Let us put actual numbers on what it costs to be a Cowboys fan in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for one season.
Attending games (4 home games per year — average fan):
- Tickets: $150 average per game (upper deck) x 4 = $600
- Parking: $75 x 4 = $300
- Food and drinks inside stadium: $60 per game x 4 = $240
- Subtotal: $1,140
Watching at home:
- NFL Sunday Ticket: $349/year (YouTube TV package)
- Cable/streaming for local games: ~$75/month x 5 months = $375
- Subtotal: $724
Watching at bars (assuming 6 away games at bars):
- Food and drinks: $45 per outing x 6 = $270
Merchandise:
- One new jersey every 2 years: $150/2 = $75/year
- T-shirts, hats, misc: $100/year
- Subtotal: $175
Total annual cost: approximately $2,309
That is nearly $200 per month, year-round, to be a moderately engaged Cowboys fan.
Comparison to other DFW teams:
- Mavs season (similar 4-game plan): ~$800 total
- Rangers season (similar 4-game plan): ~$500 total
- Stars season (similar 4-game plan): ~$600 total
The Cowboys are by far the most expensive fan experience in DFW.
Sources:
- StubHub/SeatGeek — average ticket prices 2025 season
- dallascowboys.com — parking rates
- NFL Sunday Ticket — published pricing
- Team Marking Report — fan cost index 2025
$2,300 a year to watch a team that went 8-9. When you put the actual number on paper it makes you question your life choices.