If you’ve ever stood in the parking lot of the Meadowlands while the wind whips off the Hackensack River, you know that New Jersey weather doesn't care about your weekend plans. It definitely doesn't care about dirt bikes. For years, the Monster Energy Supercross MetLife round has been the wildcard of the circuit, a place where championship dreams either get traction or slide out in the Jersey mud.
But here is the thing: if you're looking for the 2026 date at East Rutherford, you’re going to be looking for a long time.
Honestly, the biggest shock of the 2026 season wasn't a rider swap or a new bike—it was the schedule. For the first time in a while, MetLife Stadium has been left off the map. Feld Motor Sports dropped the 17-round calendar and New Jersey fans realized they’d have to trek down to Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on April 25th or head west to Cleveland if they wanted their fix of stadium dirt.
Why MetLife Stadium Is a Beast to Tame
Supercross in an open-air stadium in the Northeast is basically a high-stakes gamble with the atmosphere.
Remember 2023? We saw a massive lightning delay that turned the track into a literal swamp. Mechanics were frantically trying to keep electronics dry while riders sat in the tunnels, staring at a radar that looked like a bowl of kale salad. When they finally got out there, it wasn't even racing anymore; it was a survival test.
The dirt at MetLife is unique. It’s a mix of local soil and specialized clay that, when dry, provides some of the best traction on the East Coast. When it’s wet? It turns into "Jersey Grease." It sticks to the fenders, adds fifty pounds to the bike in three laps, and makes the whoops—those nasty, rhythmic bumps—nearly impossible to skim.
The Last Stand: Chase Sexton’s Masterclass
Since we aren't hitting the Meadowlands in 2026, everyone is still buzzing about the 2025 race. That night belonged to Chase Sexton.
The KTM rider didn't just win; he put on a clinic. He took the lead on the very first lap and just... left. By the time the checkers flew, he had a double-digit gap over Cooper Webb. It was one of those nights where a rider finds a "flow state" on a track that was chewing everyone else up.
- Chase Sexton (KTM) - Controlled the race from the gate drop.
- Cooper Webb (Yamaha) - Played the long game for points but couldn't catch the #4.
- Aaron Plessinger (KTM) - Won a brutal battle with Justin Barcia to round out the podium.
The 250 class was just as chaotic. Seth Hammaker grabbed the win for Pro Circuit Kawasaki, becoming the first repeat winner of the East division that year. If you were there, you saw Nate Thrasher take a nasty spill after the triple, which basically handed the points lead to Hammaker.
What Fans Get Wrong About the "Jersey" Race
Most people think "New York" when they hear MetLife. Local fans know better. This is a North Jersey event through and through, and the logistics are famously tricky.
A lot of the "disorganized" chatter you see on Reddit or Ticketmaster reviews comes from people who don't realize how different Supercross is from a Giants or Jets game. At a football game, the stadium is the show. At Supercross, the FanFest in the parking lot is half the draw.
In 2025, there was a lot of grumbling because some levels of the stadium didn't open until 1:30 PM, even though practice and qualifying started much earlier. People were stuck in the lower bowls or wandering the concourse looking for open food vendors. It’s a提醒 that for these massive stadium builds, you’ve got to arrive early but expect a bit of a "hurry up and wait" vibe.
No MetLife in 2026: Where Do We Go?
The 2026 schedule is a bit of a heartbreaker for the Tri-State area. The series is leaning into new or returning markets like Cleveland (Huntington Bank Field) and Birmingham.
If you are a die-hard who usually hits the Monster Energy Supercross MetLife round, your best bet is Philadelphia. It’s only a two-hour drive south on the Turnpike. The dirt is similar—hard-packed and fickle—and the atmosphere at "The Linc" is arguably more intense because the stadium is tighter.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Supercross Trip
Since the circuit is skipping Jersey this year, you’re likely planning a road trip to Philly or Foxborough. Here is how to actually survive it:
- Buy the FanFest Pass separately: Don't assume it’s included. It rarely is unless you’re buying a premium VIP package.
- Check the Bag Policy: MetLife and Lincoln Financial are strict. If it isn't a clear bag, it isn't getting in. Don't be the person walking back to a car parked two miles away.
- Watch Qualifying: The night show is the glory, but the afternoon qualifying is where you see the riders actually testing limits and trying different "quad" jumps they might be too scared to pull in a pack of 22 bikes.
- Ear Protection: Seriously. It’s louder than you think. Especially in the lower bowls where the sound bounces off the concrete.
Supercross will eventually return to East Rutherford. It's too big of a market to ignore forever. But for now, the memories of Sexton’s 20-second lead and the smell of race gas in the Jersey air will have to hold us over until the dirt trucks roll back into town.
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Next Steps for Fans
If you're looking to catch the closest thing to the Jersey vibe this year, check the availability for the Philadelphia round on April 25th. Tickets generally go on sale months in advance, and the "Insider" presale is usually the only way to snag seats in the first ten rows of the lower bowl.