The Ultimate Guide to AT&T Stadium
Adam M. Young
| January 13, 2023
Opened in May of 2009 under the name Cowboys Stadium, the now AT&T Stadium sits like a giant spaceship landed in the middle of Arlington, Texas. It’s truly a marvel of engineering and technology, and it cost over $1.2 billion to build. It is the home to the Dallas Cowboys, the team that some say is the most valuable sports franchise on Earth. Although the naming rights were granted to AT&T in 2013, most people in the sporting world still refer to it as Jerry World, after Cowboys owner and GM, Jerry Jones.
The first event held at the massive venue was a concert starring George Strait and Reba McEntire. The first sporting event was football of another sort, a soccer match between Costa Rica and Guadeloupe. The Cowboys played their first regular-season home game there on Sept. 20, 2009, losing to the rival New York Giants, 33-31.
A highlight of the stadium experience is one of the largest video boards in the world. Actually, there are four of them, giving all 80,000+ people in attendance a great view of the enormous 1080i screens. There are five levels in the stadium, over 300 suites and 15,000 club seats for fans to take in the action on the field. Unlike the old Cowboys Stadium in Irving that was known for the hole in the roof, AT&T Stadium has a retractable roof that can be closed in just 12 minutes if the weather turns ugly. The interior is completely climate-controlled, and there are more than 300 LCD TVs located throughout the building.
The contemporary fine art collection housed in the stadium is also impressive. The collection includes 16 original works of art commissioned specifically for the stadium.
Beyond its impressive looks, the stadium also offers several conveniences: 200 concession stands dot the premises. (You can get cash at one of the several available ATMs.) Need a new Cowboys jersey? No problem. There are merchandise stands throughout the venue selling all your favorite gear, and they all take debit, credit and cash.
As you would expect in a building named after AT&T, the stadium has one of the largest Distributed Antenna Systems in the country, with hundreds of antennas and dozens of cell sites throughout for all your tweeting and snapping needs. There is even an official AT&T app to keep you up-to-date on stadium information, upcoming events and ticket handling.
Guests with special needs will find convenient accessible parking, designated vehicle drop-off and pick-up areas, automatic doors, special seating areas and full access to concessions, water fountains, compliant restrooms and ATMs. There are also handheld captioning and assistive listening devices for guests who need them. You can choose from either Spanish or English.
Coming from out of town? There are several options for accommodations nearby:
Courtyard by Marriott Hotel Ballpark Arlington
500 Nolan Ryan Expressway
817-277-2774
Holiday Inn Northeast Arlington
1311 Wet 'n Wild Way
817-548-1442
Days Inn Arlington Six Flags/Ball Park/AT&T Stadium
910 North Collins
817-261-8444
Comfort Suites Arlington
411 Road to Six Flags Drive
817-460-8700
Sheraton Hotel Arlington
1500 Convention Center Drive
817-261-8200
Cheering for your favorite team can cause you to work up quite an appetite. Here are some options for game-time grub:
Stadium Club (inside the stadium)
Restaurant506 at The Sanford House
506 N. Center St., Arlington
CiCi's Pizza Restaurant
Collins St., Arlington
Piccolo Mondo
829 E. Lamar Blvd., Arlington
VB Steakhouse
2009 E Copeland Rd., Arlington
If you need a ride to the stadium for a game or concert, you’ll need to take a cab or a ridesharing service like Uber or Lyft. They have their own stations located in Lot 9. A cab is a good option to get to the stadium, but you might want to find a different option for after the game, as a cab can sometimes take hours to arrive.
Cost for parking ranges from $15 to $75, depending on the event. Parking lots generally open five hours prior to a game. Tailgating is allowed in stadium lots except for Lot 3, and parts of Lot 5, 8 and 9. After the game, if you want to do any post-game tailgating, you have up to two hours after the game is over to wrap it up.
Parking Lots
Additional Parking Lots
In addition, there are lettered cash lots around the Texas Rangers Ballpark which may be used during event days including the following:
From the South or South West:
Cost: $6.50 for two hours. Payable in cash or credit card.
Open: All day
Open: 24/7
Cost: $30
Open: 4 hours prior to a game
Cost: No published rate. Cash only.
Open: Event days only
Cost: Not published. Cash only.
Open: Event days only
Cost: Not published. Cash only.
