Most people know AT&T Stadium from television: the glass walls, the giant center-hung video board, the Cowboys star at midfield. In person it’s bigger than you expect. The stadium seats about 80,000 people and can expand past 100,000 for the biggest events, and it hosts far more than football. Concert tours, college bowl games, rodeo finals and boxing all come through Arlington.
It also sits about 25 minutes from our front door, close enough to get there easily and far enough to sleep on a quiet street.
Getting there from Casita
The drive is easy. You head east toward Arlington and the stadium appears on the skyline long before you reach it. On a normal day it’s about 12 miles and 20 to 25 minutes. On game days, the slow part is the last mile inside the Entertainment District, so give yourself extra time.
The stadium is surrounded by thousands of parking spaces, and you can buy a spot in advance through the team or your ticket seller. If you’d rather skip parking altogether, a rideshare from the house is short. Guests with limited mobility can use shuttle carts that run from the parking lots.
Plan your visit
The bag rule catches more visitors than anything else. AT&T Stadium follows the NFL clear-bag policy: a clear bag up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or a small clutch about the size of your hand. Backpacks, regular purses, fanny packs and camera bags aren’t allowed, and there’s no official bag check, so leave them at the house.
If you’re in town on a non-event day, the stadium offers tours. Check the official site for times and tickets, since schedules change with the event calendar.
For concerts, look up your show’s own rules. Doors, floor access and re-entry vary from tour to tour.
Eat and drink nearby
Texas Live!, the entertainment complex between AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field, is the easiest place to meet up before a game. It has Troy’s, the restaurant from Cowboys Hall of Famer Troy Aikman, plus Lockhart Smokehouse for Texas barbecue and Guy Fieri’s Taco Joint. On game days the big screen at the Live! Arena turns the whole place into a watch party.
Make a weekend of it
A Sunday game pairs well with a Saturday in Fort Worth. Catch the morning cattle drive at the Stockyards, or spend a slow afternoon at the Cultural District museums. If the Rangers are home, Globe Life Field is right across the street, and on a quiet morning Lake Arlington is a few minutes’ walk from the house.
When the game’s over, you get to come back to a real home instead of a hotel room. Check our dates for your game weekend.
Tips from the house
- Bring a clear bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or a small clutch. Backpacks and regular purses are turned away at the gate.
- Buy parking ahead of time for big events. Prepaid lots fill up and drive-up prices climb on game day.
- Leave the house at least 90 minutes before kickoff. The last few miles into the Entertainment District are slow, not the drive from us.
- Plan your exit. Waiting 20 to 30 minutes after the final whistle usually beats the rush out of the lots.
- Eat before you go or at Texas Live! next door. Stadium food is good but the lines are long at halftime.
Good to know
How far is AT&T Stadium from Fort Worth?
From our house in southeast Fort Worth it's about 12 miles, usually 20 to 25 minutes by car without game-day traffic.
What bags are allowed at AT&T Stadium?
Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or a small clutch. Backpacks, regular purses, coolers and camera bags aren't allowed. Check the stadium's A to Z guide before your event, since rules can change.
Is AT&T Stadium the same as Dallas Stadium?
Yes. During the 2026 FIFA World Cup the stadium used the name Dallas Stadium because FIFA doesn't allow sponsor names. It's back to AT&T Stadium now.
Where should I stay for a Cowboys game?
Anywhere between Fort Worth and Arlington keeps the drive short. Our home near Lake Arlington is about 25 minutes away, sleeps four, and has a fenced yard if you're bringing a dog.
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
