Two Nights of Free Cowboys Practice at The Star Wrap Up Frisco's Training Camp Run

Cowboys Camp Closes Its Frisco Stint With Back-to-Back Public Nights Aug. 25–26

If you have not made it out to The Star in Frisco this training camp cycle, the final two evenings of public access on August 25 and 26 are your last shot before the Dallas Cowboys break camp and shift focus to the preseason.

Both nights are free and open to the public, and the programming is more substantial than a simple walk-on viewing session.

Monday, Aug. 25: Opening Ceremony, Practice, Tailgate, and Drone Show

The first of the two nights runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Ford Center at The Star. The schedule includes a formal opening ceremony before the team takes the field for an open practice session. After practice clears out, a post-practice tailgate gives fans a reason to stick around, and the evening closes with a drone show.

That combination of live football, food, and a drone display over the campus makes this the more logistically involved of the two nights. If you are bringing kids or out-of-town family who want the full experience, Monday is the night to prioritize. Parking and crowd volume will reflect that — plan to arrive before 5 p.m. to settle in ahead of the 5:30 start.

Tuesday, Aug. 26: Cowboys Night Open Practice

The second evening, branded as Cowboys Night, runs from 6 to 8 p.m. The format is more straightforward: free public access to watch the team practice. Two hours on the field gives coaches a focused late-camp session, and fans get a closer look at the roster before regular-season rosters are set.

Tuesday’s tighter window and simpler format typically draws a somewhat lighter crowd than a drone-show night, which can actually mean better sightlines along the practice fields. If watching football work — individual drills, positional groupings, team periods — is what you are after, Tuesday delivers that without as much surrounding production.

What The Star Campus Offers Around the Practices

The Star’s mixed-use campus along the Dallas North Tollway gives fans options before and after both practices. Restaurants and retail on site mean you do not need to drive elsewhere for dinner. That said, on high-traffic evenings like these, expect waits at the more popular spots. A reservation or a early arrival window before the practice crowds settle in will serve you well.

The Ford Center itself — the 12,000-seat indoor facility that anchors the campus — is where the Cowboys hold indoor sessions, but the open practices on these two nights take place on the outdoor fields accessible to the public.

Context: Why This Stretch Matters on the Frisco Calendar

The Cowboys have maintained their training camp presence at The Star since the facility opened, making it one of the most consistent annual draws for Frisco residents and visitors alike. Free public access to NFL-caliber practice is not something most cities can offer, and the back-to-back format this year compresses the opportunity into a single week.

The timing also lines up with the broader sports activity at The Star that week. The Jerry Jones Classic — the annual high school football showcase played inside Ford Center — follows on August 29, running from 1 to 4 p.m. For families with student athletes or prep football fans, the last week of August gives multiple reasons to make the drive to the Frisco campus.

Logistics at a Glance

• Opening Ceremony and Open Practice with Tailgate and Drone Show: Aug. 25, 5:30–9 p.m., Ford Center at The Star, Frisco
• Cowboys Night Open Practice: Aug. 26, 6–8 p.m., Ford Center at The Star, Frisco
• Cost: Free public admission for both nights
• Address: The Star in Frisco / Ford Center, 2601 Avenue of the Stars, Frisco

For the most current scheduling details — particularly if weather affects outdoor practice plans — check The Star’s event calendar directly before you head out. Camp schedules can shift on short notice based on team decisions, and confirming the night before is a reasonable precaution either way.