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    Dallas–Fort Worth

    Teams in all six major leagues · venues spread across the metroplex

    Six major-league teams, two concert arenas, two arts districts and a comedy circuit, spread across Dallas, Arlington, Fort Worth and Frisco.

    By the Good Seats editorial teamUpdated How we research

    Upcoming events in Dallas–Fort Worth

    Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.

    What the Dallas–Fort Worth event scene covers

    Dallas–Fort Worth is one of the few metro areas with a team in every major league: the Dallas Cowboys (NFL), Texas Rangers (MLB), Dallas Mavericks (NBA), Dallas Stars (NHL), FC Dallas (MLS) and Dallas Wings (WNBA). Add two arenas built for concerts, two performing arts districts, the State Fair of Texas and a deep comedy club circuit, and there is something on almost every night of the year.

    The key thing for a visitor is scale. The venues are spread across a region, not a downtown. The Mavericks and Stars play in Dallas proper, the Cowboys and Rangers play side by side in Arlington, about halfway to Fort Worth, and FC Dallas plays north in Frisco. Plan each trip around the venue, not around the city name on the ticket.

    • Dallas: American Airlines Center, the Arts District, Deep Ellum, Fair Park.
    • Arlington: AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Field, the Arlington Improv.
    • Fort Worth: Dickies Arena, Bass Performance Hall, Billy Bob's Texas, Hyena's.
    • Suburbs: Toyota Stadium in Frisco and the Addison Improv in Addison.

    Concerts in Dallas and Fort Worth: matching the show to the room

    People searching for concerts in Dallas, or concerts tonight, are choosing among very different rooms. Here is how the major ones compare.

    American Airlines Center

    The Victory Park arena opened in 2001 and holds about 21,000 for concerts. For an end-stage show, the lower-level sections on the sides closest to the stage have the best angle, often better than the back half of the floor, where the view depends on the height of the people in front of you. It is also the easiest big venue to reach by train.

    Dickies Arena

    Fort Worth's 14,000-seat arena opened in November 2019 in the Will Rogers Memorial Center and was designed with concert acoustics in mind. It is smaller than the AAC, so upper-level seats feel closer. It is also home to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo each winter.

    Stadium shows

    The biggest tours play AT&T Stadium in Arlington, with Globe Life Field next door also hosting concerts. At a stadium show, the lower sideline sections near the stage end give the clearest view. Seats at the far end of the upper deck put you a long way from the performers, so plan on watching the video screens.

    Fair Park amphitheater

    The outdoor amphitheater at Fair Park has gone through several names, among them Starplex, Smirnoff Music Centre, Gexa Energy Pavilion and Dos Equis Pavilion. Check the current name on your ticket. Reserved seats sit close to the stage, while the lawn behind them is general admission.

    Clubs and honky-tonks

    Deep Ellum, just east of downtown Dallas, grew out of a 1920s jazz and blues district and is still the main live-music neighborhood for club shows. In the Fort Worth Stockyards, Billy Bob's Texas, which bills itself as the World's Largest Honky Tonk, has booked country acts since 1981.

    Comedy shows in Dallas: the Improvs, Hyena's and the theaters

    Searches for comedy shows in Dallas mostly lead to three club brands with rooms across the metroplex. The biggest names play the theaters and arenas instead.

    • Addison Improv (4980 Belt Line Road, Addison) is the area's best-known stand-up room. Guests must be 18 or older, and 21 to drink. There is a two-item minimum, which any food or drink counts toward, alcoholic or not, and parking is free.
    • Arlington Improv (309 Curtis Mathes Way, Arlington Highlands) has the same policies and is a short drive from the stadiums, so it works well the night before or after a game.
    • Hyena's Comedy Nightclub has run for more than 30 years, with a Dallas club on East Mockingbird Lane and a Fort Worth club on Commerce Street downtown that has two rooms, the Main Room and the Red Room. All three rooms are 18 and up.

    At both Improvs, tickets are sold as whole tables of 2, 4, 6 or 8 rather than single seats, so buy the table size that matches your group. The tables nearest the stage get the most crowd work. If you would rather watch than take part, sit a few rows back.

