AT&T Stadium, home of the Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas

Full disclosure: We’re NY Giants fans. Like, season-ticket-holder NY Giants fans. So when our friends and family heard we were going to visit the home of our arch rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, they asked if they should have bail money on hold. Not to worry – real Giants fans keep it classy! Plus, we’d heard how beautiful and enormous (if you can use those words to describe a sporting venue) AT&T Stadium is, so we had to check it out for ourselves. Our son still insisted on frowning or “booing” in every photo.

We took the VIP Tour of the stadium as it was the only option while we were in town. The field was under construction (summer-fall 2018) so we weren’t able to take the self guided tour or go on the field. However, the almost two hour VIP tour was still a lot of fun. If art is more your jam, check out the Art Tour, offered Monday through Thursday , to learn about the art collection on display throughout the facility.

AT&T Stadium, which opened in 2009, is the world’s largest closed dome stadium with almost 80,000 seats. The entire complex covers over 100 acres (73 acres for the stadium and almost 30 acres for parking) and over three million square feet. It’s home to the world’s largest suspended video board (160 feet by 72 feet, as long as a seven story building).  There are 22 locations in the stadium that can be rented. You can even rent the entire venue. AT&T Stadium also holds the World Record (as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records) for the most televisions in one space- over 3,500 televisions.

Traveling with Kids:

• Parking is usually right in the front Blue Lot 1 or 2.

• Restrooms are located across from the Pro Shop. Use them before the tour.

• Tours go out every thirty minutes and leave from the Gift Pro Shop.  I suggest purchasing tickets ahead of time, as they can and do sell out for the day.

• There are plenty of tour options. Check them out here.

• The tour is handicap and stroller accessible, but plan on being separated from the group for a bit to take elevators instead of escalators. You’ll also travel as a whole group on two freight elevators for part of the tour.

• Tour guides are not allowed to discuss any monetary issue concerning the stadium building cost, season tickets or suite rental pricing etc- don’t ask!

• You’ll have two chances to have professional and digitally enhanced photos taken on the tour (inside the locker room and on the main concourse level with the stadium screen in the background) for purchase.

Seven Hot Spots on the VIP Tour:

1. The Perch- Owner Jerry Jones’ private man cave where Jones and his immediate family go to get serious about watching football. (That’s in addition to his owners’ box). It even has a private elevator to bring him from his private underground parking area right up to the box.

2. AT&T Star Club and American Airlines Club- Each one has almost 60,000 square feet with five bars and two full concessions area. Even the light figures are designed to mirror footballs (with lights as the laces of a football).

3. Ford Plaza- The world’s largest (another record) retractable doors and a display of eight Ford trucks. From a distance, you’ll wonder if they’re match box cars or “real life” size.

4. The offices of the Cotton Bowl Classic, hosted at AT&T stadium since it opened, and established in 1935- There’s a record of past champions and scores for each year, and helmets from the championship teams.

5. The Cowboys’ Locker Room- You can look for your favorite (or least favorite) player and pose under his locker.

6. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’ Locker Room- You can try and emulate their pose under each locker.

7. Post game Media Interview Room- See where coaches and players are grilled by national and local media about their in-game performance. This is right near the open access viewing area, which allows fans to get an up-close view of home and visiting players as they walk from their locker room to the playing field. This spot is a game day must!!