Fort Worth, August 22, 2025
News Summary
Farrington Field, Fort Worth’s historic high school stadium, is featured in the Netflix docuseries ‘America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys.’ The series illustrates the stadium’s significance in developing local football talent and its enduring role in the community. Established in 1939, the stadium boasts Art Deco architecture and has hosted numerous athletic events over the decades. Recent efforts by the City Council aim to support its preservation and infrastructure improvements through a Tax Increment Finance district.
Fort Worth
Farrington Field, the city’s historic high school stadium, appears prominently in the Netflix docuseries America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys, highlighting Fort Worth’s long-standing football culture and the stadium’s role in developing local talent. The feature includes B-roll footage that underscores the stadium’s ongoing importance to the community and its place in the region’s sports history.
Key details
Farrington Field opened in 1939 and has a seating capacity of 18,500. The stadium is known for its Art Deco architecture and has hosted high school playoff games, community events, and other athletic contests for decades. It also served as a venue for Texas Wesleyan University football and professional exhibitions in the 1960s. The venue has been associated with numerous pivotal moments in Texas football and has been home to several athletes who went on to professional success.
Coverage in the docuseries
The docuseries chronicles the rise of the Dallas Cowboys during the 1990s and includes footage of community stadiums such as Farrington Field. The stadium’s appearance in the series situates local high school football as part of the broader football ecosystem that has fed talent and passion into the sport statewide. The program’s use of B-roll highlights how stadiums like Farrington serve as training grounds and gathering places for families and fans.
Preservation, funding and city decisions
Recent city-level decisions aim to address infrastructure needs around the West 7th District and support preservation efforts for Farrington Field. A City Council action approved a Tax Increment Finance (TIF) district intended to generate funding for road upgrades, storm water improvements, and stadium preservation. The TIF district is projected to raise nearly $238 million over 20 years, with significant contributions expected from local educational and governmental entities. Local preservation advocates and city officials view the TIF as a mechanism to protect the stadium’s cultural and historical value while addressing practical infrastructure problems, including flooding in nearby areas.
Historic status and limits
Farrington Field is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, a recognition of its architectural and cultural importance. Inclusion in the register acknowledges the stadium’s place in history but does not guarantee absolute protection from alteration or demolition. Debates have continued over how to modernize and maintain the facility while preserving its historic character.
Community role and cultural significance
The stadium is described by community observers as a place where families gather, rivalries form, and local traditions take shape. It has hosted playoff games, regional youth events, and long-running local traditions that tie multiple generations to the site. A recent magazine cover story examined Farrington Field’s history and its role in Fort Worth’s identity, reinforcing public awareness of the stadium’s longstanding place in community life.
Athletic legacy and future uses
Farrington Field’s history includes notable athletes who passed through its gates and later achieved higher levels of play. Looking forward, plans to modernize the stadium are framed around the possibility of hosting additional high school playoff games and regional youth sports events. Improvements tied to the TIF district, including storm water management and road upgrades, are intended to make the area more resilient and better suited for expanded use.
Support and criticism
While many community members and preservation groups emphasize the field’s symbolic value and practical uses, efforts to secure funding and direct modernization work have been debated. Discussions focus on balancing historical preservation with contemporary needs like safety, accessibility, and flood mitigation. City officials point to infrastructure improvements as necessary both for neighborhood resilience and for protecting cultural resources such as Farrington Field.
FAQ
What is Farrington Field?
Farrington Field is Fort Worth’s historic high school stadium, opened in 1939 with an 18,500-seat capacity and noted for its Art Deco architecture.
Why is Farrington Field in the docuseries?
The stadium appears in B-roll footage to illustrate local football culture and to show sites that contributed to player development during the era covered by the docuseries.
What funding is planned for the stadium and surrounding area?
The City Council approved a Tax Increment Finance district projected to raise nearly $238 million over 20 years for road upgrades, storm water improvements, and preservation efforts affecting Farrington Field.
Is Farrington Field protected as a historic place?
The stadium is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, which recognizes its significance but does not provide absolute protection from alteration or demolition.
What future uses are being considered?
Plans under discussion include modernization to support more high school playoff games, regional youth sports events, and improved community access while addressing flooding and infrastructure concerns.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- Fort Worth Report: Farrington Field Joins Dallas Cowboys Lore on Netflix
- Star-Telegram: Fort Worth News
- Fort Worth Report: A Love Letter to Farrington Field
- NBC DFW: Opal’s Walk for Freedom Juneteenth 2025
- Google Search: Farrington Field
- Lone Star Live: Where to Park at the 2025 Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo
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