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WHERE TO WATCH BIG GAMES IN BIG D

By David Muscari

Hope springs eternal – especially in Dallas, which is famed for its rabid fan base and legendary teams. Every fall, the Cowboys, Mavericks, Stars, and a host of college teams seize our attention.

There is nothing quite like sitting elbow-to-elbow with thousands of fans in a packed stadium. But the right sports bar comes in a close second, and we’ve got outstanding watering holes where the watching experience is as exciting as the game itself.

Here are a few choice, test-driven options.

Katy Trail Ice House, 3136 Routh Street

Located in the heart of Uptown, this indoor-outdoor venue with an Austinstyle beer garden is regularly cited on area “best of” lists. With a distinctive 50-foot bar and dozens of beers on tap, the genial spot named for a defunct railroad route keeps customers coming back. Barbecue and burgers are house specialties, but it’s the televised sports that really make the place tick. Fans sporting team colors gather at picnic tables to cheer their favorite squads on strategically placed screens. A second location in Plano is known as Katy Trail Ice House Outpost. Katyicehouse.com

Happiest Hour, 2616 Olive Street

Dallas’s lively Harwood District is conveniently sandwiched between downtown and glitzy Victory Park, home to American Airlines Center. This buzzy sports bar with a rooftop deck is a beacon for basketball and hockey fans before, during, and after games at AAC, which is only a mile away. March Madness is particularly fun as fans congregate to cheer their teams in 12,000-plus feet of sports nirvana, which sprawls merrily onto a patio and lawn. Happiesthourdallas.com

The restaurant and bar on AT&T Plaza at Victory Park is a winner. Located steps outside the arena, it’s perfect for a lift when the Mavericks or Stars are playing. Seating is comfortably plush in this modern setting, where games are broadcast on a 24-foot high-def screen as well as on monitors at seemingly every turn. It gets plenty rowdy and loud when fans pile in to watch big battles and share the emotional ups and downs of game days. Herobyhg.com

The Owners Box, Omni Dallas Hotel, 555 South Lamar

The floor at the hostess station is bright with Dallas Morning News pages championing the greatest sports moments in Dallas history, all aglow on backlit plexiglass. Think Stanley Cup wins, Super Bowl victories, NBA championships, and more alight on the floor. It seems like every square inch of the spacious bar is covered in electronics. The Owners Box is next to Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, so thousands of out-of-towers belly up for games on the big screens. Local media also regularly turn up to broadcast live reports for sports radio and TV. After all, ABC affiliate WFAA-TV is only steps away. Omnihotels.com

Christies, 2817 Greenville Avenue

This hip bar caters to the staunchest of fans. Large-screen TVs line the walls, ensuring there isn’t a bad seat in the house. Wings, flatbreads, burgers, wraps, a variety of entrees, and a signature shot list are all on the menu. Sports memorabilia decorates the place, including framed vintage Cowboys and Mavericks jerseys and autographed footballs. The rooftop seating area and covered sidewalk patio are ideal for breezy autumnal afternoons and evenings. Christiessportsbar.com

Stan’s Blue Note, 2908 Greenville Avenue

Voted Best Bar Food by D Magazine in 2019, this venerable sports bar is covered in colorful flags, pennants, and other kitschy memorabilia dating over its 70-year history. Large monitors are scattered around the room, and fans spread out on game days to cheer their respective teams to victory. Sundays are always a treat for Cowboys fans, who often spill onto the front patio. Stansbluenote.com

Texas Live! 1650 East Randol Mill Road

Considered by some as the ultimate sports watching experience, this lively entertainment center attracts diehard fans, fantasy football parties, brunch boys, and game-day girls. Located within earshot of AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field, Texas Live! comprises multiple restaurants and bars, including a bilevel “arena” with a 100-foot media wall that projects multiple games simultaneously. “Ditch your couch and join the only atmosphere better than the stadium,” proclaims the venue’s website, and it’s got a point. Texas-live.com

PLANO

Legacy Hall, 7800 Windrose Avenue

With 20-plus restaurants, plenty of bars, and live music, this food hall presents a variety of venues. The top spot for Cowboys games and Monday Night Football is the central Box Garden, which boasts a 24-foot LED screen. Other options are the 3rd Floor Taproom, with a row of TVs, and Unlawful Assembly Brewing Co., where screens top the bar. Located in the shadow of The Star in Frisco, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, it’s one of the most versatile venues, perfect for gathering the faithful for a few touchdowns, three-point plays, and hat tricks. legacyfoodhall.com