    Teams and venues across the metroplex

    • Dallas Cowboys (NFL): AT&T Stadium in Arlington, opened in 2009, with a retractable roof and a capacity of about 80,000 that expands past 100,000 with standing-room areas. It also hosts the Cotton Bowl Classic each year.
    • Texas Rangers (MLB): Globe Life Field, across the road in Arlington, opened in 2020 with a retractable roof. It hosted all six games of the 2020 World Series, and the Rangers won the 2023 World Series.
    • Dallas Mavericks (NBA) and Dallas Stars (NHL): American Airlines Center, which seats 19,200 for basketball and 18,532 for hockey.
    • FC Dallas (MLS): Toyota Stadium in Frisco, opened in 2005 and home to the National Soccer Hall of Fame. The stadium is in the middle of a redevelopment scheduled to finish in 2028, so expect construction around the grounds.
    • Dallas Wings (WNBA): moved from Tulsa for the 2016 season and played at College Park Center in Arlington. Check the schedule for the current home venue.
    • Fair Park: the Cotton Bowl stadium (capacity 92,200) hosts the Oklahoma–Texas game during the State Fair. The Music Hall at Fair Park is the long-running home of touring Broadway in Dallas.

    For orchestra, opera and theater, the AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District includes the Winspear Opera House (about 2,200 seats) and the Wyly Theatre. In Fort Worth, Bass Performance Hall (2,056 seats) presents the symphony, the opera and touring Broadway.

    Dallas–Fort Worth through the year

    • Winter: Mavericks and Stars at the AAC, and the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo at Dickies Arena.
    • Late March to October: Rangers baseball, and the outdoor concert season at Fair Park.
    • Spring through fall: FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium. The Wings play through the summer.
    • Late September to mid-October: the State Fair of Texas runs 24 days at Fair Park, including the Oklahoma–Texas game at the Cotton Bowl.
    • September to January: Cowboys football. The Thanksgiving Day home game is one of the most in-demand dates on the calendar.
    • Bowl season: the Cotton Bowl Classic, played at AT&T Stadium every year since 2010.

    Summer heat shapes the outdoor calendar. A July show at an open-air venue can still feel hot at 9 p.m., so covered seats are worth considering. Indoor buildings like the AAC, Dickies Arena and the two retractable-roof stadiums avoid the problem entirely.

    Getting to the venues

    • American Airlines Center: the DART light rail and Trinity Railway Express stop at Victory station next to the arena, which avoids the garages entirely.
    • AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field: Arlington has no light rail to the stadium district, so most fans drive or use rideshare. For Cowboys games, the stadium's lots open five hours before kickoff, and rideshare pickup is in Lot 15. As of the 2026 season, AT&T Stadium allows clear bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches or small clutches; check the stadium's current bag policy before you go.
    • Fort Worth venues: Dickies Arena, Bass Hall and the Stockyards are a long drive from Dallas at rush hour. Allow extra time on weekday evenings.
    • Airports: DFW International sits between the two cities, which makes it the most convenient airport for Arlington. Dallas Love Field is closer to downtown Dallas.

    Where to stay and tips for out-of-town visitors

    • Victory Park and Uptown: walk to the AAC, with restaurants and hotels nearby. It is also a good base for the Arts District.
    • Arlington Entertainment District: hotels and restaurants surround AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field. Staying here saves the postgame drive.
    • Downtown Fort Worth and the Stockyards: the right base for Dickies Arena, Bass Hall, Hyena's Fort Worth and Billy Bob's.
    • Addison: the Addison Improv sits in a cluster of hotels and restaurants north of Dallas.

    Do not try to cover Dallas, Arlington and Fort Worth in one evening. Pick a base near the main event. Every GoodSeats order includes free shipping and a 100% guarantee. For Cowboys games and big stadium tours, check the team's site or the venue's site for gate and parking times before you leave.

    Frequently asked questions

    What pro teams play in Dallas–Fort Worth?

    The Cowboys (NFL) and Rangers (MLB) play in Arlington, the Mavericks (NBA) and Stars (NHL) at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, FC Dallas (MLS) in Frisco, and the Wings play in the WNBA.

    What are the best comedy clubs in Dallas?

    The main stand-up clubs are the Addison Improv, the Arlington Improv and Hyena's Comedy Nightclub, which has rooms in Dallas and Fort Worth. Big-name comedians also play the arenas and performing arts halls.

    Is AT&T Stadium in Dallas?

    No. AT&T Stadium is in Arlington, between Dallas and Fort Worth, next to Globe Life Field. It has no light rail link, so plan on driving or rideshare.

    Can you take the train to a Mavericks or Stars game?

    Yes. DART light rail and the Trinity Railway Express stop at Victory station, next to the American Airlines Center.

    How do tickets work at the Improv in Dallas?

    The Addison and Arlington Improvs sell tickets as whole tables of 2, 4, 6 or 8. Guests must be 18 or older, and each guest has a two-item food or drink minimum.

    When is the State Fair of Texas?

    The fair runs 24 days at Fair Park, starting on the last Friday in September and ending on the third Sunday in October, with the Oklahoma–Texas game at the Cotton Bowl during the run.

    Sources