20 through January 25, Las Vegas will host fan activities, live music, culinary events, the Trophy Trot, Media Day and the Championship Tailgate. Several of these events are free, meaning even fans without championship tickets can participate in the experience.

For ticketed fans, the smartest strategy is to arrive before championship day, plan transportation in advance and avoid relying on last-minute rides after the game.

For groups, families and corporate guests, transportation should be treated as part of the championship itinerary—not something to figure out after the final whistle.

The result is a much more relaxed experience: less time worrying about traffic, parking and pickup locations, and more time enjoying what could be one of the biggest college football events ever hosted in Las Vegas.