AT and T Stadium

A stadium built to be more than a game-day address

AT&T Stadium stands at One AT&T Way in Arlington, Texas, in the entertainment district between Dallas and Fort Worth. It is the home of the Dallas Cowboys, but its calendar and identity reach well beyond American football: the venue is designed for major sporting events, concerts and guided visits. The building opened as Cowboys Stadium on May 27, 2009. The team’s official history records its first Cowboys game there as a preseason meeting with Tennessee on August 21, followed by the first regular-season home game on September 20. That game against the New York Giants drew 105,121 people, an NFL regular-season attendance record at the time.

The name changed to AT&T Stadium in 2013, but the building’s public story has continued to grow through the events it hosts. It staged Super Bowl XLV in 2011 and, in 2026, became one of the principal venues of the FIFA World Cup. FIFA called it Dallas Stadium during the tournament, even though the venue is physically in Arlington. The naming difference can confuse visitors planning transport or accommodation: search both terms when checking event information, but use the Arlington address for directions. The City of Arlington says the Cowboys’ lease was extended through 2055, underscoring the stadium’s long-term place in the city’s Entertainment District.

Its 2026 World Cup chapter and year-round cultural side

The 2026 tournament gave the stadium a particularly visible international role. FIFA’s results record shows that Spain beat France 2–0 in the semifinal played at Dallas Stadium on July 14. The match was part of a schedule that brought national teams and supporters to North Texas, while the venue’s calendar also includes the Cowboys’ NFL season and other sports and entertainment events. These are not permanent visitor attractions with a daily public admission area: access depends on a ticketed event or a scheduled stadium tour. Check the event organizer’s current information before making a special trip, since a stadium exterior view does not provide access to the field or interior spaces.

Sport is only one part of the building’s design story. The stadium’s own art program explains that the project was conceived to appeal to people interested in architecture, design, engineering and technology as well as sports. Its contemporary collection is integrated into the visitor experience, and the venue offers a dedicated art tour alongside other tour formats. This makes a visit worthwhile even for travelers who are curious about how a modern stadium works rather than following the Cowboys. The collection is curated for this particular building, not presented as a separate city museum, so the tour is the clearest way to encounter works and design features in context.

What a tour includes and how to plan one

AT&T Stadium lists guided, self-guided, game-day, educational and art tours. Self-guided visits are offered only on a limited basis, and game-day tours are tied to the NFL season and event operations. The stadium says a typical guided tour lasts about one hour and 30 minutes; comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Tour stops are not guaranteed: dates, times and locations can change without notice when the building is being prepared for an event. Treat the online tour calendar as a live schedule, not a promise that every part of the stadium will be open on a particular day.

Visitors who need an accommodation can contact staff; the FAQ says a limited number of wheelchairs are available in the lobby at no charge. Spanish interpretation may be requested, but availability is not guaranteed, so the stadium asks guests to call 817-892-TOUR in advance. Group visits must be booked at least a week ahead. Still photography is allowed under the stated rules, but video recording is not; cameras and bags may be subject to restrictions or inspection. The venue permits bottled water on tours but generally prohibits outside food and drinks, except when medically necessary. Check the current FAQ and the terms attached to your ticket before setting out.

Getting there and making the most of Arlington

The official self-guided-tour information gives the address as One AT&T Way, Arlington, Texas 76011. Arlington is part of the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area, but the stadium is not in the city of Dallas. Plan the journey around the time of your event or tour, and consult the stadium’s current parking and traffic notices; large crowds can make arrival and departure take longer than a map estimate suggests. A tour ticket does not necessarily cover parking or provide transport. If you are combining the stadium with another attraction in the Entertainment District, allow time to move between venues and verify that both are open on the same day.

For a first visit, the strongest approach is to choose what interests you: the Cowboys’ home ground, the scale of an international event venue, or the art and engineering behind the building. Book a tour in advance, especially for a group, and recheck the schedule shortly before travel. If an event is the main reason for the trip, follow its own ticket and entry guidance rather than relying on general tour information. AT&T Stadium rewards a little preparation: its history runs from the Cowboys’ 2009 move to Arlington through the World Cup semifinal of 2026, while its tours offer a closer look at the architecture and art that shape the experience beyond the field.