September 6th 2017 Note: I’ve updated this post to include my own experiences with four teams; the Texas Marshals, the Texas Legends, the Dallas Wings, and the Dallas Sidekicks, as well as the annual Frisco College Baseball Classic. I also want to highlight the benefits of getting Pogo Pass*, which gets you into several RoughRiders, Wings, Legends, and Revolution games each year, as well as many other DFW area family attractions. If you go to more than one game a year, the pass will be very cost-effective for your family.

If you’re a sports fan like me, you’re probably also raising your kid(s) to love sports. With a team in each of the major professional sports leagues, the DFW area is an incredible place for us sports lovers. Going to a Rangers, Mavs, Stars, or Cowboys game is a great time, but they’re also expensive and sometimes not as kid-friendly as they could be, especially for younger kids.  However, if you’re looking for something more cost-effective with the same fun factor for your young sports fans, here is a guide to the many options the DFW sports scene offers:

For any sport: For both boys and girls teams, your local high school is a great place to start. You’ll be exposing your young ones to school spirit early, and in our area, many schools have players who will end up on division 1 college teams, so there is no lack of talent. For football, in addition to the game, your kids will also get to see the marching band. My son loves this as much as the game. We also go to see basketball, baseball, and soccer. There will be mistakes made at this level, so for kids learning the game, these can be used as teaching moments.

For baseball:

1) The Frisco Roughriders seem by far the area’s most popular minor league attraction. They are the Double-A affiliate of the Rangers and all of the team’s top prospects will end up playing for the Riders at some point. It’s also a great way to catch Rangers players on rehab assignments. We got to see Josh Hamilton and Yu Darvish at past outings. You can use Pogo Pass to get into two games each season.

2) The Texas Airhogs (formerly Grand Prairie Airhogs) is a smaller, cheaper option than the Riders. They are not affiliated with a major league team and therefore you won’t be seeing top prospects, but it’s still pro ball and it’s still fun.

3) The Texas Marshals of the Texas Collegiate League is a team of college baseball players looking to continue to play competitively throughout the summer. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for kids. They have a small concession stand, and you can bring your own food and drinks. They play at the Prestonwood Christian Academy and it’s a great way to see competitive baseball up close. The crowd is small and tends to be mostly parents of the players, and this past summer I ran into a hall-of-fame parent of a player on the opposite team, Greg Maddux! And if you were wondering, his son is just as crafty as he is.

4) In early March, check out the Frisco College Baseball Classic. It’s a four-team round-robin style event with a doubleheader each of the three days. Played at Dr. Pepper Ballpark, they bring in top teams and you get to see two games each session.

5) Other local college baseball: TCU is usually very competitive nationally. For folks in greater Fort Worth, it’s a great way to see quality ball without having to make a long drive. Likewise, Dallas Baptist also fields competitive teams.

For basketball

1) The Texas Legends are the NBA developmental league team of the Dallas Mavericks, who play at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco. There’s not a bad seat in the house, and they have a kid zone behind one of the baskets with some inflatables for kids who need a break from sitting. For a small arena, it’s a great atmosphere to catch a game, and the players play hard every night, trying to earn a call-up to the NBA. You can use your Pogo Pass to get into a couple of games each season.

2) The Hoop City Dallas Pro-Am summer league features teams made up of players who have played in the NBA, NBADL, professional leagues in foreign countries, and top NCAA division 1 programs. It’s a very inexpensive way to see pro-level talent in the intimacy of a high school gym.

3) Local Colleges: SMU is having lots of recent success and therefore can be a tough ticket to get. They are in the same conference as UConn, so go see the UConn Women’s team for some of the best basketball you’ll ever see.  TCU is historically not very competitive in the Big 12, but they host Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas each year.

4) The Dallas Wings experience is relatively inexpensive and family-friendly. The area’s WNBA team includes Skylar Diggins-Smith, one of the game’s most talented and exciting stars. The games are played at UT-Arlington’s arena, creating an intimate experience without a bad seat. Don’t be deterred by their advertised ticket prices…use Pogo Pass to get into up to 3 games per season, or look for deals on Groupon.

