Football is Back: Park, Play and Cheer on the Cowboys in Downtown Arlington

Can you feel it? The countdown is over, the jerseys are coming out, whistles are blowing and football is officially back in Arlington.

There’s nothing quite like a Dallas Cowboys game day. The excitement starts long before kickoff — with friends meeting up, cold drinks and game-day food.

And when the Cowboys take the field at AT&T Stadium, Downtown Arlington is the perfect place to start your game-day adventure.

Just minutes from the stadium, Downtown offers plenty of places to grab a bite, catch the game and soak up the football atmosphere without the hassle of trying to navigate stadium parking right away.

Park Downtown. Ride to the game.

If you have tickets to a Cowboys game, here’s a tip: park in Downtown Arlington and take a shuttle to AT&T Stadium.

J. Gilligan's Bar & Grill offers free parking in the Downtown area and round-trip shuttle service to AT&T Stadium. The shuttle takes about five minutes to reach the stadium, and the same location is used for pickup after the game.

For Cowboys games, shuttle rides are $21 per adult and $11 for children ages 3-12, with pricing subject to change by event. The shuttle starts about three hours before kickoff and runs for one hour after the event ends.

Grease Monkey Burger Shop also provides shuttles for all Dallas Cowboy home games. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children, round trip available for purchase at the bar. 

That means you can skip the headache of searching for a spot near the stadium, enjoy some Downtown food and drinks, then hop on the shuttle and let someone else handle the traffic.

Pro tip: Arrive early, especially for a big game. Give yourself plenty of time to park, grab some food and get settled before heading to the stadium.

Make it a Downtown game day

Why rush straight to the stadium when you can make a whole day out of it?

Downtown Arlington is home to dozens of award-winning restaurants, pubs and patios that make it easy to turn kickoff into an all-day celebration. Whether you're meeting friends for a pregame meal or looking for somewhere to watch the games, there’s plenty happening Downtown.

Cane Rosso is a pizza spot known for Neapolitan-style, wood-fired pizzas, but its Dallas Cowboys spirit is just as hard to miss. If you're looking for a spot to watch the game, it's the perfect place to cheer on the Cowboys with a pizza in hand.

For a classic sports bar experience, head to Hooligans Pub, where you can catch the action surrounded by fellow fans.

Or settle in at The Tipsy Oak for food, drinks, music and a spacious patio — perfect for enjoying those early-season games as temperatures start to cool down.

Whether you're cheering for the Cowboys, hoping for an upset or just here for the wings and cold drinks, Downtown Arlington is ready for football season.

The Cowboys open the 2026 regular season on the road against the New York Giants on Sept. 13, then return to Arlington for their first home game against the Washington Commanders on Sept. 20.

So grab your jersey, round up your crew and get ready for another season of Sunday football.

Park Downtown. Grab a bite. Catch the shuttle. Cheer on the Cowboys.

That sounds like a pretty good game plan to us.