The city of Dallas and the Dallas metropolitan area are home to teams in six major sports: the Dallas Cowboys (National Football League), Dallas Mavericks (National Basketball Association), Texas Rangers (Major League Baseball), Dallas Stars (National Hockey League), FC Dallas (Major League Soccer), and Dallas Wings (Women's National Basketball Association).

Dallas area major college sports programs include Patriots baseball of Dallas Baptist University located in southwest Dallas, and the Mustangs of Southern Methodist University, located in the enclave of University Park. Neighboring cities Fort Worth, Arlington, and Denton are home to the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs, University of Texas at Arlington Mavericks, and University of North Texas Mean Green, respectively.

Dirk Nowitzki with the Mavericks
FC Dallas of Major League Soccer (MLS) starting lineup in 2007

Major league teams

American football

Nearby Arlington, Texas is home to the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). Since joining the league as an expansion team in 1960, the Cowboys have enjoyed substantial success, advancing to eight Super Bowls and winning five.[1] Known widely as "America's Team", the Dallas Cowboys are financially the most valuable sports franchise in the United States, worth approximately 2.3 billion dollars.[2] They are also the most valuable sports organization in the world.[3] From 1960-71, the Cowboys played home games at the Cotton Bowl, in Dallas's Fair Park. From 1971-2008, the team played at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. In 2009, the Cowboys relocated to their new 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium in Arlington, which was the site of Super Bowl XLV.[4] The college Cotton Bowl Classic football game was played at the Cotton Bowl through its 2009 game, but has moved to AT&T Stadium.[5]

Indoor football

Nearby Frisco, Texas is home to the Frisco Fighters of the Indoor Football League. The team was founded in 2021, and plays its home games at the Comerica Center in Frisco. The season is played from May to August. The league was formed in 2008 with 19 teams competing currently they have 12 teams playing with 5 more teams joining in 2022.

Lower-level leagues

The Dallas Renegades were members of the XFL and played their home games at Globe Life Park in Arlington, now known as Choctaw Stadium.[6] until the XFL’s shutdown in the middle of the 2020 season. The XFL relaunched in 2023, with the Renegades returning to play in Choctaw Stadium under the new name of Arlington Renegades.[7]

Men's basketball

Downtown Dallas is home to the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Their original arena was the now demolished Reunion Arena, but now they play at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks have won one championship, winning the 2011 NBA Finals, led by German-born superstar Dirk Nowitzki.[8] The Mavericks have one of the largest fanbases in the NBA, consistently ranking in the top 5 over the last few years in attendance. The Mavericks had a streak of 12 consecutive playoff appearances from 2001-2012 and 15 appearances in 16 years from 2001-2016, only missing the playoffs in 2013 when they finished with an even 41–41 record and out of the playoffs as the 10th seed.

NBA G League

The Mavericks' minor league affiliate, the Texas Legends, play in Frisco, Texas, and compete in the NBA G League. The franchise began as the Colorado 49ers in 2006, and moved to Frisco in 2009. The Legends play their home games at the Comerica Center in Frisco.

Women's basketball

The Dallas Wings of the WNBA play home games at the College Park Center on the campus of University of Texas at Arlington. The franchise relocated to the North Texas market in 2015 from Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they were known as the Tulsa Shock.

Baseball

The Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB) also play home games in Arlington at the new Globe Life Field, and are the 2010 , 2011 and 2023 American League Champions.[9] The franchise was established in 1961 as the Washington Senators, and moved to Arlington after the 1971 season, becoming the Rangers in 1972.[10] From 1972-1993, the team played home games at Arlington Stadium. From 1994-2019, the Rangers played home games at a stadium originally known as The Ballpark in Arlington; the stadium is currently known as Choctaw Stadium. Beginning in 2020, the team played its home games at Globe Life Field in Arlington. The Rangers most successful season was 2023 as they won their first World Series in franchise history.

Minor League Baseball

The Rangers' Minor League Baseball (AA-Affiliate) Frisco RoughRiders play in Frisco, Texas. The team was founded in 2003, and plays its home games at Riders Field (formerly known as Dr. Pepper Ballpark).

Soccer

The Major League Soccer team FC Dallas, formerly the Dallas Burn, currently play at Toyota Stadium in Frisco. The team originally played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, spent one year playing at a high school stadium in Southlake, Texas (Dragon Stadium), and began playing in Frisco in 2005. FC Dallas also has an affiliate team in the developmental MLS Next Pro league, called North Texas SC. NTSC plays most home games at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington.

