AT&T Stadium

The AT&T Stadium is located in Arlington, Texas and is considered one of the best and most technologically advanced stadiums in all of sports.

The stadium is primarily used as the home of the NFL side, the Dallas Cowboys, and it cost upwards of $1bn when it was built back in the 2000s.

Due to how good the fan experience is at the AT&T Stadium, it has been used for a host of major events in the USA, including the Super Bowl and Wrestlemania.

What makes it such a great place to watch live sport is a combination of factors. Firstly, there isn’t a bad seat in the house thanks to how it has been designed, and secondly, anyone who does miss any on-field action is covered by the gigantic HD screens that hang from the roof. When built, these were officially the largest video display screens on the planet.

Another reason why fans love attending the AT&T Stadium is its retractable roof. This was installed for climate control due to the varying weather in Arlington between seasons. It ensures that regardless of when you visit, you will be able to relax in comfort.

As with the majority of sports stadiums int he USA, there is also plenty of tailgating going on in the parking areas around the stadium, which only adds to the fan experience.

The AT&T Stadium will play host to nine matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. These matches are as follows:

• 14 June: Group Stage match
• 17 June: Group Stage match
• 22 June: Group Stage match
• 25 June: Group Stage match
• 27 June: Group Stage match
• 30 June: Round of 32 match
• 3 July: Round of 32 match
• 6 July: Round of 16 match
• 14 July: Semi-final match

As the AT&T Stadium has been used for several major sporting and non-sporting events over the years, countless famous faces have appeared here at pitch level.

However, here are some big names that have been spotted in the crowd at the stadium:

• Selena Gomez
• Jamie Foxx
• George W Bush
• Kelly Clarkson
• Demi Lovato
• Evander Holyfield
• Jordan Spieth

American sports culture is vastly different from European football culture, so chants aren’t really a thing, even if booing absolutely is. The anthem most commonly associated with the Cowboys is Get Up, a song created by Kelly Clarkson for the Franchise, and this is frequently played at the stadium.

The AT&T Stadium was carefully designed in the early 2000s to ensure that nobody who visits the stadium has a bad view of the action on the pitch. There are no restricted-view seats, and even those situated in the top tiers don’t feel too far away from the action due to the steepness of the stands.

As ever, the best seats inside the stadium are located on the halfway line around halfway up either of the two stands that run along the sides of the pitch. Aim for blocks C309 – C312 or C334 – C337, depending on which stand you prefer.

Seating plan

There isn’t an awful lot within walking distance to the stadium, aside from the huge Texas Live! Bar, which is one of the biggest sports bars you are likely to come across in the entire state. If you would prefer a drink elsewhere before making your way to the stadium, here are three recommendations:

• The Tipsy Oak – 301 E Front St, Arlington, TX 76011, United States
• Hayters – 213 E Front St, Arlington, TX 76011, United States
• J.Gilligan’s – 400 E Abram St, Arlington, TX 76010, United States

There is a whole host of options inside the AT&T Stadium when it comes to food and drink. Check out the full menu for each location to see what is available in the areas around your seats. As a summary, though, you can expect to find the following hot food items on offer:

• Burgers
• Hot dogs
• Sandwiches
• Tacos
• Fried chicken
• Tortas

Fans are also able to purchase soft drinks and alcohol via the various vendors dotted around the stadium.

Arlington is home to several restaurants, and while some are on the pricey side, the portion sizes generally make up for the cost. Three of our recommended restaurants in the local area are:

• The Social House – 1705 N Collins St #101, Arlington, TX 76011, United States
• The Biscuit Bar – 1707 N Collins St #101, Arlington, TX 76011, United States
• Saltgrass Steak House – 2200 E Lamar Blvd, Arlington, TX 76006, United States

By car

Take exit 27 towards Ballpark Way from the I-30 and then follow signs for AT&T Way or Randol Mill Road. Keep following these signs until you arrive at the parking lots that surround the stadium.

There are around 12,000 spaces available in the parking lots at the AT&T Stadium, but you will still need to arrive early to guarantee your space.

By public transport

Incredibly, there are no viable public transportation options to the AT&T Stadium on days when an event is taking place at the stadium. On non-match days, visitors can use the Arlington Trolley service, but this doesn’t operate on event days.

The closest metro station to the stadium is Centrepoint, but even this is five miles away, so an Uber or another taxi service will be required from here. The general feeling is that some kind of shuttle bus service could be put on from here and other nearby metro stations for the World Cup, but nothing is confirmed.

The capacity of the AT&T Stadium is 80,000 if it is a seated-only event and 100,000 for events that allow standing room, too.

Back in 2011, the Dallas Cowboys tried to break the record attendance at a Super Bowl by squeezing in 105,000 fans into the stadium for the match between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers.

The attempt was a disaster from the get-go, though, with workers being injured in a desperate attempt to fit new seats into the stadium during an ice storm, before 1,200 seats were blocked off on matchday due to safety concerns.

In the end, the capacity at Super Bowl XLV was 103,219, which was 766 short of the record.

Fans can enjoy stadium tours at the AT&T Stadium all year round. Some of these tours even allow fans onto the pitch to throw a football, providing them with a true experience of what it’s like to be an NFL player.

For all the key information on all the tours on offer at the AT&T Stadium, visit the stadium’s official tour website.

If you are planning on sticking around in Arlington for a few days before or after your visit to the AT&T Stadium, there are a few places well worth visiting. Some of the best nearby attractions include:

• Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
• Six Flags Over Texas
• Top O’ Hill Terrace
• Globe Life Park
• National Medal of Honour Museum

The AT&T Stadium was designed to host more than just Dallas Cowboys American Football matches. It has long been considered the number one concert venue in Texas for international music artists. As a result, the following acts have all played here:

• Beyonce
• Jay-Z
• Taylor Swift
• Ed Sheeran
• U2
• One Direction

The Dallas Cowboys have called three different stadiums their home since being founded in 1960. For their first 11 years of existence, they played in the Cotton Bowl before moving into the Texas Stadium in 1971.

The Texas Stadium was the Cowboys’ home until 2008, when the owner, Jerry Jones, decided that the franchise needed something more modern that would help move the Franchise into the 21st century.

As a result, the AT&T Stadium was built, with construction work getting underway in 2005. It officially opened in 2009 and was widely considered the best stadium in the USA at the time.

• American Football: 105,121 (Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants, 2009)
• All-time: 108,713 (NBA All-Star Game, 2010)