Fort Worth offers visitors and residents more than its share of big sporting events every year. A game can take two or three hours, depending on how many overtimes we play, leaving you with plenty of time to explore something else in the city. So this guide lists for you some of Fort Worth’s top sporting events while also making a suggestion for something else you might consider while you’re in the neighborhood.
Also, we heard from somebody that watching sports goes well with beer (who knew?), and it just so happens that Fort Worth boasts an ale trail full of innovative breweries. So we’ve also paired each game or race with a brewery or tap room that’s a short ride share away.
The Event: TCU Football
The Scoop: The Horned Frogs play in the Big XII conference, so some of the nation’s most storied programs visit Amon G. Carter Stadium every fall (and the Frogs regularly whoop ‘em, too).
The Extra: The TCU Women’s Volleyball team regularly plays home games within a day or two of home football contests. Double down on your sports weekend!
The Beer: Rahr & Sons Brewing at 701 Galveston Avenue offers tastings and tours on Saturday afternoons - a great start before you head to your favorite tailgating spot.
The Event: Texas Rangers Baseball
The Scoop: The Rangers play just east of Fort Worth in neighboring Arlington. They’ve been in Tarrant County since 1972 and boast a new stadium called Globe Life Field.
The Extra: You can equip yourself like a fan before you even depart Fort Worth. The Rangers operate a team shop in Sundance Square, so pick up all the caps, t-shirts, and foam fingers you’ll need to properly represent.
The Beer: Get yourself a quality lager or IPA and some barbecue at Cowtown Brewing Company. It’s at 1301 E Belknap Street, a few blocks from Sundance Square on the north edge of downtown.
The Event: Races at Texas Motor Speedway
The Scoop: Every April and November, TMS hosts races in NASCAR’s top series, plus the second-tier (but still really fast) Xfinity Series. They also stage a truck race in the spring. Plus, the track hosts the IndyCar series in July. So basically you can see the world’s best oval racing multiple times each year in Cowtown.
The Extra: Buc-ee’s and Cabelas are the bomb. You’re in Texas, so go big. Once you have fully equipped yourself for a trip to the deer lease, you’ll realize you’re going to need snacks while you wait for a ten-point buck. Hello, Beaver Nuggets.
The Beer: Hop over to Shannon Brewing in Keller Thursdays and Fridays 4-9 p.m., Saturdays 12- 9 p.m. and Sundays 12-5 p.m.
The Event: Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo
The Scoop: Every January and February, some of the world’s best bull riders, barrel racers, and more converge on Fort Worth for the PRCA rodeo held at the at Dickies Arena (as of 2020).
The Extra: The Amon Carter Museum of American Art sits right across Lancaster from Will Rogers Memorial Center (former home of FWSSR). Check out their unparalleled collection of Remingtons and Russells from around the time the Stock Show itself got started (history, y’all) and the rest of the compelling permanent collection and special exhibitions.
The Beer: You can walk to the Deep Ellum Funkytown Fermatorium on University Drive. Enjoy one of Deep Ellum Brewing’s normal offerings plus some Fort Worth beer exclusives (and pizzas).
The Event: Fort Worth Vaqueros Soccer
The Scoop: The Fort Worth Vaqueros are the city’s professional soccer team, competing in the third level of the U.S. pro game. The team features a mix of young players on the rise and professional veterans who still have plenty of skill to display.
The Extra: The team plays at Farrington Field, located at the corner of Lancaster and University. That’s right in the heart of the Cultural District, and sure enough, two world-class art museums reside catty-cornered across the street. Visit the Modern or the Kimbell in the afternoon, grab something to eat in the adjacent West 7th district, and then walk to the stadium to cheer on the Vaqueros.
The Beer: The aforementioned Fermatorium works well here or start your night at Collective Brewing located near downtown and take The Dash to the West 7th district.
The Event: TCU Basketball
The Scoop: The Horned Frog men’s and women’s basketball teams compete every winter at the recently renovated Schollmaier Arena. Both programs have been on the upswing in recent years, including an NIT title for the men’s program in 2017.
The Extra: When you come to see the basketball Horned Frogs, why not go see an actual horned frog? The Fort Worth Zoo’s Texas Wild! exhibit features horned frogs, plus a whole lot more (like alligators and pelicans). You’ll find this world-class zoological institution less than a mile from campus.
The Beer: Head west on Berry and cut just a little way north to get to the Near Southside and Fort Brewery & Pizza at 1001 West Magnolia Avenue.
The Event: Texas Wesleyan University Football
The Scoop: In 2017, TWU brought the sport back to campus for the first time since 1941. They play NAIA games at Farrington Field.
The Extra: This isn’t hard. Go to the West 7th neighborhood. Enjoy the game. Walk across the street (at the signal, please). Eat. Drink. So many places to choose from on a Saturday - it’s a superb college football gameday experience.
The Beer: On a Saturday afternoon, you can start your day with a round at Wild Acre Brewery or Martin House Brewing Company near downtown and then run a short down-and-in route to West 7th.
The Event: Charles Schwab Challenge
The Scoop: Every May, some of the planet’s top male golfers compete in Fort Worth at the legendary Colonial Country Club. Like, seriously, Jack Nicklaus won here. There’s a statue of Ben Hogan right where you can’t miss it. It’s a big golf deal.
The Extra: Have you been to the Woodshed Smokehouse? How about Dutch’s Hamburgers? Or the original Fuzzy’s? Or Silver Fox? Ol' South Pancake House? Look, we could go on and on here, but suffice it to say you have no excuse for going hungry when you attend the golf tournament. Just stroll over to University Drive to find some of Cowtown’s iconic eateries.
The Beer: Take your foursome to the HopFusion Ale Works on Broadway to discuss great shots and ones sliced into the heavy rough before or after your trip to the tourney.
The Event: TCU Baseball
The Scoop: TCU has become one of the country’s top collegiate baseball programs. In additional compelling non-conference matchups, you’ll be able to see teams like the Texas Longhorns, Oklahoma Sooners, and Oklahoma State Cowboys at the on-campus Lupton Stadium.
The Extra: Get a little exercise in before you go to the ballgame. You can hop on the Trinity Trails for some running, walking, biking, in-line skating or stroller-pushing just down Bellaire Drive from the ballpark.
The Beer: How about some pregame picnicking, Near Southside style? Check out the spread at Funky Picnic Brewery & Café before you head to the ballpark.
The Event: Stockyards Championship Rodeo
The Scoop: Every weekend, you can find quality rodeo in one of the sport’s most historic venues - it’s the site of the first-ever indoor rodeo (in 1918).
The Extra: The Cowtown Coliseum is located in the Fort Worth Stockyards. That gives you a lot of options for enjoying a good steak before heading over to the arena, and going out to Billy Bob’s or one the neighborhood’s friendly saloons afterward.
The Beer: You’ll find Panther Island Brewing at 501 North Main Street – right on the way to the Stockyards.
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