Tennis inside a football building
The setting is unusual for a tennis event. In recent editions, the Nexo Dallas Open was played at the Ford Center at The Star, the indoor stadium on the Dallas Cowboys’ headquarters campus in Frisco. Most of the year the building hosts Cowboys practices and high school football. For one week in February, it holds a hard court and tour-level players.
Being indoors matters at this time of year. February in North Texas can be mild one day and icy the next. A roof means a session goes ahead whatever the weather is doing on the Tollway outside, and you watch without wind, glare or rain delays.
The February 2027 week
The 2027 tournament runs in February. It belongs to the ATP 500 tier, the level just below the Masters 1000 events, which is why it attracts players from the upper part of the rankings. The tournament’s official site carries the exact dates, the order of play and the ticket links.
Weeks at this tier follow a familiar pattern:
- Qualifying opens the week, when seats are easiest to find and you can sit close to the court.
- Early rounds usually run as day and night sessions, with singles and doubles mixed together.
- Quarterfinals through the final fill the second half of the week, when demand peaks.
Fans who mainly want to see lots of tennis tend to pick the early-round day sessions. Fans who want the big names under the lights usually go for the weekend.
Getting to Frisco and The Star
Frisco is a suburb about 25 miles north of downtown Dallas. DART light rail does not run there, so nearly every visitor arrives by car or rideshare. The Star is just off the Dallas North Tollway, which runs north from Dallas and passes through Frisco’s commercial core.
Your airport options:
- DFW International Airport: the main long-haul gateway, roughly a half-hour to 45-minute drive depending on traffic.
- Dallas Love Field: the domestic hub, closer to central Dallas, with a similar drive north on the Tollway.
The Star campus has its own parking, and night-session crowds tend to arrive at the same time as Frisco’s evening rush. That is why many fans eat on campus before play rather than driving in at the last minute.
Courtside manners at the Ford Center
Tennis etiquette applies here even in a building made for football. Ushers hold people at the aisle entrances while a point is being played. You go to your seat or leave it during changeovers, which come after odd-numbered games, or between sets. If you get up mid-game, you will wait at the top of the stairs.
A few habits regulars stick to:
- Phones on silent, no flash. Players notice both, and the chair umpire will say something.
- Cheer after the point, never during it. Shouting between a player’s first and second serve draws looks from the people around you.
- Pay by card or phone. US arenas run mostly on card and mobile payment at concessions, and bar staff are usually tipped 15–20%.
- Bring a layer. Large indoor venues are often kept cool, so a jacket helps during a long session.
The ticket printed on your phone is your entry. Fans usually keep it downloaded in their wallet app, because signal can drop inside a large concrete venue.
Between sessions at The Star
The Star is a mixed-use campus, not just a stadium. Restaurants, bars and shops line its walkways, so the gap between a day and a night session is easy to fill without moving your car. The Omni Frisco Hotel is on the campus, and many fans meet in its bar after night matches.
Frisco has invested heavily in sport, and the rest of the city reflects that. Nearby, you can find:
- Toyota Stadium, home of FC Dallas, which also houses the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
- Riders Field, the minor-league baseball park.
- Comerica Center, an indoor arena used for hockey and concerts.
Where tennis visitors stay
Fans coming from out of town tend to book rooms in Frisco itself, either on The Star campus or along the Dallas Parkway corridor. That keeps the drive to night sessions short. A large cluster of chain hotels sits along the Tollway in Frisco and neighbouring Plano.
Staying in downtown Dallas puts you nearer the city’s museums and the Deep Ellum music district. In exchange, you drive the Tollway twice a day. For a single session that is fine. For a full week of tennis, most fans find a Frisco base easier.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Nexo Dallas Open 2027?
The tournament takes place in February 2027 in Frisco, Texas. The tournament's official site carries the exact dates, the daily order of play and the session times.
Where is the Nexo Dallas Open played?
Recent editions were played indoors at the Ford Center at The Star, the Dallas Cowboys' headquarters campus in Frisco, just off the Dallas North Tollway. The official site lists the venue for each year.
How do I get to Frisco without a car?
DART light rail does not reach Frisco, so visitors without a car use rideshare or taxis. From DFW International Airport or Dallas Love Field, the drive north takes roughly 30–45 minutes, depending on traffic.
Which sessions are best for seeing a lot of tennis?
Qualifying and early-round day sessions usually have the most matches and the easiest seating. The quarterfinals, semifinals and final later in the week are the most in demand.
Can I move seats during a match?
Only at changeovers or between sets. Ushers hold spectators at the aisle entrances while points are being played.
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