
Week 16, Sun, Dec 27, 7:20 PM local
Jacksonville Jaguarsat Dallas Cowboys
AT&T Stadium, Arlington. Fly into DFW.
Build the questKickoff slot
Primetime
Plan the ride back before kickoff.
Lots open
2:00 PM
Local time on game day.
Where to stay
In the city
Tailgate from 2:00 PM, then the game.
The matchup
Form, ESPN's model and the stat leaders
- Form
The Jaguars are 2-1 after 3 games, 1st in the AFC South.
They are 0-1 on the road.
The Cowboys are 1-2 after 3 games, 3rd in the NFC East.
They are 1-1 at home.
What we know about AT&T Stadium
Where visiting fans stay
Checked at the source- Arlington Entertainment District. 10 min by walk. This is the one answer that works if you don't have a car, and it flips the usual advice. There is no train to Arlington at all, so staying "in the city" means a 20 to 40 minute rideshare each way with heavy surge pricing after the game. Live! by Loews sits inside Texas Live!, about 0.5 miles from the stadium, between Globe Life Field and Choctaw Stadium and across from AT&T Stadium, so you walk to the stadium and walk back. Texas Live! is the bar and restaurant complex, so you can do your pre-game and post-game on foot too.
- Downtown Fort Worth. 30 min by rideshare. If the Entertainment District is sold out or too expensive, Fort Worth is the better of the two big-city backups. It has a walkable downtown with a real bar scene, and it sits closer to Arlington than downtown Dallas does. You still need a rideshare, about 25 to 30 minutes, to reach the stadium. Trinity Metro's TEXRail and the TRE serve Fort Worth, but neither one goes into Arlington.
- Downtown Dallas. 40 min by rideshare. Pick this only if the trip is really about Dallas and not the game. DART light rail works well inside Dallas but won't get you to the stadium. Plan on a 30 to 40 minute rideshare each way, and expect the worst surge pricing of the three options, since everyone else staying in Dallas is trying to get a ride at the same time.
Around the stadium
Checked at the sourceGetting in from the airport
From a specialist guideGetting to the stadium
Checked at the sourceTailgating
Checked at the sourceGetting in
Checked at the source- Bag policy: You can bring one clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC tote up to 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches, or a clear one-gallon resealable freezer bag, plus a small clutch no bigger than 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches. Backpacks, camera bags, cinch bags, fanny packs, binocular cases, briefcases, computer bags, coolers, luggage and seat cushions are all turned away. The only named exception is for medically necessary items; there's no exception listed for diaper bags or breast pumps. If your bag doesn't meet the rules, you can pay to store it with The Mobile Locker Company.
- Re-entry: Re-entry is allowed at AT&T Stadium, but it depends on the event and comes with steps: you have to leave through a designated exit gate, have your ticket scanned out, and then go through security again to get back in. This is the only stadium among this group of five that allows re-entry at all.
- Prohibited items: Still cameras with a lens longer than 3 inches are not allowed, which is stricter than the 6-inch limit at Acrisure, Allegiant and the Superdome. Video cameras are banned entirely, along with tripods, monopods, selfie sticks, seat cushions, signs on poles, outside food and drink, bottles, cans, thermoses, noisemakers and footballs. Strollers are allowed as long as they don't block the aisles.
Touring the stadium
Checked at the sourceOne thing to avoid
From a specialist guideBars near the stadium
Checked at the sourceTexas Live!
1650 E Randol Mill Rd, Arlington, TX 76011
Texas Live! is the anchor of Arlington's Entertainment District, and it now has 11 venues and 22 bars under one roof: Sports & Social, PBR Texas with its mechanical bull, Lockhart Smokehouse for Central Texas barbecue, Miller Tavern, and Rangers Republic.
Away fans: it's a mixed, neutral commercial spot where visiting fans naturally end up.
Troy's at Texas Live!
1650 E Randol Mill Rd, Suite 100, Arlington, TX 76011
Troy's belongs to Troy Aikman, the Hall of Fame quarterback who won three Super Bowls with the Cowboys, and it's the most polished room in the district. Jeffrey Beers International designed it as a refined rustic beer hall, and the outdoor garden patio is built around a live oak tree saved from the old Globe Life Park before it was torn down, so you get a real piece of Arlington sports history growing in the middle of the terrace.
