Rising majestically along Randol Mill Road in Arlington, AT&T Stadium is an architectural marvel and the world-famous home of the Dallas Cowboys. Widely known as “Jerry World,” this $1.2 billion sports cathedral spans three million square feet, seating up to 100,000 spectators beneath the world’s longest single-span roof trusses.
While attending an NFL game day is an electric spectacle, taking an official AT&T Stadium tour allows you to explore the inner sanctum of the facility. You can jog through the player tunnel, stand at the center of the iconic 50-yard line blue star, inspect the locker stalls of NFL superstars, and visit the private post-game press conference room.
Key Takeaways
- Tour Formats: Choose between VIP Guided Tours (docent-led with exclusive luxury suite access) and Self-Guided Tours (walk at your own pace with unlimited field time).
- Locker Room Access: Both tour formats typically include walk-through access to the Dallas Cowboys locker room and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders dressing quarters.
- Field Experience: Guests can step directly onto the artificial turf, run routes, throw passes, and pose on the center-field star logo. Flat athletic shoes only.
- Free Tour Parking: Complimentary vehicle parking is provided on non-event tour days in Lot 1 or Lot 2 outside the North Entry.
- Strict Clear Bag Rule: Clear totes up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches or small clutches under 4.5 by 6.5 inches are required. Backpacks and camera bags are barred.
- Rally Days: Pre-game Saturdays offer festive atmosphere with alumni autographs, field games, and Miller LiteHouse entertainment.
Plan your visit
Verified
- Location
- 1 AT&T Way, Arlington, TX 76011
- Hours
- Daily 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Subject to game and event blackout dates)
- Admission
- Self-guided from $25; VIP guided from $40; kids 4 and under free
- Best time to go
- Weekday mornings or non-game Saturdays for unhurried field photos
What to Expect on an AT&T Stadium Tour in Arlington
An AT&T Stadium tour combines high-stakes sports history with architectural wonder. Designed by the global architecture firm HKS, the facility was engineered to redefine how modern sports arenas are constructed.
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The Scale of Jerry World: Engineering and Architectural Feats
Everything about AT&T Stadium is built on an immense scale:
- Single-Span Steel Arches: Two monumental 3,200-ton steel box arches span 1,225 feet from end zone to end zone, soaring 292 feet above the playing surface. These arches support the entire 660,800-square-foot roof without requiring interior support columns.
- Retractable End Zone Doors: Massive 120-foot-tall operable glass doors frame each end zone. These glass panels open or close in just 18 minutes, flooding the concourses with natural sunlight and gentle breezes.
- Contemporary Art Collection: Jerry and Gene Jones curated an extensive museum-caliber contemporary art collection displayed throughout public and private corridors. The stadium houses more than 80 site-specific installations, murals, and sculptures created by world-renowned contemporary artists.
The Colossal Center-Hung Mitsubishi HD Videoboard
Suspended 90 feet above the midfield turf hangs one of the largest four-sided high-definition video displays on the planet. Manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric, the board weighs 1.2 million pounds and stretches 160 feet wide by 72 feet tall across each sideline face.
The screen covers the distance between both 20-yard lines, displaying crystal-clear 1080p imagery across tens of millions of individual LEDs. Standing on the turf directly beneath this 600-ton hanging monolith provides a truly awe-inspiring perspective that television cameras cannot replicate.
| Stadium Engineering Feature | Specification & Measurement |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 AT&T Way, Arlington, TX 76011 |
| Construction Cost | $1.2 Billion |
| Total Square Footage | 3 Million Square Feet |
| Maximum Capacity | 100,000 Spectators (80,000 Seated) |
| Roof Span | 1,225 Feet (World’s Longest Single-Span Arches) |
| Center Videoboard Dimensions | 160 Feet Wide by 72 Feet Tall |
| Videoboard Weight | 1.2 Million Pounds (600 Tons) |
| Field Surface | Matrix RealOn Turf with organic infill |
Comparing Tour Options: VIP Guided vs. Self-Guided
Visitors can choose between two main tour styles depending on their schedule, budget, and interest in architectural trivia versus open field playtime.
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VIP Guided Tour: Behind Closed Doors and Exclusive Clubs
The VIP Guided Tour is a 90-minute educational journey led by an experienced stadium docent. It is ideal for passionate sports fans who want deep architectural insights and access to areas off-limits to general visitors.
Highlights of the VIP Guided Tour include:
- Private Luxury Suites: Step inside the ultra-exclusive private suites owned by ownership families and corporate sponsors, learning about interior amenities, catering logistics, and multi-million-dollar season leases.