Open: Event days only
Cost: Not published. Cash only.
Open: Event days only
From the North and North East:
Cost: Not published. Parking meter, cash only.
Open: 24/7
Cost: $7.50. Parking may be purchased at the Parking and Transportation Services office during regular business hours. This will allow a vehicle to park in any student or general permit parking lot until 11:59 pm on the date of expiration.
Open: All day
Cost: $7.50. Parking may be purchased at the Parking and Transportation Services office during regular business hours. This will allow a vehicle to park in any student or general permit parking lot until 11:59 pm on the date of expiration.
Open: All day
Cost: $10 –$20. Cash only.
Open: Event days only
Cost: Not published. Cash only.
Open: Event day parking available
From the East:
Cost: $7.50. Parking may be purchased at the Parking and Transportation Services office during regular business hours. This will allow a vehicle to park in any student or general permit parking lot until 11:59 pm on the date of expiration.
Open: All day
Cost: $7.50. Parking may be purchased at the Parking and Transportation Services office during regular business hours. This will allow a vehicle to park in any student or general permit parking lot until 11:59 pm on the date of expiration.
Open: All day
Stadium History
The first event held at the massive venue was a concert starring George Strait and Reba McEntire. The first sporting event was football of another sort, a soccer match between Costa Rica and Guadeloupe. The Cowboys played their first regular-season home game there on Sept. 20, 2009, losing to the rival New York Giants, 33-31.
Special Features and Amenities
A highlight of the stadium experience is one of the largest video boards in the world. Actually, there are four of them, giving all 80,000+ people in attendance a great view of the enormous 1080i screens. There are five levels in the stadium, over 300 suites and 15,000 club seats for fans to take in the action on the field. Unlike the old Cowboys Stadium in Irving that was known for the hole in the roof, AT&T Stadium has a retractable roof that can be closed in just 12 minutes if the weather turns ugly. The interior is completely climate-controlled, and there are more than 300 LCD TVs located throughout the building.
The contemporary fine art collection housed in the stadium is also impressive. The collection includes 16 original works of art commissioned specifically for the stadium.
Beyond its impressive looks, the stadium also offers several conveniences: 200 concession stands dot the premises. (You can get cash at one of the several available ATMs.) Need a new Cowboys jersey? No problem. There are merchandise stands throughout the venue selling all your favorite gear, and they all take debit, credit and cash.
As you would expect in a building named after AT&T, the stadium has one of the largest Distributed Antenna Systems in the country, with hundreds of antennas and dozens of cell sites throughout for all your tweeting and snapping needs. There is even an official AT&T app to keep you up-to-date on stadium information, upcoming events and ticket handling.
Guests with special needs will find convenient accessible parking, designated vehicle drop-off and pick-up areas, automatic doors, special seating areas and full access to concessions, water fountains, compliant restrooms and ATMs. There are also handheld captioning and assistive listening devices for guests who need them. You can choose from either Spanish or English.
Hotels Near AT&T Stadium
Coming from out of town? There are several options for accommodations nearby:
Courtyard by Marriott Hotel Ballpark Arlington
500 Nolan Ryan Expressway
817-277-2774
Holiday Inn Northeast Arlington
1311 Wet 'n Wild Way
817-548-1442
Days Inn Arlington Six Flags/Ball Park/AT&T Stadium
910 North Collins
817-261-8444
Comfort Suites Arlington
411 Road to Six Flags Drive
817-460-8700
Sheraton Hotel Arlington
1500 Convention Center Drive
817-261-8200
Restaurants Near or Inside AT&T Stadium
Cheering for your favorite team can cause you to work up quite an appetite. Here are some options for game-time grub:
Stadium Club (inside the stadium)
Restaurant506 at The Sanford House
506 N. Center St., Arlington
CiCi's Pizza Restaurant
Collins St., Arlington
Piccolo Mondo
829 E. Lamar Blvd., Arlington
VB Steakhouse
2009 E Copeland Rd., Arlington
Public Transportation Options
If you need a ride to the stadium for a game or concert, you’ll need to take a cab or a ridesharing service like Uber or Lyft. They have their own stations located in Lot 9. A cab is a good option to get to the stadium, but you might want to find a different option for after the game, as a cab can sometimes take hours to arrive.
