Going To A Dallas Cowboys Home Game? Here’s What To Expect

One step at a time. That seems to be the trajectory of the Dallas Cowboys these past few seasons.

After missing out of the playoffs in coach Mike McCarthy’s first year in 2020, the Pokes have made the playoffs the past two seasons. Last year’s Wild Card playoff win over Tampa Bay was the team’s first postseason victory in five years. Perhaps 2023 will bring a conference title game or a Super Bowl berth.

McCarthy shook up the offensive staff when he fired coordinator Kellen Moore in the offseason, and now the head coach will be the one to call plays. After compiling back-to-back 12-win seasons for the first time since the 1990s, the Cowboys look to push last year’s division winner, the Philadelphia Eagles, for conference supremacy.

For those lucky enough to secure tickets to the opener (or any game, for that matter), here are a few things to help maximize your game-day experience:

Getting to AT&T Stadium

For fans coming from out of town, the first thing to note is that the Dallas Cowboys actually play in Arlington. The city is roughly a 30-minute drive from Dallas-Fort Worth and the DFW Airport. Drive times will likely increase on game days.

While most of the entertainment in the Metroplex is located in those two cities, the area surrounding AT&T Stadium has become a destination of its own in the last two years. 

Texas Live! connects AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Park (home of the Texas Rangers) with dining, entertainment, live music and other leisure options for fans coming to the game. The Loews Arlington Hotel gives fans who want an upscale experience an opportunity to stay right in the heart of the action.

Parking

Yes, parking at AT&T Stadium can cost over $100, but that’s for a front-row spot. There are plenty of $15 to $25 lots within a two-to-four-block walk of the stadium. Many businesses on Collins Street and Randall Mill Road offer remote parking for around $20. Uplift Summit Preparatory, an area high school two blocks from the stadium, has also offered its remote lot for Cowboys games in the past. 

RV parking is available in Lot 14 and costs $150. RVs can arrive at 8 a.m. the day before and must leave by 5 p.m. the day after. RV parking does not include hookups, but there are disposal facilities nearby.

Tailgating

Tailgating at AT&T Stadium is usually a very pleasant experience. Fall weather is great, with little rain, and winter can be mild too. Tailgating at AT&T Stadium occurs in Lots 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. These lots all sit adjacent to grassy areas, and tailgaters have access to their tailgating space plus the grass.

Tailgating regulars advise arriving 1½-2 hours early to secure a spot, which are first come, first serve. Most tailgaters usually arrive even earlier and have little trouble securing a spot. The gates open for tailgaters five hours before game time.

The Miller LiteHouse also gives tailgaters another stop in the parking lot to hit up in the pregame for games, drinks and music. 

One last thing to note: AT&T Stadium is a cashless venue, so don’t worry about draining an ATM on the way to the game.

Cowboys home schedule

Best Dallas Cowboys tickets on and off a budget

Not only are the stadium and Jumbotron huge, ticket prices (including parking – $110 to park?!) can knock the wind out of you too. Avoid Ticketmaster’s “face value” tickets if you can, where standing room only starts at $65. Prices go up to $3,300-plus for club-level seats. 

For fans looking to get the best bang for their buck, aim for a seat close to the 50-yard line in one of the upper decks (third or fourth level). Surprisingly, AT&T Stadium does not feel all that big from the stands, and a fourth-deck seat close to the rail with a view of the Jumbotron is a great experience.

Stubhub and NFL Ticket Exchange by Ticketmaster (where season ticket-holders sell tickets) are two of the best options for resale tickets. They’ll come in well below Ticketmaster’s face value prices. Prices are dictated by supply and demand, but you can typically get a fourth-row ticket close to the rail for $120-$175. 

At the other end of the spectrum, the best seats in the house might be the Founders Club, sections 210 & 235. The seats are on the 50-yard line, 22 rows away. However, what makes these seats great are the access they grant you to other club levels, including the Field-Level Club just behind the players. A Founders Club ticket will probably set you back $3,100. 

AT&T Stadium promotions

One of the best Cowboy promos is Rally Days. For $25-$45, fans can come to Jerry World the day before the game for interviews and photos with Cowboy alumni and cheerleaders, ticket giveaways, games and inflatables for kids, and stadium tours. VIP 60-minute guided tours come with the $45 ticket, while 60-minute self-guided tours are included with the $25 ticket. Access to the Miller LiteHouse is also included in the price.

The Rally Days for the 2023 season are:

• Sept. 16
• Oct. 28
  
• Nov. 11
  
• Dec. 9

AT&T Stadium ADA information

ADA accessible parking

AT&T Stadium parking lots have accessible parking spaces. Accessible parking spaces are issued on a first come, first served basis. Vehicles must have a valid parking pass for the designated lot, and a state-issued placard or license plate is required to park in accessible parking spaces. For more information, contact the stadium ticket office.

ADA mobility assistance

Shuttle service for guests with disabilities and mobility limitations is available from each of the Cowboys parking lots to the stadium. Accessibility shuttles are limited to the guests needing the service and one companion in order that the service may be offered in a timely manner to those who need it. Shuttle tents are located near entries A, D, J and G.

ADA accessible seating

The stadium provides wheelchair and companion seating with enhanced sightlines on all levels. For ticket information for accessible seating, call the AT&T Stadium Ticket Office at (817) 892-5000 or go to the Ticketmaster website and search for wheelchair accessible or semi-ambulatory seats for each game.