- Press Box & Broadcast Booths: Sit in the elevated working media press box high above the club level, where national commentators call Monday Night Football games.
- Cotton Bowl & Hall of Fame Displays: Explore historical trophy displays detailing college football classic games and Super Bowl championships hosted under the dome.
- Dedicated Docent Commentary: Tour guides share insider stories about stadium construction, player superstitions, and behind-the-scenes concert transformations for mega-artists like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift.
Self-Guided Field Tour: Roaming at Your Own Pace
For families with active children or travelers with limited time, the Self-Guided Field Tour offers unmatched flexibility. You receive a digital tour map upon entry and can move between stations at your own speed.
The primary advantage of the self-guided format is open field access. While VIP tours must keep their groups moving to maintain the schedule, self-guided ticket holders can spend hours on the turf tossing footballs, racing across the yard markers, and taking unlimited photos at the 50-yard line star without feeling rushed.
Locker Room Access: Dallas Cowboys and Cheerleader Dressing Suites
Both VIP and self-guided tours typically include the two most celebrated interior stops:
- The Dallas Cowboys Locker Room: Walk across the carpeted team clubhouse and stand in front of the lockers of your favorite players. Wooden locker stalls are fitted with official nameplates, shoulder pads, and display jerseys. Docents stationed inside answer questions and explain team pre-game meeting rituals.
- Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Locker Room: Step inside the private locker room of “America’s Sweethearts.” Framed photos, historical uniforms dating back to the 1970s, and vanity mirror stations chronicle the history of the world’s most famous cheerleading squad.
- Post-Game Interview Room: Sit behind the official Dallas Cowboys press conference microphone where head coaches and quarterbacks face reporters after every home game.
| Tour Format | Typical Duration | Guide Type | Exclusive Areas Included | Field Access Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-Guided Tour | 60 – 120 Minutes | Walk at own pace | Locker rooms, press room, clubs | Unlimited during open hours |
| VIP Guided Tour | 90 Minutes | Dedicated stadium docent | Suites, press box, locker rooms, clubs | ~20 minutes guided on field |
| Rally Day Pass | 2 – 4 Hours | Hybrid festival format | Locker rooms, Miller LiteHouse, turf | Extended open turf access |
Rally Days: Game-Week Fan Festivals and Field Access
If you visit Arlington on the Saturday before a Dallas Cowboys regular-season home game, standard tours are replaced by Rally Days. These high-energy fan festivals turn the entire stadium into a game-week celebration.
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Pre-Game Saturday Traditions and Field Activities
Rally Days allow fans to experience the electric atmosphere of game day without the stress of Sunday traffic:
- On-Field Skill Challenges: The turf is set up with interactive youth football drills, field-goal kicking nets, passing accuracy targets, and obstacle courses where kids can test their agility.
- Cowboys Alumni Autographs: Former Dallas Cowboys legends and Super Bowl champions host autograph and photo sessions on the main concourse throughout the day.
- Locker Room Viewing Windows: Because players prepare their gear on Saturdays, locker room tours are held in early morning windows or viewed from velvet ropes to preserve the game-day dressing room.
Miller LiteHouse Plaza, Rowdy, and Cheerleader Meet-and-Greets
The party extends outside to the 87,000-square-foot Miller LiteHouse plaza at the stadium’s West Entrance:
- Mascot Rowdy: The official Cowboys mascot makes scheduled appearances, taking photos with children and tossing foam footballs into the crowds.
- Rhythm & Blue Dancers & Drumline: Live performances by the Dallas Cowboys Rhythm & Blue drumline deliver high-energy marching percussion throughout the afternoon.
- Food Trucks & Craft Patios: Outdoor beer gardens and local food vendors serve Texas barbecue, brisket nachos, and cold beverages on outdoor shaded patios.
Rules of the Turf: Stepping Onto the Iconic 50-Yard Line Star
Walking through the player tunnel onto the emerald turf is an unforgettable moment. However, stadium operations enforce strict turf preservation rules to protect the playing surface.
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Permitted Footwear and On-Field Prohibitions
To protect the Matrix RealOn artificial turf, all visitors stepping onto the field must follow strict footwear guidelines:
Caution
Cleated shoes of any kind (plastic, rubber, or metal) and high heels are strictly banned from the field. You must wear flat, rubber-soled athletic sneakers to walk on the turf.
Additional on-field restrictions include:
- No Food or Drinks: Outside food, snacks, sodas, and sports drinks are barred from the field surface. Only plain, unflavored water in capped bottles is permitted on the sidelines.
- No Gum or Tobacco: Chewing gum is strictly forbidden. Discarded gum damages synthetic turf fibers and costs thousands of dollars in specialized cleaning.
