The New Home of the Dallas Cowboys Opens Its Doors

Image © Gensler

This past weekend was a big one for the NFL and Texas high school football. It marked the unveiling of The Star, the new home of the Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters, Ford Center and The Omni Frisco Hotel, a 16-story hotel which will be the tallest building in Frisco at the time of its completion. The Star, which is located just 30 minutes north of Dallas city limits, is a culmination of a partnership between the Dallas Cowboys, the City of Frisco and Frisco Independent School District.

At the cornerstone of The Star’s 91-acre multi-use complex is the new Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters, providing unparalleled access for fans to experience the entire Dallas Cowboys operations. The headquarters will house all of the team’s football operations, including administrative offices, coaches’ offices and space for the renowned Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

Designed to be the most comprehensive NFL training facility in the country, Ford Center at The Star will be shared by the Dallas Cowboys, the City of Frisco and the Frisco Independent School District. It’s also the only NFL training facility in the United States that is shared with a public high school athletic program. Ford Center accommodates 12,000 passionate fans within a state-of-the-art 510,000 square-foot indoor athletic facility that will host education and community activities in addition to sports events. From graduation ceremonies to marching band competitions, Ford Center will be a community gathering place.

Image © Gensler

Inside Ford Center’s War Room, the NFL draft will be conducted within the technologically advanced meeting space, outfitted with an interactive video wall and multi-touch displays, for a side-by-side comparison of two players doing the same exercise or running the same play during a game. The history that gets made here will be readily visible to visitors through exhibits showing artifacts from great Cowboys squads of the past.

The Star is joined by a 300-room Omni Frisco Hotel, scheduled for completion in June 2017. The 16-story luxury hotel will be the tallest building in Frisco. The Omni Frisco Hotel will boast a 13,000 square-foot ballroom and 24,000 square feet of meeting space that adjoins Ford Center to function as a complete event center. A rooftop pool deck, with bar and grill, will overlook the active entry plaza in front of Ford Center at The Star.

Image © Gensler

This game-changing project redefines the very nature of a professional sports organization—inspiring the next generation of athletes and fans at the same place where the Dallas Cowboys live, work and play. As architects, we are delighted to be a part of something that quite simply has never been done before. The Star sets a new benchmark for the industry with the innovative and unprecedented partnership between a professional team and a school district.

Image © Gensler

Frisco is one of the nation's fastest-growing communities, especially for raising a young athlete. Looking ahead, we are certain The Star will be a catalyst for the highest caliber high school and professional athletes to reach the very top of their game.

Ron Turner, FAIA, LEED® AP, is director of Gensler Sports, and a principal in the Los Angeles office. A recognized leader in international sports facility design, Ron has over 30 years of experience dedicated to creating iconic sports destinations that generate increased revenue, build civic brands and employ innovative technologies. As a founder of sports design practices for Ellerbe Becket, NBBJ, RTKL and now Gensler, Ron has led design teams for numerous professional and collegiate venues and sports-anchored entertainment districts around the world. Contact him at ron_turner@gensler.com.