AT&T Stadium, where football meets architectural ambition
You cannot miss this futuristic arena when arriving in Arlington. A massive dome framed by two steel arches rising nearly 300 feet, it is visible from the highway. Familiar to locals as Jerry World, a nod to owner Jerry Jones, this stadium is more than just a football field. It is a spectacle machine built to transform based on the event it hosts.
Throughout the year, it serves as the home base for the Dallas Cowboys, a NFL team.
Capacity that scales
The official capacity of the stadium is 80,000 seated spots, but that number climbs significantly depending on the configuration. The venue holds 80,000 spectators seated, or up to 105,000 when including standing room. The attendance record was set during the very first official game. 105,121 fans attended the first regular season game against the New York Giants in September 2009.
Certain events have even surpassed that figure. WrestleMania 38 drew 131,372 fans over two nights in April 2022, an all-time record for a wrestling event. On the music side, George Strait's farewell concert in 2014 brought in 104,793 people, which stood as the record for the largest indoor concert in the United States for some time.
A stadium of variable geometry: football, concerts, soccer
The secret to this versatility lies in a fully modular field. The surface was built using a SoftTop Convertible Turf system consisting of 26 interchangeable panels, allowing the crew to switch from a football game to a massive concert, a motocross race, or a soccer match in a matter of hours.
For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, this flexibility is pushed even further. The artificial turf will be replaced by natural grass laid on a system of modular trays, a method already tested during a 2024 Copa America match. The stadium will operate under the placeholder name Dallas Stadium, as FIFA regulations prohibit sponsor names on tournament venues.
Retractable roof and climate control: taming the Texas heat
This is the other major technical feat of the site. The retractable roof opens and closes depending on the event, and massive glass doors at each end zone allow the venue to host crowds in any weather while providing climate-controlled comfort during the scorching Texas summers. This idea dates back to the project's earliest plans. As early as 1994, Jerry Jones was already envisioning a retractable roof and air conditioning to make the stadium a year-round facility.
Screens that redefine the scale of the spectacle
At the center of the stadium sits a double-sided video screen measuring 160 feet wide, which was long considered the largest HD screen in the world. More than 3,000 Sony LCD displays are scattered throughout the concourses and premium areas, offering total immersion even when you are far from the field.
In the spotlight for the 2026 World Cup
The stadium is one of the most requested venues in the history of the tournament. For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, AT&T Stadium will host nine matches: five group stage games and four knockout stage matchups, making it the most utilized stadium of the entire competition. A semifinal will even be played here, a strong sign of confidence in the site's management.
Pro tip: Arrive early to explore the concourses and watch the giant screens before the event starts. The atmosphere is different and much less crowded.
Who is this for?
Best for
- Sports enthusiasts and football fans
- Those curious about sports architecture and technical engineering feats
- Spectators heading to major concerts or 2026 World Cup matches
Less ideal for
- Travelers seeking a quiet visit or an intimate site
- Travelers without a car, as public transit access is limited on event days