Stadium General Parking
Cost for parking ranges from $15 to $75, depending on the event. Parking lots generally open five hours prior to a game. Tailgating is allowed in stadium lots except for Lot 3, and parts of Lot 5, 8 and 9. After the game, if you want to do any post-game tailgating, you have up to two hours after the game is over to wrap it up.
Parking Lots
Cowboys Blue Lots 1, 2, 3 and 10
Accessible via the E Randol Mill Road.Cowboys Blue Lots 7 and 11
Accessible via Cowboys Way. Lot 11 is a Courtesy Shuttle Load Zone.Cowboys Blue Lot 15
Accessible via E Randol Mill Road and Slaughter Street. Lot 15 a Courtesy Shuttle Load Zone and is a designated Uber zone.Cowboys Silver Lots 5 and 4
Accessible via Cowboys Way and AT&T Way. Lot 4 is a Courtesy Shuttle Load Zone.Cowboys Silver Lots 12 and 13
Accessible via and AT&T Way and E Sanford Street. Both are Courtesy Shuttle Load Zone.Cowboy Silver Lot 14
Accessible via AT&T Way, E Sanford Street and Division Street. It is a Courtesy Shuttle Load Zone.Additional Parking Lots
Rangers Pre-sold and Cash Lots M and N
Accessible via Pennant Drive, Nolan Ryan Expressway and AT&T Way. Both are Courtesy Shuttle Load Zones.Rangers Cash Lot J
Accessible via Randol Mill Road and is a Courtesy Shuttle Load Zone.In addition, there are lettered cash lots around the Texas Rangers Ballpark which may be used during event days including the following:
Lots A and B
Accessible via Nolan Ryan Expressway and Cowboys Way.Lot C
Accessible via Ballpark Way and Randol Mill Road.Lot D
Accessible via Arlington Downs Road.Lot E
Accessible via Road to Six Flags and Ballpark Way.Lot F and G
Accessible via Copeland Road.Lot H
Accessible via Road to Six Flags and Nolan Ryan Expressway.Lot K
Accessible via Ballpark Way and Randol Mill Road.Off-site Parking
From the South or South West:
The University of Texas at Arlington Maverick Parking Garage – 708 S West St.
Cost: $6.50 for two hours. Payable in cash or credit card.
Open: All day
Six Flags Over Texas – 2201 Road to Six Flags
Cost: $20 for 24 hoursOpen: 24/7
The Wade Building – 313 South Center St.
Cost: $30
Open: 4 hours prior to a game
Cecil Communications – 2115 Arlington Downs Rd.
Cost: No published rate. Cash only.
Open: Event days only
936 N Collins St. Parking
Cost: Not published. Cash only.
Open: Event days only
908 N Collins St. Parking
Cost: Not published. Cash only.
Open: Event days only
1401 N Collins St. Parking
Cost: Not published. Cash only.
Open: Event days only
From the North and North East:
The University of Texas at Arlington Lot 39 – Spaniolo Dr.
Cost: Not published. Parking meter, cash only.
Open: 24/7
The University of Texas at Arlington Architecture Building – 601 W Nedderman Dr.
Cost: $7.50. Parking may be purchased at the Parking and Transportation Services office during regular business hours. This will allow a vehicle to park in any student or general permit parking lot until 11:59 pm on the date of expiration.
Open: All day
The University of Texas at Arlington, Texas Hall – 701 W Nedderman Dr.
Cost: $7.50. Parking may be purchased at the Parking and Transportation Services office during regular business hours. This will allow a vehicle to park in any student or general permit parking lot until 11:59 pm on the date of expiration.
Open: All day
Arlington Event Parking – 2000 East Randol Mill Rd.
Cost: $10 –$20. Cash only.
Open: Event days only
Everest College – 300 Six Flags Dr.
Cost: Not published. Cash only.
Open: Event day parking available
From the East:
The University of Texas at Arlington Lot 14 – UTA Blvd.
Cost: $7.50. Parking may be purchased at the Parking and Transportation Services office during regular business hours. This will allow a vehicle to park in any student or general permit parking lot until 11:59 pm on the date of expiration.
Open: All day
The University of Texas at Arlington Lot 46 – W 6th St.
Cost: $7.50. Parking may be purchased at the Parking and Transportation Services office during regular business hours. This will allow a vehicle to park in any student or general permit parking lot until 11:59 pm on the date of expiration.
Open: All day
