Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14
Comerica Stadium 2601 Avenue of the Stars Frisco, TX 75034
Year Opened: 2003
Capacity: 4,500
Fifty Yards of Fury
The Frisco Fighters arena football team bills itself as the Fifty Yards of Fury (indoor football fields are only half the length of traditional football fields) – their cool fighter jet logo looks awesome on the helmets and signage. The warplane theme continues with the dance team, named the Bombshells, and the team does all the traditional things to entertain fans, such as having fans contests on the field and handing out t-shirts. While the facility itself may not offer much beyond the action on the field, the fans here seem to enjoy themselves.
Food & Beverage 4
Comerica Center offers a decent variety of food and beverage options – I recommend the BBQ, but you can also find Mexican and more traditional items like upscale hot dogs and burgers, as well as pretzels, popcorn, packaged candy, and chips, as well as old-fashioned milkshakes. There are a few bar areas as well, and typical drink options beyond alcohol such as soda and bottled water. The prices tend to be a little on the high side for most of the main dishes, but the food quality and portion sizes are pretty good.
Atmosphere 2
Comerica Center opened in 2003 and seems like a modern facility from the outside as you walk in, but the setup for arena football seems to be a bit lacking. The arena is also the home field for the Texas Legends of the NBA G League and also houses the Dallas Star’s practice rink.
As mentioned above the fighter jet team logo is pretty cool, and there is a giant banner behind one end zone showing the logo in full, blaring color with two jets instead of one. However, there are no team logos in either end zone, and there isn’t the giant multi-sided center video board that many sports fans have gotten used to.
There is also not a lot of pomp or ceremony when the team takes the field – the dance team comes on the field to welcome them on, there are spotlights, and they alternate games introducing the defensive versus offensive starters, but there is no mascot and no pyrotechnics.
There are a few TVs in the hallways to watch the game on while you are waiting in line at the concessions, as you can’t see the field from there, and there are a couple of set-ups for people to play Xbox, but one of the screens wasn’t working during my most recent visit.
Neighborhood 4
There are plenty of restaurants near Comerica Center, with Wild Pitch Sports Bar & Grill or Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille is the closest, both within walking distance – either would be a great option to hang out before or after a Fighters game.
There are also numerous hotels in the area, several within walking distance, so definitely the arena is in a great location, about 4 miles south of downtown Frisco or half an hour north of Dallas, which has plenty of additional restaurant and entertainment options if you want to head into the big city.
Within Frisco, you can find other sporting events during the same weekend as the Fighters if you plan it right (the Double-A Frisco Roughriders play at Riders Field, right next to Comerica Center), while closer to Dallas you may be able to catch an NBA or NHL game if the Mavericks or Stars make the playoffs. You can also head over to Arlington and watch either the Arlington Renegades of the XFL or MLB’s Texas Rangers, both of whom have games happening during this time of year.
Fans 2
The fans at Frisco Fighters games are into the contest, and you will see a handful of those ultra-rabid fans who are dressed to the nines in team gear, or who go for those loose footballs with reckless abandon (in arena football you are usually allowed to keep balls that leave the field of play; the PA announcer will even scold you, and the staff may give it back to you if you try to be nice and return them to the referee). Unfortunately, there are just not a lot of fans here, so the already small arena, maxing out at 4,500 for basketball/football, looks pretty empty.
Access 5
Getting to Comerica Center and around inside is a breeze – you can park in the deck connected to the center for only $10, and getting out of the deck after the game is painless. Entry into the venue from the parking deck will take you right by the Dallas Star’s practice, and you may even see kids geared up in hockey gear playing on that ice, or you might see them in the parking deck before or after their game or practice.
Moving around the concourse inside is easy – there are no lines at the concessions due to the small crowd, and there are more than enough bathrooms. The best restrooms to use are the less trafficked ones tucked away in the corners, as few people notice them so they should be clean and fully stocked.
Return on Investment 3
Tickets to Frisco Fighters games can be found for less than $10 (not including fees), and you can find a few low-cost concessions options if you look around. That said, attending an arena football game at Comerica Center is pretty inexpensive, but don’t expect a ton of amenities – this is a great option if you need something to entertain the kids, or are suffering from post-Superbowl football withdrawal, but may not be an event to go out of your way for.
Extras 2
The Fighters do have a team gear stand inside Comerica Center, and there are also a ton of vendors on hand giving out freebies; for example, you can spin the wheel and do some quick cardio to win a boxing glove keychain courtesy of a local kickboxing studio, or you can pick up free candy or a pen from some of the other booths. Some of the vendors also offer discount cards for their services, and every fan who enters gets a free Frisco Fighters rally towel.
Final Thoughts
If you love football, attending a Fighters game at Comerica Center may be something you want to do, but overall, this experience is probably not something for the casual sports fan’s bucket list.