Indoor soccer

Dallas has been home to two different franchises known as the Dallas Sidekicks. From 1984-2004, the original Dallas Sidekicks played in the Major Indoor Soccer League, hosting home games at Reunion Arena. After the league fell apart, and after an eight year hiatus, in 2012 another version of the Dallas Sidekicks was formed. This current version of the Sidekicks plays in the Major Arena Soccer League, hosting home games at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center in Allen, Texas.

2026 FIFA World Cup

AT&T Stadium will host several matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Ice hockey

Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center.

The Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL) have played in Dallas since 1993. The franchise originated in 1967 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the Minnesota North Stars, and moved to Dallas after the 1992-93 season. The team plays its home games at the American Airlines Center, after playing originally at Reunion Arena. The Stars won the Stanley Cup in 1999, plus the Western Conference championship three times, two Presidents' Trophies as the top regular season team in the NHL, and eight division titles. [11] The team helped popularize hockey in the region, with Valley Ranch in Irving going from just one sheet of ice when the Stars arrived in 1993 to almost 30 in 2010.[12]

Lower levels of hockey

The Allen Americans, founded for the 2009–10 season, play in the Central Division of the ECHL. Their home arena is the Credit Union of Texas Event Center located in Allen, Texas, approximately 30 minutes northeast of Dallas. The junior hockey Lone Star Brahmas (formerly the five-time defending champions Texas Tornado) of the North American Hockey League play at the NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills.

Lacrosse

Fort Worth, Texas is home to Panther City Lacrosse, a box lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. The team began in the 2021-22 season, and plays its home games at Dickies Arena.

Rugby Union

The Dallas Jackals of Major League Rugby are the first professional rugby team in DFW. The team was announced on June 5, 2020, and began play in February 2022. The team plays home games at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington.

Rugby union is a developing sport in Dallas as well as the whole of Texas.[13] The multiple clubs, ranging from men's and women's clubs to collegiate and high school, are part of the Texas Rugby Football Union.[14] Currently Dallas is one of only 16 cities in the United States included in the Rugby Super League[15] represented by Dallas Harlequins.[16]

List of current major league teams

Major league sports teams currently playing in the Dallas–Fort Worth area:

Club League Sport Venue First season in DFW Championships in DFW
Texas Rangers MLB Baseball Arlington Stadium 1972–1993
Globe Life Park 1994 – 2019
Globe Life Field 2020 – present		 1972[lower-alpha 1] 1 World Series Title - 2023
3 American League Titles – 2010, 2011, 2023
Dallas Cowboys NFL Football Cotton Bowl 1960–1970
Texas Stadium 1971–2008
AT&T Stadium 2009 – present		 1960 5 Super Bowls – 1971, 1977, 1992, 1993, 1995
8 NFC Titles – 1970, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1992, 1993, 1995
Dallas Stars NHL Hockey Reunion Arena 1993–2001
American Airlines Center 2002 – present		 1993[lower-alpha 2] 1 Stanley Cup – 1999
3 Western Conference Titles – 1999, 2000, 2020
Dallas Mavericks NBA Basketball Reunion Arena 1980–2001
American Airlines Center 2002 – present		 1980 1 NBA Title – 2011
2 Western Conference Titles – 2006, 2011
FC Dallas MLS Soccer Cotton Bowl 1996–2002, 2004
Dragon Stadium 2003
Toyota Stadium 2005 – present		 1995 0 MLS Cup Titles
2 U.S. Open Cup – 1997, 2016
Panther City LC NLL Box Lacrosse Dickies Arena 2020 – present 2020 N/A
Dallas Jackals MLR Rugby Choctaw Stadium 2022 – present 2022 N/A
Dallas Legion AUDL Ultimate Colleyville Middle School 2016 – present 2016 1 AUDL Championship – 2016
2 South Division Championships – 2016, 2018
Texas Super Kings MLC Cricket Grand Prairie Stadium 2023 – present 2023 N/A
Dallas Wings WNBA Basketball College Park Center 2016–present 2015[lower-alpha 3] 0 WNBA Titles
0 Western Conference Titles[lower-alpha 4]

List of current minor league teams

Minor league sports teams currently playing in the Dallas–Fort Worth area:

