Amon G. Carter Stadium - Armed Forces Bowl

Photos by Michael Davis, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00

Amon G. Carter Stadium 2850 Stadium Dr Fort Worth, TX 76129

Armed Forces Bowl website

Amon G. Carter Stadium website

Year Opened: 1930

Capacity: 45,000

Saluting the Armed Forces

The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl began in 2003 as the PlainsCapital Fort Worth Bowl. There have been a couple of title sponsors since then; the current sponsorship by Lockheed Martin has been attached to the game since 2014. The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl is played on the campus of Texas Christian University at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.

Over the years, the Armed Forces Bowl has aligned with different conferences – there have been 10 different conferences represented at the Armed Forces Bowl. However, the Armed Forces Bowl committee prefers a US military service school if possible, and over the last 12 years, the service academies have been represented in 9 games, with Air Force, Army, and Navy each playing in 3 games.

Food & Beverage   4

The concession stands are serviced by TCU catering at Amon G. Carter Stadium, which means the same concessions are open for the bowl game as the stadium’s main tenant, TCU football. In addition, besides the basic TCU concessions, TCU catering decided to bring local food vendors to the bowl game to give fans more of a selection – Chicken Express, Chick-fil-A, Bobby’s Fajitas, Railhead BBQ, Pardon My Steak, and the popular pizza near campus, Buffalo Bros, all serve food items inside Amon G. Carter Stadium.

Chicken Express has a combo meal (4 tender rolls and a 44-oz drink), while Pardon My Steak provides a cheesesteak. However, my favorite two vendors are Bobby’s Fajitas and Buffalo Bros – Bobby’s Fajitas has beef and chicken fajita nachos, quesadillas, tacos, and tamales, while Buffalo Bros has pizza and wings, which are reasonably priced for a sporting event.

Amon G. Carter Stadium serves Pepsi products, with the best value being their 44-oz soda. There is also Gatorade, water, and alcohol available besides soda. The alcohol selection is decent, with typical sports venue prices depending on your selection. Wine is served throughout the facility, but hard liquor is not available outside the club areas.

The concession stands and bars at all TCU venues are cashless; TCU Athletics will accept all major credit cards, Visa gift cards, and all forms of non-contact payment, including Apple & Google Pay. Overall, the food and beverages here are above average for a bowl game.

Atmosphere   4

The college bowling scene can be different throughout the country. The bowl games provide fans with untraditional teams, stadiums, and cities, and it is up to the bowl committee to deliver the pageantry of the bowl game. The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl delivers on every level since its original game in 2001; the bowl is solely a tribute to the armed forces.

A few hours before kickoff, outside the stadium, there is an area called Tailgate Outpost. Here you can visit food trucks, pick up military service-related items for veterans and their families, and interact with military hardware, either by taking photos or experiencing what it is like to sit inside.  Pre-game has the typical parachute teams landing on the field, with a fly-over shortly after the National Anthem, and before the rolling up of the oversized American Flag.

During each quarter, fans who served are asked to stand and be recognized when their service song is played. In addition, every year during halftime, a new crop of recruits from different services takes their oath of enlistment at the 50-yard line. The bowl also provides two merchandise tables in the concourse for fans to get gear supporting their trip to the game.

There is also the Army & Air Force Exchange Service's Wall of Heroes behind the south end zone; the wall is a tribute to all United States military personnel, where fans submit photos through the Armed Forces Bowl website before the following year’s game.

The game itself is usually entertaining, and the fans try to be loud and engaged to bring out the best from their teams, in the hope of winning the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl trophy.

Neighborhood   4

Amon G. Carter Stadium is just 4 miles away from downtown Fort Worth, located in the middle of a residential neighborhood.

There are a few dining and lodging options near the stadium – two popular spots on gameday and within walking distance are Buffalo Bros and Dutch’s Burgers. Buffalo Bros serves pizza and wings, while next-door Dutch’s covers the hamburgers. Both places will fill up quickly on gameday.

There are plenty of restaurants around Fort Worth; however, Heim BBQ and Joe T. Garcia’s are among the most visited by out-of-towners, and both provide great food. There are also various choices when it comes to lodging, from downtown hotels to the hotel at the Fort Worth Stockyards; the closest hotels are Hyatt Place Fort Worth and the Courtyard by Marriott Fort Worth.

There are plenty of other things to do as well while spending your time in Fort Worth. The closest to TCU’s campus is Fort Worth Zoo; the zoo is home to over 7,000 unique species and is located on University Drive across from Colonial Country Club, which holds a PGA event every May.

The Fort Worth Stockyards is another fun destination, where you can see cattle run during the day, replicating the end of the Chisholm Trail. There are also plenty of shops, but the most famous attraction is the world-famous Billy Bob’s Texas, proclaimed as the world’s largest honkytonk, famous for its live music and indoor rodeo and bull riding contests.

Downtown Fort Worth also has the Water Gardens, or you can visit the hotel where John F. Kennedy spent his last night before he visited Dallas. Fort Worth has a lot to offer, but if you want more, Dallas is only a 45-minute drive away.

Fans   4

The college football bowl scene has taken a hard hit when it comes to fans; the wave of teams and players opting out has the college football fan on a quest to see if these bowl games are worth the investment. The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, however, has been an exception to the low attendance around bowl games. In fact, last year’s game set the Armed Forces Bowl record at 50,754, a game between Oklahoma and Navy. Although that game had an extremely high fan turnout, the Armed Forces Bowl still seems to average over 30,000 every year.

The years when Army, Navy, or Air Force is a participant are when the crowds are especially large. These teams also provide a better atmosphere, as the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces centers around the country’s military.

Access   4

Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth is about a half-hour drive from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and 4 miles from downtown Fort Worth. There is public transit from downtown Fort Worth, but the schedule could be limited, so driving or a ride-share would be the best alternative. The bowl game being played during the holiday season is also a blessing, as the gridlock traffic around Fort Worth is minimal. Driving to the stadium, the exit for TCU is clearly marked off Interstate 20 using S. University Dr, or the Berry Street exit off Interstate 35.

Parking near the stadium is easy and plentiful. Most parking can be purchased ahead of the game on the bowl website. There is free parking throughout the neighborhood if you get there a few hours before kickoff. However, if you aren’t familiar with the area, stay with the parking provided by TCU and the Armed Forces Bowl.

Return on Investment   4

Tickets for the Armed Forces Bowl are anywhere from $25-$75 depending on the seat location. And if you happen to get a military service academy participating in the game, then the price will be well worth the cost.

Parking is usually around $25, but if you get to the stadium early, you’ll be able to find free parking around campus. Concession prices are what you’d expect when it comes to sporting events, although TCU doesn’t break your wallet, so you'll be able to enjoy the traditional food fare. Overall, the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl could be the best ROI of all the college bowl games.

Extras   4

The extras that make the Armed Forces Bowl special begin with the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl trophy; the trophy is unique as it is forged of metal and steel taken from all five branches of the military. The bowl also offers complimentary tickets for veterans and active-duty military members who are available for the game; this is done because the game is a commitment to honor the Armed Forces. Texas Christian University and the City of Fort Worth also support the college football landscape by hosting this bowl game.

Final Thoughts

The Armed Forces Bowl is one of four bowl games played across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, but it is the only one in Fort Worth. The combination of a top-tier college stadium, along with a bowl committee that focuses on bringing a military service academy as a participant, creates a wonderful experience for any football fan. The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl may not be a top-tier bowl for college fans outside of the DFW area, but it certainly can hold its own against any bowl game in the country.