Away fans: it draws mostly home fans.
J. Gilligan's Bar & Grill
400 E Abram St, Arlington, TX 76010
Randy Ford, a UT Arlington business graduate, opened J. Gilligan's on July 12, 1979 with $10,000 he borrowed, and it has stayed put in downtown Arlington ever since, through three stadiums built around it.
Away fans: it's a mixed, welcoming spot, a downtown pub and university hangout rather than a fan base for one team.
Division Brewing
506 E Main St, Arlington, TX 76010
Division is Arlington's first microbrewery, and it's the spot Visit Arlington's own gameday itinerary sends fans to before kickoff. The house beer lineup runs from crisp light ales through IPAs to dark porters and stouts, plus a small-batch list that changes every week and a fruited sour program that built its local reputation.
Away fans: it's a mixed neighborhood taproom.
What to eat
The local food this city is known for: texas brisket.
Inside the stadium, 2026 season
- Brisket nachos and a brisket-and-mac sausage on a hoagie bun are new this season. Reported, not confirmed by the stadium. Source
Stand line-ups change every season.
Sidequests in Arlington
Listed in the order they happen. Each one earns points.
- Tour100 points
Rally Days stadium tour
These are behind-the-scenes tours built around home-game weekends. There are game-day tours too, but they route through group sales and don't offer online checkout.
$$. The day before. Bookable
- Landmark65 points
Fort Worth Stockyards the day before
The daily cattle drive and the old West district are about 25 minutes from the stadium. It beats anything you'll find in Arlington.
$. The day before
- Landmark65 points
National Medal of Honor Museum
This museum about Medal of Honor recipients opened in 2025 and sits a walk from the stadium in the Entertainment District. It's open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., so it's best the day before an early kickoff.
$. The day before
- Eat65 points
Hurtado Barbecue, downtown Arlington
This Tex-Mex barbecue counter serves brisket and Mexican influenced plates. It's the official barbecue restaurant of the Texas Rangers and sits in downtown Arlington, a short ride from the stadium.
$$. 4 hours before kickoff
- Eat65 points
Irish Nachos at J. Gilligan's
The house dish here is Irish Nachos, fried seasoned potato slices under cheddar, bacon, jalapenos, onions and tomatoes. It's an Arlington only plate, not something you'll find at a chain.
$. 3 hours 35 minutes before kickoff
- Drink25 points
J. Gilligan's Bar & Grill pre-game
This Arlington bar has been open since 1979, sitting in downtown Arlington between the UTA campus and AT&T Stadium with a regular game day crowd. It's a classic stop before walking or riding to the stadium.
$. 3 hours 15 minutes before kickoff
- Tailgate65 points
Miller Lite House pregame plaza
This outdoor pregame area on the stadium's west side has over 50 screens, live music, the 105.3 The Fan pregame show and an 80 yard replica field with tailgate games. You don't need a car to get there.
$. 3 hours before kickoff
- Drink25 points
Live! Arena at Texas Live!
This multilevel sports bar has a 100 foot LED screen and sits between AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Field and Choctaw Stadium. You'll get a mixed crowd of home and traveling fans, and it's walkable to the stadium gates.
$$. 2 hours 45 minutes before kickoff
- Ritual25 points
Mechanical bull at PBR Texas
The flagship Professional Bull Riders bar inside Texas Live! has two mechanical bulls and is PBR's largest venue in the country. It makes for a quick stop on the walk to the stadium.
$$. 2 hours 20 minutes before kickoff
- Photo25 points
Stadium view from Arlington Backyard
This outdoor concert lawn at Texas Live! gives you open views of AT&T Stadium. It's a good spot for a group photo with the stadium behind you on the walk in.
Free. 2 hours before kickoff
- Fan zone40 points
Kids Zone on AT&T Plaza
This free kids area sits on the plaza east of the stadium during Cowboys games, with a stage, performances and food and drink stands. It leads straight to the stadium entrances.
Free. 1 hour 30 minutes before kickoff
Seats and views
Where each part of AT&T Stadium sits, and what you see from it.
What kind of game day do you want?
Pick one and Scout shows you where to sit.