For Soccer:
1) FC Dallas: I’m including them here even though they’re a major league team because you can get good seats for minor league prices. Toyota Stadium is a great venue, big enough to draw a loud crowd, but small enough that you can buy the cheapest ticket and you won’t be up in a nosebleed seat.

2) Dallas Sidekicks: I’m not a soccer fanatic, so when I first heard about an indoor professional soccer team, I was skeptical, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. We got a chance to have a group outing last season, and it was incredibly exciting. Because of the small playing area, the ball moves fast and the action doesn’t stop, creating an intense, high-energy atmosphere. Between the two teams, we saw 18 goals scored. I was also surprised at how physical the game was. I’m not sure I’d watch it on TV but was extremely fun to be there.

For Hockey:

1) Allen Americans – An affiliate of the NHL San Jose Sharks, this team draws top talent and has been at the top of the standings the last few seasons. If you’ve never seen live hockey from close seats, definitely give this a try. In my opinion, of the four major sports, the action of hockey translates the worst to TV, so seeing it live will be a whole new experience for those who have never been.

2) Lone Star Brahmas – this is a team of 18-20-year-olds who are hoping for college scholarships and attention from pro scouts. Several of their players end up on top division 1 NCAA hockey teams. Their arena is very small and it’s a great and low-cost way to watch quality hockey live.

For Football:
1) I’ve never seen indoor football before, so I asked group member Josh Graziani to guest-write about the Texas Revolution, who play in Allen: “The Texas Revolution indoor arena football games are intimate and action-packed. You get close-up experience of America’s favorite game and the team does a lot of giveaways and entertainment between quarters. The kids love it and the fans get into it. All of the games have great attendance and energy.” You can use Pogo Pass to get into some Revolution games each season.

2) College Football: This is a hard one to summarize.  If you go to see TCU, particularly against a big 12 rival, neither the game nor the impact on your wallet, will seem minor.  UNT and SMU would be more cost-effective choices but can be pricey for certain games.  There’s a lot of variances depending on who the opponent is.

Lastly, Some General Tips:

1) Before the game, go online and look at the rosters to learn the names of a few of the team’s key players.  When you’re there, point them out to your kids. They will feel more involved if they can cheer for the players by name.

2) Look at the promotions schedule before choosing the game you will attend. Many teams have days they give out free souvenirs such as jerseys, bobbleheads, etc. Your kids will get something cool and it won’t cost any extra. Some teams also have food deals like dollar hot dog nights.

3) Get there early.  Find a staff member to ask if there are any ways your kids can be involved. Some teams pick a kid to say “play ball”, announce a player, ride the Zamboni, or bring out the ball to start the game. Even if your kids don’t get to do any of those things, they can watch pre-game practice up close, or head to the area where players come on and off to get high fives.

4) Groupon and other similar websites can be your friend. Many of the local teams mentioned here run deals that can save you extra money.

*5) As mentioned above, Pogo Pass gets you into several games a year. Dallas Dads Group is an affiliate member of Pogo Pass.

For the past few seasons, our hometown WNBA team the New York Liberty have had “Dads and Daughters Day” during a game close to Father’s Day. My family has been to three now. Let me tell you, the Liberty know how to treat basketball fans of all ages. If you’re looking for a wonderful family-friendly professional sports experience, look no further than Madison Square Garden — home of the Liberty.

Before the game begins, as you head into the Garden, the team hosts kid-friendly events and contests in and around the arena. The team’s tickets are quite affordable with cheapest seats costing around $23. The price for those seats at a Knick game are substantially more, so not only are the tickets much more reasonably, there aren’t any bad seats at a Liberty game.

The team has a wonderful connection to the team history. At this game, Sue Wicks, one of the original members of the Liberty was doing a meet and greet during halftime.

Throughout the game, there is always family-friendly fun on the court during timeouts and halftime. Even the dancers are fun and alternate between a group of children, L’il Torches and a senior dance troop. And, there’s the ever present mascot, Maddie. At Sunday’s game, there were dad and daughter themed activities on the court, and even a Dad Cam that featured yours truly with my daughter!