Club League Sport Venue First season in DFW Championships in DFW
Arlington Renegades UFL American Football (Minor League) Choctaw Stadium 2020-present[17] 2020 1 XFL Championship (2023)
Frisco RoughRiders MiLB Baseball (Minor League) Riders Field 2003-present 2003 2 Texas League Championships (2004, 2022)
Frisco Fighters IFL Indoor Football Comerica Center 2021-present 2021 TBD
Allen Americans ECHL Hockey (Minor League) Credit Union of Texas Event Center 2009-present 2009 2 Kelly Cup Championships (2015, 2016)
  1. ↑ Franchise founded in 1961 as the second Washington Senators, based in the US capital.
  2. ↑ Franchise founded in 1967 as the Minnesota North Stars, based in the Twin Cities.
  3. ↑ Franchise founded in 1998 as the Detroit Shock; relocated for their 2010 season to Tulsa, Oklahoma as the Tulsa Shock.
  4. ↑ Does not include three WNBA titles and four conference titles won in Detroit.

Other sports

Roller Derby

The Dallas Derby Devils were founded in November 2004 and are the original North Texas roller derby league with a current roster of over one hundred active skaters. Dallas Derby Devils is one of the largest flat track derby leagues in the southern United States. The Dallas Derby Devils are an original member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).[18] Game have been held at NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills since 2008.[19] In 2019, the Dallas Derby Devils integrated the Rolling Rebellion, a Junior Roller Derby Association (JRDA) team, into their ranks expanding the program to include all youth ages 7-17 years of age.[20] The league currently holds a full home season schedule in addition to their annual Clover Cup Tournament.[21]

Cricket

In 2021, USA Cricket announced it would be moving its headquarters to Grand Prairie at the stadium formerly known as AirHogs Stadium. Cricket is popular among diaspora from South Asian countries. Local universities such as SMU, University of Texas at Arlington and University of Texas at Dallas have their own cricket clubs that are affiliated with USA Cricket.

Call of Duty

The Dallas Empire competes in the Call of Duty League, also known as, CDL. The Empire are one of the 12 inaugural teams in the Call of Duty League. During the first season of the CDL, the Dallas Empire defeated Atlanta FaZe 5-1 to capture the CDL's first-ever league championship. Call of Duty Esports legend, Crimsix took the Call of Duty Championship Finals MVP. Dallas Empire is owned by Team Envy.

Horse racing

About halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth, horse-racing takes place at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie.

Ultimate Frisbee

The Dallas Legion, formerly the Dallas Roughnecks, compete in the American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL). The Legion's home field is the John Paul II High School Stadium in Plano, Texas. The team played its first season in 2016, finishing 17–0 and was crowned the AUDL Champions in its inaugural season. The Roughnecks are the only team to compete in Championship Weekend (Final 4) each of the last 4 seasons (and the only team to finish in the top 4 every season in its history).

Overwatch

The Dallas Fuel competes in the Overwatch League. The Fuel were one of the league's 12 founding teams. During the inaugural season the fuel finished 10th overall with a record of 12 wins and 28 losses.[22] The Fuel won their first OWL championship in the 2022 season after defeating the San Francisco Shock in the 2022 Grand Finals.

Other sports

The Dallas Diamonds, the two-time national champions of the Women's Professional Football League, play in North Richland Hills.[23][24] McKinney is home to the Dallas Revolution, an Independent Women's Football League team.[25] The Dallas Bluestorm was a charter of the United National Gridiron League, a proposed minor football league that had planned to begin play in 2010.

As reported by Olympic news outlet Around the Rings, Dallas was looking at a 2020 Summer Olympics bid. Those in favor of Dallas said that it should be chosen because no major stadiums would have to be built for the games.[26]

Former sports teams

American football

National Football League

In 1952, an NFL franchise called the Dallas Texans (NFL) played for one season. The team went 1-11 and folded after one season.

In 1960, Dallas millionaire Lamar Hunt founded the American Football League, and located his team in Dallas, naming them the Dallas Texans. The Dallas Texans won one AFL Championship in 1962. And after playing three seasons in Dallas, the team relocated in 1963 to become the Kansas City Chiefs.

Arena football

Dallas has hosted three arena football franchises in its past, all a part of the now-defunct Arena Football League. From 1990-1993, the Dallas Texans (Arena) competed in the league, calling Reunion Arena their home. From 2002-2008, the AFL team was the Dallas Desperados, playing home games at the American Airlines Center. In 2010-2011, the Dallas Vigilantes played in the American Airlines Center as a part of the restructured Arena Football League.

