DALLAS - FORTH WORTH

Probably just as famous for the long running TV series of the same name, Dallas encapsulates all that is synonymous with Texas – big, bold and brassy. It’s football team The Cowboys, in particular, has always embraced this image.

Dallas first became (in)famous in the 1960’s as the place where JFK was assassinated, and the spot from where he was shot has been called the Sixth Floor Museum, located in the former Texas School Book Depository. Within the area surrounding the shooting in the northern part of downtown are several memorials for JFK.

Surprisingly to some, the Dallas downtown area is also home to some great live music in the Deep Ellum District and the Dallas Arts District – also in the northern section of downtown. It is home to the impressive Dallas Museum of Art; the Morton H Meyerson Symphony Center; the Trammel Crow Center Pavilion; and the Dallas Theater Center.

If you are in Dallas in September or October, it is worth attending the famous Texas State Fair at Fair Park, south-east of the Downtown area. Fair Park itself is worth visiting, as it contains some great art-deco architecture and has contains a museum on the history of the Lone Star State.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is now one of the busiest airports in the US and is located on the outskirts of Dallas, some 26km north-west of the downtown area. Access to the downtown area is via the Trinity Railway Express (which also access to Irving and Fort Worth). Amtrak trains and Greyhound buses arrive at Union Station in Dallas' west end.

DART is the city's public transportation system, with both buses and a modern light-rail trains serving downtown Dallas and the outlying areas. Its hub is Union Station.

DALLAS COWBOYS

TEXAS STADIUM

Formed in 1960, the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys will always be remembered as the glamour team of the 1970’s – it could be said that they were the team that revolutionized the marketing of sport. For example, the phenomenon of the Dallas Cowgirls Cheerleaders began during this period and the beginning of cheerleading as we know it today.

On the field, the Cowboys played in 5 Super bowls in the decade, led by Cowboy legendary coach Tom Landrey and quarterback Roger Staubauch, winning two and losing three. After a lean spell in the 1980’s, which ended Tom Landrey’s 28 year coaching tenure, the Cowboys again went through a golden era in the 1990’s when they appeared in and won Super bowls in 1993, 1994 and 1996 behind the arm of Troy Aikman. Their 8 Superbowl appearances are a record in the NFL.

DALLAS MAVERICKS

AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER

TEXAS RANGERS

THE BALLPARK IN ARLINGTON

The Texas Rangers are a team that has always promised to provide a championship seasons but regularly fail to deliver. 2001 was a typical example of this, with the Rangers paying a US record for superstar first base Alex Rodriguez, only to see the team finish with the also-rans in their division.

The Rangers franchise goes back to 1960 and the then newly formed Washington Senators. The Senators moved to Dallas (Arlington to be exact) in 1972 and became the Texas Rangers. Their most famous player, and the only Ranger to have their number retired, is Nolan Ryan – all time ‘no hitter’ leader – his last one being at age 44!

DALLAS STARS

AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER

DALLAS BURN

COTTON BOWL

American Airlines Center hosts the Mavericks and the Stars and is located at 2500 Victory Avenue, Dallas, which is adjacent to downtown Dallas in the historical West End District. Therefore, it is within walking distance of Downtown accommodation.

The Center was opened in 2001 and has a capacity of 19,000 for basketball and 18,000 for ice hockey. By public transit, take the new Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) light rail transit Red Line or Blue Line to Union Station or take the Trinity Railway Express commuter rail service to Union Station, which is adjacent to American Airlines Center. The DART Bus No. 517 also accesses Union Station.

Texas Stadium hosts the Cowboys and is located at 2401 East Airport Freeway in Irving, some 12km north-west of downtown Dallas. Built in 1971, Texas Stadium is one of the older stadiums in existence, with a capacity of 66,000. Texas Stadium could be described as a half indoor – half outdoor stadium – as it has a roof with a large hole in it.

There are no rail services to this location, so the best form of public transit access is the T-Game Day Service, which departs from two Dallas downtown locations: Nations Bank (5651 East Lancaster) and 2060 Green Oaks Road (across from TGI Fridays).

