The 8 Best Sports Events in North Texas This Fall

Hometown Hero Bull Riders, Fast-Paced Banana Ball, and More Local Games to Watch

By Edward Brown // Sep 3, 2026

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Last week, this longtime North Texas resident caught his first live Dallas Cowboys game, catching the team’s preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints. (Photograph by Blake Marvin)

The Savannah Bananas bring their wildly popular Banana Ball to Globe Life Field for three sold-out games against the Texas Tailgaters September 25 through 27. (Photography by Savannah Bananas)

Americana by Loews Hotels will feature 507 guest rooms, including 39 suites, along with more than 83,000 square feet of meeting and event space anchored by a Grand Ballroom and a 10,000-square-foot Event Barn designed for large-scale gatherings. (Courtesy)

Fresh off opening a first-of-its-kind athlete performance center in Decatur, the Fort Worth-based Ariat Texas Rattlers return to Dickies Arena for their annual Rattler Days homestand. (Photo by Bull Stock Media)

On October 3, TCU welcomes BYU to Amon G. Carter Stadium for a Big 12 matchup. Photograph by TCU Athletics)

This has been a year of sports-related firsts for PaperCity’s editorial team. In June, Dallas editorial director Melissa Smrekar attended her first professional soccer game at AT&T Stadium, watching England take on Croatia during the World Cup from a VIP suite. Last week, this longtime North Texas resident caught his first live Dallas Cowboys game, catching the team’s preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints.

No breaking news here. The Boys lost a hard-fought battle that day, falling narrowly to the Saints and ending the preseason 2-1. The 17-year-old stadium has aged remarkably well, thanks to premium construction materials and a timeless design that offers amenities like luxurious suites and unimpeded views of the action on the field throughout.

Matt Wilson, Visit Arlington’s senior VP of sports and events, tells us that the recent World Cup matches gave international visitors a taste of Texas hospitality, while Arlington proved more than capable of handling the massive crowds that descended on the city. Cowboys games are also a major driver of local tourism and business, he says.

“Our hotels pay very close attention to whenever the Cowboys schedule is released because they are such a cornerstone of our tourism here in Arlington,” he says. “Sports fans may stay three nights because they want to have this entire experience of tailgating, going to Texas Live!, or hanging out by the pool.”

From baseball to college football, boxing, and beyond, North Texas is ramping up for a busy season of major sporting events. These are the series and events we’re most excited about.

Savannah bannanas — The Savannah Bananas bring their wildly popular Banana Ball to Globe Life Field for three sold-out games against the Texas Tailgaters September 25 through 27. (Photography by Savannah Bananas)

Rocket League World Championship

Dickies Arena, in addition to providing Fort Worth with a world-class concert venue, has become a popular host for professional sports, including the growing field of esports where professional video game players compete as individuals or on teams. Mid-September will see the venue host 20 of the world’s top esports teams as part of the Rocket League World Championship. Competitors from North America, Europe, South America, the Middle East, and beyond will battle for a share of a $1.2 million prize pool.

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Savannah Bananas vs. Texas Tailgaters

The Savannah Bananas bring their wildly popular Banana Ball to Globe Life Field for three sold-out games against the Texas Tailgaters. “People are excited about Banana Ball,” Visit Arlington’s Wilson says. The fast-paced spin on the game features a two-hour time limit, no walks, choreographed dances, and even fans making outs by catching foul balls.

PBR Rattler Days

Fresh off opening a first-of-its-kind athlete performance center in Decatur, the Fort Worth-based Ariat Texas Rattlers return to Dickies Arena for their annual Rattler Days homestand. The 2023 PBR Teams champions will compete in three days of head-to-head professional bull riding, with five riders from each team attempting eight-second qualified rides. Led by head coach and PBR co-founder Cody Lambert, the Rattlers will look to build momentum as the PBR Teams season heads toward its championship.

TCU vs. BYU Football

As college football season returns, check out our roundup of college-themed boots and accessories to get your gameday wardrobe ready. On October 3, TCU welcomes BYU to Amon G. Carter Stadium for a Big 12 matchup. The Horned Frogs will defend their home turf against a BYU team that enters the season ranked No. 14 in the AP Top 25. The matchup marks BYU’s first trip to Fort Worth since 2023.

Red River Rivalry: Texas vs. Oklahoma

Few college football traditions rival Texas and Oklahoma meeting at the Cotton Bowl during the State Fair of Texas. This year’s Red River Rivalry arrives October 10, bringing the Longhorns and Sooners back to Dallas for their annual showdown. All eyes will be on Texas quarterback Arch Manning, who enters his senior season after accounting for 36 touchdowns in 2025.

Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo

Fort Worth’s venerable Cowtown Coliseum hosted daily rodeos throughout the World Cup, and now the treasured venue prepares to host the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo on October 17 for its Texas Connection Series Championship. Named for legendary cowboy and rodeo performer Bill Pickett, the organization has spent more than four decades celebrating the contributions of Black cowboys and cowgirls to Western culture.

TCU Football — On October 3, TCU welcomes BYU to Amon G. Carter Stadium for a Big 12 matchup. Photograph by TCU Athletics)

Women’s World Championship Boxing

College Park Center in Arlington steps into the boxing spotlight on November 8 with a four-fight women’s world championship card. Undefeated IBF lightweight champion Elif Nur Turhan will headline against unified super featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner, who moves up to 135 pounds for the bout. The card also features championship fights involving Tiara Brown, Ellie Scotney, Skye Nicolson, Miyo Yoshida, Ramla Ali, and Mikiah Kreps.

TCU vs. Texas Women’s Basketball

Two of Texas’ top women’s basketball programs meet at Dickies Arena on December 6 when TCU takes on Texas in the inaugural Women’s Battle for Texas. The neutral-site matchup is part of the new LS² Lone Star Series and brings together two programs that have become regular NCAA Tournament contenders. Texas enters the season after consecutive Final Four appearances, while TCU gets a marquee matchup just down the road from its home court.

Americana by Loews Hotels features 507 guest rooms, including 39 suites, along with more than 83,000 square feet of meeting and event space anchored by a Grand Ballroom and a 10,000-square-foot Event Barn designed for large-scale gatherings. (Courtesy)

Growing a World-Class Sports and Entertainment District

With IndyCar returning to North Texas via the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington and new hotels, including the Americana by Loews, transforming Arlington’s entertainment district, Wilson says his city is positioning North Texas as a premier destination for professional sports. The recent Spikes Under the Lights women’s volleyball showcase at AT&T Stadium, featuring a record $1 million prize purse, offered another example of the increasingly varied sporting events coming to the district.

“Visit Arlington is the boots on the ground for all these major events,” he says. “We’re doing the work here locally to help clear the way for new attractions. Ten years ago, someone coming here might have left to go back to Frisco or Fort Worth. Now they come early to shop and dine. The transformation here has been purposeful. Our goal is to be the best destination in the country for professional sports.”