Baseball

The Fort Worth Cats were a historic minor-league baseball team that played from 1888-1964. Through its history, the team was affiliated with a variety of Major League franchises.

The Texas AirHogs were an independent professional baseball team located in Grand Prairie, Texas from 2008-2020.

Soccer (association football)

The Dallas Tornado were a professional soccer team in the North American Soccer League from 1968 to 1981. The team and the league were founded by Dallas sports legend Lamar Hunt. The Tornado won the 1971 NASL championship.

Lacrosse

The Dallas Rattlers of Major League Lacrosse became the first professional lacrosse team to call the state of Texas home in November 2017 when the league announced its franchise from Rochester, New York would be relocating to Frisco and The Ford Center at The Star.[27] The Rattlers were one of the six founding members of Major League Lacrosse. The league merged with the Premier Lacrosse League in 2020, and the Rattlers ceased to exist.

Former teams by table

Sports teams that formerly played in the Dallas-Fort Worth area:

Club League Sport Venue First season Last Season Fate of Franchise
Dallas Texans (NFL) NFL Football Cotton Bowl 1952 1952 1952 Defunct
Dallas Texans (AFL) AFL Football Cotton Bowl 1960–1962 1960 1962 Moved to Kansas City Chiefs in 1963
Dallas Renegades XFL Football Globe Life Park 2008-2020 2018 2020 League Disbanded
Dallas Desperados AFL (Arena) Arena Football American Airlines Center 2002 – 2008 2002 2008 League Disbanded
Fort Worth Cats Texas League Baseball 1888 1964 Defunct
Texas AirHogs AAIPB Baseball AirHogs Stadium 2008-2020 2008 2020 Defunct
Dallas Tornado NASL Soccer Reunion Arena 1968-1981 1968 1981 League Disbanded
Dallas Rattlers MLL Lacrosse The Ford Center at The Star 2018-2020 2018 2020 League Disbanded

Collegiate sports

Dallas has no major Division I college sports program within its political boundaries, although it has one program within its city limits—the Mustangs of Southern Methodist University are located in the enclave of University Park. The only Division I team that plays within the political boundaries of Dallas is the baseball program of Dallas Baptist University (Patriots), which plays in Division I despite otherwise being a Division II member. Neighboring cities Fort Worth, Arlington, and Denton are home to the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs, University of Texas at Arlington Mavericks, and University of North Texas Mean Green respectively.

Toyota Stadium in Frisco has hosted the NCAA Division I Football Championship, the title game of the second-tier Division I FCS, since the 2010 season, and will continue to host this event through at least the 2024 season.

Recreation

A local league baseball game at Reverchon Park

The city of Dallas maintains and operates 406 parks on 21,000 acres (85 km2) of parkland. Its flagship park is the 260-acre (1.05 km2) Fair Park, which hosted the Texas Centennial Exposition in 1936. The city is also home to Texas' first and largest zoo, the 95 acres (0.38 km2) Dallas Zoo, which opened at its current location in 1888.[28]

The city's parks contain 17 separate lakes, including White Rock and Bachman lakes, spanning a total of 4,400 acres (17.81 km2). In addition, Dallas is traversed by 61.6 miles (99.1 km) of biking and jogging trails, including the Katy Trail, and is home to 47 community and neighborhood recreation centers, 276 sports fields, 60 swimming pools, 232 playgrounds, 173 basketball courts, 112 volleyball courts, 126 play slabs, 258 neighborhood tennis courts, 258 picnic areas, six 18-hole golf courses, two driving ranges, and 477 athletic fields.[29]

As part of the ongoing Trinity River Project, the Great Trinity Forest, at 6,000 acres (24 km2), is the largest urban hardwood forest in the United States and is part of the largest urban park in the United States.[30] The Trinity River Audubon Center is a new addition to the park. Opened in 2008, it serves as a gateway to many trails and other nature viewing activities in the area. The Trinity River Audubon Center is the first LEED-certified building constructed by the City of Dallas Parks and Recreation Department.

