AT & T Stadium, Dallas Overview

The AT and T stadium is one of the largest and expensive stadium in the NFL league. It spans up to 3 million sq feet in size with an estimated cost of USD 1.48 billion. Home to the Dallas Cowboys, attending a game at the AT&T Stadium is always an unforgettable experience. Even if you’re not fond of the game it will still be worth the visit as you can enjoy the excellent architecture, artworks, and tours provided.

The stadium is located in Arlington, Texas, and is also known as Jerry’s world after the Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. It is a world-class athletic structure whose usage is not only limited to matches for concerts, rodeos, and races are also held here. It replaced the Texas Stadium, which served as the Cowboys' home from 1971 through the 2008 season. To get a true glimpse into the area’s culture, a visit to the home of the Dallas Cowboys is necessary. On match days, the stadium opens 3 hours before kick-off but for the tours, it is best to visit during the offseason.

Things to do at AT & T Stadium

Apart from the football matches and events held in the stadium, visitors can also enjoy the tours provided by the stadium throughout the whole year. The tour offers a behind-the-scenes experience of what goes on within the stadium. You can also visit the Merchandise stands located all over the stadium and pick up a souvenir or two.

Tour Packages in AT & T Stadium

The stadium offers VIP guided tours and the self-guided tours which includes a visit to the post-game interview room, locker rooms for the Dallas Cowboys and cheerleaders, access to the field, and much more. The guided tour charges USD 35 and the self-guided tour USD 25. The tours are available from Monday to Saturday, from 10 am to 6 pm and on Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm. The tickets can be booked online or on the spot at the Ticket office.
You can also opt for the Art tour and explore a different side of the stadium with museum-quality art exhibit housing several pieces of incredible artwork.
The tours are unavailable on a Blackout day hence is advisable to check beforehand as blackout days are prone to change.

Features of the AT & T Stadium

The stadium is an incredible feat of architecture.No pillars is supporting the structure, rather a pair of nearly 300 ft (91 m) tall arches spanning the length of the domed stadium is anchored to the ground at each end supporting the entire structure. It also boasts of a 14,000-plus ton retractable roof that opens or closes in 12 minutes, a Climate-controlled interior system, NFL’s largest video board at 160 ft. in length and 72 ft. and more than 3,000 Sony LCDs throughout the venue.

Restrictions at the Stadium

Smoking is prohibited in all areas of the stadium. Eatables and beverages, weapons, sharp objects of any kind, noisemakers, video cameras, drones are banned. Animals are not allowed except first service animals. The stadium has a strict no bag policy. Wallets, purses and clutches no larger than 4.5 x6.5 within an approved plastic bag, clear see-through bags, and ziplock bags are allowed on the premises. Visitors should go through the restricted list of items available online before visiting the stadium. Thorough checking is conducted before entering the stadium.

Parking at the Stadium

The stadium is designed with accessible parking, vehicle drop-off, and pickup areas. It has approximately 12,000 parking spaces and is generally open 5 hours before the games. The spaces are issued based on, first come first serve. You can also purchase a seasons’ parking pass to book a designated lot. For guests, it is better to purchase a parking spot beforehand online as it would be more economical and hassle-free.

How to reach the stadium

There is no direct public transportation route to AT&T Stadium. However, you can take the TRE (Trinity Railway Express) to Centreport Station then take a taxi to AT&T Stadium. Alternatively, the nearest bus station is Bernal/Singleton TL, from there you can take a taxi to the stadium. You can also choose to travel via a private vehicle or a taxi.

History of the stadium

For more than 30 years, the Dallas Cowboys played at the Texas stadium. In 1994, the owner Jerry Jones began looking into the possibility of a newly expanded stadium and later on took upon the decision to build a completely new one. Constructions began on 20 September 2005 and it was inaugurated on 27 May 2007. The original construction cost was estimated at USD 650 million however it rose to USD 1.15 billion. To meet the cost of construction, the City of Arlington provided over $325 million and the NFL also provided the Cowboys with an additional $150 million loan. The citizens of Arlington agreed to increase the city’s taxes by 0.5 %, the hotel occupancy by 2%, and car rental tax by 5%. Thus, AT&T Stadium also stands as an image of the community’s unity and effort.