- No Strollers on Turf: Strollers must be parked in designated concourse corrals before descending the stairs to the field level.
Bringing Your Own Football and Action Photography Tips
One of the greatest perks of an AT&T Stadium tour is the open football policy:
- Bring Your Own Ball: You are permitted and encouraged to bring your own standard football from home into the stadium. Throwing touchdown passes with family members between the end zone pylons is a highlight for visitors.
- Posing on the 50-Yard Star: The blue star at midfield is the prime photo spot. Security staff manage friendly queue lines on busy days to ensure every group gets clear, unobstructed photos standing directly on the logo.
- Camera Angle Tip: To capture the scale of the facility, have your photographer kneel low on the turf at the 40-yard line, aiming upward. This frames you on the emerald turf with the center videoboard and steel roof soaring overhead.
Visitor Logistics: Clear Bag Policy, Parking, and Game-Day Scheduling
Planning your tour requires navigating parking gate entrances, security checkpoints, and event blackout dates.
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The 12 by 6 by 12-Inch Clear Bag Requirement
Like all NFL facilities, AT&T Stadium enforces a strict Clear Bag Policy for tour guests:
- Approved Clear Bags: Clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC tote bags that do not exceed 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches.
- Storage Bags: One-gallon clear plastic re-sealable freezer bags (such as Ziploc bags).
- Small Clutches: Small non-clear clutch purses no larger than 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches (roughly the size of an outstretched hand) are permitted with or without a strap.
- Prohibited Bags: Standard backpacks, drawstring cinch sacks, camera cases, tinted plastic bags, fanny packs, and laptop bags are barred at the magnetometer security gates.
- Locker Availability: If your bag fails inspection, mobile third-party locker trucks operate on major event dates, but are rarely available on non-event tour days. Leave questionable bags secured out of sight in your vehicle trunk.
Tour Day Complimentary Parking in Lots 1 and 2
On standard non-event tour days, stadium parking is completely free:
- Where to Park: Turn off Randol Mill Road or Cowboys Way and follow electronic signs directing tour traffic into Lot 1 or Lot 2, situated directly north of the stadium.
- Entering the Venue: Park in any marked space and walk toward the North Entry or the Miller LiteHouse gates. Tour check-in and security magnetometers are located inside the Pro Shop lobby.
- Game-Day Parking Warning: On Dallas Cowboys home game days or major stadium concert dates, tour parking rules are suspended. Game-day parking passes require pre-purchased tickets often costing $50 to $100 or more per vehicle.
Blackout Dates and Advance Reservation Logistics
Because AT&T Stadium is an active multi-use arena hosting college bowl games, international soccer matches, monster truck rallies, and stadium concert tours, operating schedules shift frequently:
- Check the Live Tour Calendar: Always verify tour availability on the official website before traveling to Arlington. Tours do not operate during full stadium event setup days, concert rehearsals, or private corporate conventions.
- Locker Room Closures: On rare occasions, team practices or visiting team arrivals may close locker rooms while the field remains open. The online ticketing portal clearly notes partial closures prior to purchase.
- Online Booking Discount: Purchasing tickets online via SeatGeek or the official stadium portal guarantees your desired entry window and avoids box office lines.
For official tour reservations and updated event calendars, visit the AT&T Stadium Tour portal. For Arlington entertainment district traffic notices, visit the City of Arlington Entertainment District page and the Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Frequently Asked Questions About AT&T Stadium Tours
Can you walk on the Cowboys star during a tour?
Yes, visitors on both self-guided and VIP guided tours are permitted to walk directly onto the 50-yard line turf and pose for photos on the iconic blue star logo.
Is parking free for AT&T Stadium tours?
Yes, standard daily stadium tours include complimentary parking in designated lots (typically Lot 1 or Lot 2 near the North Entry) when no major events are scheduled.
What bags are allowed inside AT&T Stadium on a tour?
The venue enforces the NFL Clear Bag Policy. You may carry a clear plastic tote up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, a one-gallon clear freezer bag, or a small clutch purse under 4.5 by 6.5 inches.
Can you bring your own football on the field?
Yes, guests are encouraged to bring their own personal footballs to throw passes and kick field goals on the turf during self-guided and VIP field sessions.
Do self-guided tours include the Cowboys locker room?
Yes, standard self-guided tours typically include walk-through access to the Dallas Cowboys locker room and Cheerleaders dressing room, unless closed for team practice or event operations.
How far in advance should you book tour tickets?
Booking at least one to two weeks in advance online is recommended, as VIP tour time slots frequently sell out on weekends and holiday travel weeks.