Dallas also hosts three of the twenty-one preserves of the extensive (3,200 acres (13 km2)) Dallas County Preserve System. Both the Joppa Preserve, the McCommas Bluff Preserve the Cedar Ridge Preserve are all within the Dallas city limits. The Cedar Ridge Preserve was formerly known as the Dallas Nature Center, but management was turned over to Audubon Dallas group, which now manages the 633-acre (2.56 km2) natural habitat park on behalf of the city of Dallas and Dallas County. The preserve sits at an elevation of 755 feet (230 m) above sea level, and contains a variety of outdoor activities, including 10 miles (16 km) of hiking trails and picnic areas.

Just southwest of Dallas is Cedar Hill State Park, maintained by the Texas Parks and Wildlife state agency. A 1,826-acre (7.39 km2) urban nature preserve, the park is located on the 7,500-acre (30 km2) Joe Pool Reservoir, and offers activities such as mountain biking, birding, camping and fishing; swimming is allowed at the swimming beach only.[31]

To the west of Dallas in Arlington is Six Flags Over Texas, the original franchise in the Six Flags theme park chain. Hurricane Harbor, a large water park owned by Six Flags, is also in Arlington.[32]

References

  1. ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com, Franchise Encyclopedias, https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/
  2. ↑ "The Business Of Football". Forbes.com. September 13, 2007. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  3. ↑ "#1 Manchester United". Forbes. June 30, 2007. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
  4. ↑ Tynes' field goal as time expires spoils Cowboys' home debut, ESPN
  5. ↑ "Cotton Bowl to move to new stadium in Arlington". ESPN.com. February 28, 2007. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
  6. ↑ Heinz, Frank; Barr, Alice (December 5, 2018). "XFL Dallas Team to Call Arlington's Globe Life Park Home". NBCDFW.com. NBCUniversal. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  7. ↑ "XFL announces it will collaborate with NFL to advance game of football when league returns in 2023". CBSSports.com. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  8. ↑ New York Daily News, Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks win NBA championship, close out LeBron James, Miami Heat in Game 6, June 13, 2011, http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/dirk-nowitzki-dallas-mavericks-win-nba-championship-close-lebron-james-miami-heat-game-6-article-1.131454
  9. ↑ "2010/2011 ALCS Champion". Mlb.mlb.com. March 12, 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Rangers Ballpark in Arlington | texasrangers.com: Ballpark". Texas.rangers.mlb.com. April 1, 1994. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  11. ↑ North to South: A Brief History of the Dallas Stars
  12. ↑ "The 35 Biggest Moments in Modern Dallas History". Dmagazine.com. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  13. ↑ PROFESSIONAL RUGBY COMING TO ALLEN, TEXAS, Feb. 18, 2013, http://griffinsrugby.com/feb13pressrelease
  14. ↑ "Rugby Football Union". Texasrugbyunion.com. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  15. ↑ USA Super League Website
  16. ↑ Harlequins Official Website
  17. ↑ "Choctaw Stadium - Arlington Renegades". Stadium Journey. 2023-04-10. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  18. ↑ "Home » WFTDA Roller Derby Resources". WFTDA Roller Derby Resources. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Roller Derby And Ice Hockey Together At Last! by Dallas Derby Devils". March 11, 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-03-11. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Together as One: Dallas Derby Devils and The Rolling Rebellion". Dallas Derby Devils. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Clover Cup 2023". Clover Cup 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  22. ↑ "The Overwatch League: Standings". The Overwatch League. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  23. ↑ Dallas Diamonds Archived October 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine – Information from home page. Retrieved on October 20, 2006.
  24. ↑ "Stadium". Dallasdiamondsfootball.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Dallas Revolution". Dallas Revolution. Archived from the original on May 23, 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Tokyo Mayor Confirms Bid Desire; Dallas 2020 Rumbling". Aroundtherings.com. June 17, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  27. ↑ MLL announces Rattlers relocation to Dallas
  28. ↑ DallasZoo.com – General Information. Retrieved on September 28, 2006. Archived December 26, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  29. ↑ "Facilities". Dallasparks.org. Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  30. ↑ "The Great Trinity Forest-Dallas". The Great Trinity Forest. City of Dallas Trinity River Corridor Project. Archived from the original on January 16, 2009. Retrieved September 12, 2009.
  31. ↑ "Texas Parks and Wildlife online". Tpwd.state.tx.us. December 4, 2009. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  32. ↑ Barker, Evelyn; Worcester, Lea (2011). Images of America: Arlington. Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia Pub. p. 124. ISBN 9780738579818. OCLC 679919858.
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