Dallas Sports Guide

Home to storied major league teams, state-of-the-art venues, and memorable events, Dallas is the perfect destination for sports fans. And with a central location and thoughtful amenities, The Adolphus is the ideal basecamp for your game day stay. Read on to learn more about the incredible teams that call Dallas home, famous sporting events around the city, and the venues that host them.

Football: Dallas Cowboys & Dallas Renegades

We can’t talk about sports in Dallas and not start with football. The NFL’s Dallas Cowboys are one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world with a fandom that extends far beyond the borders of their home field at AT&T Stadium. The Cowboys, also known as “America’s Team”, have a storied history in the NFL which includes eight Super Bowl appearances led by icons like Tom Landry, Troy Aikman and Randy White.

Gamedays at AT&T Stadium are electrifying and start long before the first whistle. You’ll find tailgate parties around the stadium where fans eat, drink and show off their Cowboys pride, and you can even take a stadium tour, where you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at everything that goes into making gameday a success. During the game, you’ll be shouting, singing and cheering alongside almost 100,000 other fans. You may have seen the Cowboys play on your TV, but watching a game in person is an experience you won’t get anywhere else.

But the Cowboys are not the only football team around, the UFL’s Dallas Renegades offer another chance for sports fans to get excited. The team moved back home to Dallas ahead of the 2026 season and will host home games at Toyota Stadium.

Both leagues play on different schedules, the NFL season is September to January and the UFL season runs March to June, so no matter what time of year you visit you can probably get to experience a game for yourself.

Basketball: Dallas Mavericks & Texas Legends

For fans of basketball, you’ll find the Dallas Mavericks playing at American Airlines Center, just a short distance away from The Adolphus Hotel. Throughout the 1980’s, the team was a powerhouse, but struggled in the 90’s and had to enter a rebuilding period to re-capture their earlier momentum. It’s safe to say that tactic worked since the team has consistently won division titles, conference finals, and even an NBA championship in recent years. Catch a game between the Mavs and one of their NBA rivals like the Miami Heat or the San Antonio Spurs and see talented players like Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg, a young player who was selected by the Mavericks as the first overall pick in the 2025 draft.

The Mavs G League affiliate team, the Texas Legends, offers a chance to watch some of the league’s best up and coming players firsthand. Their schedule follows the same season as the NBA so if you time it right, you could see both teams play in one visit.

Hockey: Dallas Stars

Hockey has been an important part of the sports culture in Texas for many generations and when the NHL relocated a franchise to Dallas in 1993, the Dallas Stars brought the speed and action of professional hockey to the Lone Star State. The team has made a strong showing in recent years, advancing all the way to the Conference Finals three years in a row, so we’re hoping the 2025/2026 season will be the year they take it all the way.
The NHL season is long, starting in October and stretching to April (or even into the early summer for the play offs), so there’s lots of opportunities to watch a game while you’re visiting. The Stars also play at the American Airlines Center so The Adolphus Hotel, located less than 10 minutes away, is the perfect homebase for anyone going to a game.

Baseball: Texas Rangers & Frisco Roughriders

America’s favorite pastime has deep roots in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and you can head to nearby Arlington to see the Texas Rangers during the MLB season, which runs roughly March to October. Hot dogs and baseball go hand-in-hand, so maybe while you’re at Globe Life Field you can try the famous Boomstick dog, a 24-inch long hot dog that comes fully loaded.

If you want even more baseball, you’ll find the Frisco RoughRiders just a short drive away. The Riders and the MiLB affiliate team of the Texas Rangers, so you can expect high quality play, plus a family-friendly game experience that even includes a lazy river.

FC Dallas

FC Dallas is another team that calls Frisco home, so fans of soccer (known as football outside the USA and Canada) can head to Toyota Stadium which has been their home field since 2005. If you’re in town when they play their rivals the Houston Dynamo, then it’s guaranteed to be a match you won’t want to miss.

With a world class soccer tournament coming to Dallas in 2026, there’s never been a better time to get excited about the most popular sport in the world, so if you’re visiting between February and November during the season make sure to grab tickets.

College Sports

The Dallas-Forth Worth area is the proud home to a whole host of notable collegiate sports teams, including those at University of North Texas, Texas Christian University and their rivals at Southern Methodist University. All three schools have teams in the NCAA Division 1, and have exceptional talent in a variety of sports, including football, track and field, basketball and more. Check the school websites for all the details and to find their current season schedules.

Sporting Events in Dallas

2026 is a big year for major sports events in Dallas. The marquee event this year is a premier global soccer tournament, which will be bringing nine thrilling games including a semi-final and thousands of spectators to the city.

For fans of American football, December is a great time to visit for some outstanding games at AT&T Stadium. There’s the Big 12 Championship game, an incredible opportunity to see the best and brightest collegiate players. If you miss that game, then you can still catch outstanding collegiate football at the Cotton Bowl Classic, which also takes place in December at the same stadium. Finally, the SERVPRO First Responders Bowl offers a great game that also gives back to the community.

Stay at The Adolphus

The Adolphus is conveniently located in downtown Dallas, keeping you right in the heart of the action and with easy access to every arena and field. You’ll find spacious rooms that have a distinctive Dallas flair. There’s also exceptional dining options at your fingertips, and an on-site pool and spa to help ease those pre-game nerves.

Ready for kickoff, tip-off, or first pitch? Book your Dallas game day stay with The Adolphus today and be close to all the action.