FRISCO, Texas – Ford Center at The Star in Frisco is home to the Dallas Cowboys' practices as well as Frisco Independent School District high school football games. Now it's also home to Texas Tech University's 2017 Spring Game on April 1.
Thursday, Texas Tech Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt and Cowboys Executive Vice President Chad Estis formally announced the exciting new event that will take place at The Star's sparkling new 12,000-seat, 510,000-square foot indoor athletic facility.
Texas Tech will be the first collegiate football program in the country to partner with the Cowboys to host an event at The Star, a state-of-the-art complex that serves as the franchise's world headquarters and practice facility.
The Spring Game is slated for 3 p.m. on April 1 inside Ford Center. Tickets are on sale now via the Texas Tech Ticket Office with prices set for $10 for adults 19 years of age or older. All students 18 years or younger will be admitted free of charge. All fans must have a ticket to attend the game.
Television coverage of the game will be announced at a later date.
"We are excited for this opportunity to continue to grow our partnership with a world-class organization such as the Cowboys," Hocutt said. "This will be a tremendous experience for not only our student-athletes but our fans in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The Star will be the perfect setting to showcase our program and our university."
The Cowboys organization always envisioned Ford Center as more than just a practice site for the Cowboys team. It's a shared venue with the City of Frisco and Frisco ISD's high schools – a partnership that makes the Cowboys the first and only NFL team to share a training facility with a public high school athletic program at Ford Center.
Ford Center is built to hold a variety of events, and adding an element of college football on April 1 was a natural fit.
"We can showcase The Star and Ford Center and create a great home for a spring occasion for Texas Tech and their football program," Estis said.
For Texas Tech, it's a unique opportunity for fans in North Texas – a strong alumni base for the school – to see the Red Raiders scrimmage. Based in Lubbock in the western tip of the state, Texas Tech has played Baylor University eight straight years in the Metroplex, including seven games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
"To watch our young men have a chance to go into AT&T Stadium in Arlington every year and how their eyes light up playing in the very best stadium in the entire world is a highlight," Hocutt said. "And coming here to practice in the Dallas Cowboys' world headquarters is a highlight."
In addition to the Spring Game at The Star, Texas Tech will also hold its annual spring practice March 25 at Grande Communications Stadium in Midland and a "Saturday Night Lights" event April 8 in Lubbock. All three events will feature a game-like format where the Red Raiders split into two teams to determine a best-of-three winner. The open practices in both Midland and Lubbock will be free to all fans.
For ticket information or questions regarding the Spring Game, please contact the Texas Tech Ticket Office at 806-742-TECH or visit www.TexasTech.com. Texas Tech is also in the midst of season ticket renewals with a Feb. 28 deadline to lock in seats for the 2017 season.
