If You Think the Cowboys are Lame, One of These Bars has Got Your Game…

It's time for another of my article from the upcoming issue of Lit Monthly. This time I tackle the football issue of where to watch non-Dallas Cowboy NFL football games in Dallas. A lofty task at best! But here goes...

If You Think the Cowboys are Lame, One of These Bars has Got Your Game…
By Greg Holman


How do you keep the Dallas Cowboys out of your yard? Put up a goal post. What’s the difference between a dollar bill and the Dallas Cowboys? You can still get four full quarters out of a dollar. What do the Cowboys and a possum have in common? Both play dead at home and get killed on the road. OK, so not everyone is a Dallas Cowboys fan, but football season is upon us and the promise of autumn looms large on the horizon. The scent of grilled brats and burgers waft from backyard grills and stadium parking lots, and it’s time to pull out those old jersey’s to gear up for some tailgating, chips and queso, and copious quantities beer.

Pre-season talk of the Cowboys making it to the Superbowl, which will be hosted at “Jerry World” in Arlington this year, seems a little far-fetched, given the effectiveness of our offensive line and Romo’s lack of trust in his receivers this season, but I root for the Boys anyway. And since Dallas is a football town and the home of “America’s Team” (five-time Superbowl champs), it would stand to reason that if you live in Dallas, then you’re a Cowboy’s fan, right? Well, that’s not always the case.

Dallas, being an international business hub, is home to many transplanted football fans from other parts of the country that are still loyal to their old hometown teams, so I thought that I would offer up a list of Dallas-area bars that cater to the athletic supporters of NFL teams, other than “Da Boys.”

A few of the divisions (the AFC South, NFC South, and NFC West) aren’t well represented here in Big D, and I’m not sure if that’s because we don’t get as many people moving to Dallas from those particular cities, or just because these teams suck and their fans could care less about watching them. But whether you’re a Cheesehead, a Pat, or you just want to know “Who dat?” there’s a place for you to root your home team on to victory, and feel right at home, here in the Metroplex. Below is a list of teams and their corresponding supportive bars…

AFC North:

Cincinnati Bengals – McKinney Avenue Tavern - 2822 McKinney Ave., Dallas, TX 75204 Phone: (214) 969-1984

and Buffalo Wild Wings – 5000 Belt Line Rd. #100, Addison, TX 75001 Phone: (972) 701-9464




Pittsburgh Steelers – Malarkey’s Tavern - 4460 Trinity Mills Rd., Dallas, TX 75287 Phone: (972) 931-7300


AFC East:


Buffalo Bills – Stadium Café - 4872 Belt Line Rd., Addison, TX 75254 Phone: (972) 701-0030



New England Patriots – McSwiggan’s Irish Pub - 6910 Windhaven Pkwy. #105, The Colony, TX 75056 Phone: (972) 820-0688


AFC West:

Denver Broncos – Sharky’s - 17453 Preston Rd., Dallas, TX 75252 Phone: (972) 713-0201


and Bronco’s Sports Bar and Grill (the owner is Ron Faurot, a former NY Jet) - 900 Airport Fwy. #166, Hurst, TX 76054 Phone: (817) 498-0600



Kansas City Chiefs – Cape Buffalo - 17727 Addison Rd., Dallas, TX 75287 Phone: (972) 381-9796



Oakland Raiders - Hat Tricks Sports Bar & Grill - 101 E Corporate Dr. # 300, Lewisville, TX 75067 Phone: (972) 315-8406


NFC North:

Chicago Bears – Frankie’s Sports Bar and Grill - 3227 McKinney Ave., Dallas, TX 75204 Phone: (214) 736-1608

and TNT Sports Page - 14902 Preston Rd. #716, Dallas, TX 75254Phone: (972) 661-1130



Detroit Lions – Cape Buffalo - 17727 Addison Rd., Dallas, TX 75287 Phone: (972) 381-9796


Green Bay packers – Vernon’s Bar and Grill - 5290 Belt Line Rd. #142, Dallas, TX 75254 Phone: (972) 661-3707



Minnesota Vikings – TNT Sports Page - 14902 Preston Rd. #716, Dallas, TX 75254Phone: (972) 661-1130


NFC South:


New Orleans Saints – The Quarter - 15201 Addison Rd. Addison, TX 75001 Phone: (972) 788-1919


NFC East:


Philadelphia Eagles – Austin Avenue Sports Bar and Grill - 935 W. Parker Rd., Plano, Texas 75023 Phone: (972) 422-8003



Washington Redskins - Austin Avenue Sports Bar and Grill - 935 W. Parker Rd., Plano, Texas 75023 Phone: (972) 422-8003

While a good number of these establishments show non-Dallas games every week, be sure to call in advance of your visit to ensure that the game you want to see will be shown. Some of the teams with smaller Dallas fan bases move their watching parties around. A good place to locate other non-Dallas-team-friendly-bars is on that particular team’s website, in their fan forums.

So, don’t let the fact that you live in Dallas, and insist on rooting for an inferior team, keep you from showing your teams colors. You and at least two or three of your like-minded friends (if you still have any) can make one of these local bars your home-bar-away-from-home and holler to your heart’s content. It’s OK; we won’t hear you over the cheers of all of the Cowboy fans.