Dallas Cowboys — Photo courtesy of Dallas Cowboys Facebook page
Football is simply a part of Texan culture, and most Dallasites live, breathe and sleep the sport during the fall. While Dallas loves its home team (and America's team), the Dallas Cowboys, high school and college football are just as popular. If you find yourself in Dallas between August and December, you should definitely plan on fitting football into your schedule. Here are some ideas on how to best spend game day when you're visiting Big D.
Where To Stay
Dallas boasts several popular football teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, as well as several area colleges with great football teams, such as Texas Christian University (in Ft. Worth), Southern Methodist University (in University Park) and University of North Texas (in Denton). If you're in town to attend a home game, find a hotel near your stadium destination. For example, if attending a Dallas Cowboys home game in Arlington, stay in-style at the 5-star Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas in Las Colinas or the Sheraton Arlington Hotel.
If you're attending a game at SMU, Hotel Palomar Dallas, a Kimpton Hotel, is the place to be. Ft. Worth has a wide variety of international chain and boutique hotels in the downtown area, which is close to TCU, while Denton, a small college town, has several budget chain properties. If you're in town for a bowl game at the Cotton Bowl, stay in a swanky downtown Dallas hotel or in the West End, which is always near a party.
Where to Find Sports Gear
You can't go to a game, or even watch it a local sports bar, without the proper team attire! Fortunately, Dallas has a wide variety of sports apparel stores situated all around the metroplex. Find great bargains and a ton of selections at some large stores, including Academy Sports, Dick's Sporting Goods and Sports Authority. You can also shop at one of the Dallas Cowboys Pro Shops. There are locations at Cowboys Stadium, Arlington Parks Mall, DFW Airport, Grapevine Mills Mall, the Galleria, Vista Ridge Mall, Town East Mall, Stonebriar Mall and the Allen Premium Outlets.
Where to Watch the Game
If you haven't been lucky enough to score tickets to the big game (or are simply looking for a place to party afterwards), visit one of many great sports bars in Dallas. Frankie's Sports Bar is in the heart of the Uptown neighborhood, and it always has a game on. Christie's Sports Bar is Dallas' original sports bar and attracts a yuppy crowd. SMU students love to celebrate wins at Across the Street Bar and Milo Butterfingers; great dive bars with delicious burgers. If you're looking for some place to grab a bite of brunch before the game, Ozona Grill and Bar is the place to go.
Christie's Sports Bar — Photo courtesy of Christie's Sports Bar Facebook page