The DART Cowboys Flyer Service also have shuttle buses departing from nine Park and Ride locations throughout the Dallas metro area two hours before kick-off.

The Ballpark in Arlington hosts the Texas Rangers and is located at 1000 Ballpark Way, Arlington, which is about 30 minutes drive west of Dallas and east of Fort Worth. It is adjacent to Six Flags over Texas on the west side of the amusement park at the northwest corner of East Randol Mill Road and Ballpark Way.

The Ballpark was opened in 1994 and has a capacity of 49,000. As with many newer ballparks in the US, it contains many attractions for fans, including a baseball museum, a picnic area and learning centre for children. It also contains corporate office accommodation connected to the Stadium. Outside the ground is the Nolan Ryan walk-of-fame.

Public transit is basically non-existent in Arlington. At the time of writing, there did not appear to be any special bus services from Dallas or Forth Worth to Arlington.  

The Cotton Bowl hosts the Burn and is located at the State Fair Grounds (Fair Park), which is at the corner of Parry Avenue and Washington Street, Dallas about 4km east of downtown. The Burn uses a smaller portion of the 65,000 capacity stadium. The Cotton Bowl has been the home of Southern Methodist University and still hosts the NCAA Cotton Bowl Championship.

From downtown Dallas, take the DART Bus Route 29, which goes straight through the Fair Park.

GOLF

Mid May -  US PGA ESD Byron Nelson Classic Tournament Players Club at Four Seasons-Las Colinas and Cottonwood Valley Country Club, Irving.

End May - US PGA Bank of America  Colonial, Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth.

Late March - Nascar Winston Cup Series, Samsung-Radio Shack 500, Texas Motor Speedway, 3601 Highway 114- West Forth Worth.

Early March  – Nascar Busch Series O’Reilly 300, Texas Motor Speedway

Early June – INDY Racing League Fort Worth 500, Texas Motor Speedway

Early July - Nascar Busch Series Samsung/Radio Shack 500, Texas Motor Speedway

Mid October – INDY Racing League Texas 500, Texas Motor Speedway

Lone Star Park,1000 Lone Star Parkway, Grand Prairie (season: early April 4 to early July for thoroughbreds and early October to late November for quarter horses)

SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY

The SMU Mustangs are located at  6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, which is about 7km north of downtown Dallas. The Mustangs have teams in many sports, including football and men’s and women’s basketball. The Football team plays out of Gerald J Ford Stadium, which is a new stadium (opened in 2000) located on campus. It has a capacity of 35,000. The basketball teams play out of Moody Coliseum, which has been their home since 1956. The Coliseum is located on campus and has a capacity of about 10,000.

From downtown Dallas, you can catch the DART Rail to Mockingbird Station, which is adjacent to the University Campus – just walk west on Mockingbird Road. Ford Stadium is actually located off Mockingbird Road. DART Bus Route 21 also goes past the Campus and Mockingbird Station.

TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

The TCU Horned Frogs are located in Fort Worth at 2800 S. University Drive, Fort Worth, some 5km south-west of downtown Fort Worth. The Frogs have teams in many sports, including football and men’s and women’s basketball. The football team plays out of Amon G. Carter Stadium, which has a capacity of approximately 46,000 people and is located on campus. The basketball teams play out of Daniel-Meyer Coliseum and has a capacity of about 7000 and is also located on campus.

From the ITC Terminal in downtown Fort Worth, the T Bus Route 7 (University) goes straight past the TCU campus. on University Drive.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ARLINGTON

The UTA Mavericks are located at 701 S. Nedderman Drive, Arlington, Texas, which is located halfway between Forth Worth (20km) to the west and Dallas to the east (35km). The University of Texas is basically the heart and sole of Arlington and constitutes much of Arlington’s downtown area. The Mavericks have teams in many teams, including men’s and women’s basketball. The basketball teams play in Texas Hall, a unique facility seating around 4,000 people. One side of the court has theatre style comfy seats, whilst the other has the usual type bleacher seating you find in most small gymnasiums.

As indicated earlier, getting to Arlington from both Dallas and Fort Worth is extremely difficult by anything other than a car.