Keeping with the “Dads and Daughters” theme, the Liberty granted my daughter and me access to their locker room to chat with players about the impact of their fathers.

Rookie Kiah Stokes mentioned her father taught her all she knows about basketball.

“My dad (former NBA player Greg Stokes) basically got me into basketball. I was terrible when I first started. I couldn’t even run and dribble at the same time,” she said. “He was always there if I wanted to do extra stuff. He’d rebound for me. He’d put me through workouts. When I had a bad game, he’d tell me you didn’t this or do this well. But, if I had a great game, he’d be so proud of me. I’d wouldn’t be where I am without him. That’s for sure.”

Fellow rookie Brittany Boyd said about her father, “I had a great relationship with my father. You know, we were just good. He’d play sports with me. I’d just want to hang out with him. He was a great father.”

Veteran Candice Wiggins shared the powerful story of her father, former MLB player Alan Wiggins, who passed away when she was age 4, the same age my daughter currently is as she pointed out to the eight-year vet. Although she did not know her dad well or have all that much time with her, in a way his absence still affected Wiggins powerfully. Wiggins has been a longtime champion in the fight to cure AIDS, which claimed her father’s life through her work with Until There’s a Cure.

Although they only host one “Dads and Daughters Day” per season, it is definitely worth heading to a Liberty game with your family. The players are not only fun to watch, they are also good, thoughtful role models for our children.

Thanks to the New York Liberty for hosting us at “Dads and Daughters Day” and letting us speak with members of the team.

My daughter and I entered the New York Liberty locker room as she clung close to my leg. My very exuberant and loud daughter was suddenly shy and quiet. Reporters gathered around the players as they sat in front of their lockers with ice packs on their knees.

“You do it,” begged my daughter.

“I can’t sweetie,” I reasoned. “This is your thing. You can do this. You’re brave and strong. You break boards with your fists. And besides, it would look pretty silly if I ask questions about being a little girl with big dreams.”

Smiling, my daughter nodded.

Minutes earlier, the crowd had been standing on their feet as the New York Liberty was locked in a battle with the Washington Mystics in an overtime game. The two teams took it to one another and traded baskets. The game ended with a Liberty win and Madison Square Garden erupted in cheers. I exhaled as I celebrated with those in attendance – not just for the win, but because I was afraid the Liberty locker room would not live up to my daughter’s expectations if they lost.

After the game, we headed to the locker room so my daughter could interview Tina Charles, who had a terrific double-digit night.

As we waited for the reporters to clear out, my daughter continued to cling tightly to my leg. An equipment manager noticed my daughter’s state and handed her a wrist band, which was quickly placed on her arm. I did my best to pump her up and get her ready.

Across the room, we saw Cappie Poindexter, one of my daughter’s favorite athletes, sitting in front of her locker. I asked my daughter if she wanted to meet Cappie and her head responded with a nervous “no.” “Come on,” I encouraged her as we walked over to Ms. Poindexter. Cappie was so kind and generous with my daughter and it helped my daughter loosen up a bit.

After we talked to Cappie, we began to walk over to Tina Charles for the interview. Suddenly my daughter stopped. “The pot holder!” she exclaimed. (My daughter had made a pot holder earlier in the day as a gift for the player she was going to interview.) I quickly dug it out of her purse and she handed it to Ms. Charles, thus marking the first time in sports history that an interviewer gifted a pot-holder to an athlete.

My daughter nervously flew through the questions and was too focused on her list to ask any follow-up questions, but she did a great job. I was so proud that she didn’t let her nerves keep her from doing something she’d been looking forward to for days.

During the interview, Ms. Charles said to my daughter, “You want to have positive people around you. To encourage you and motivate you to stay in what you love to do or whatever dream you may have. My parents dedicated their life to help me be all I can be in basketball.”

My dream is to be that positive person around my daughter. To encourage her and motivate her. To help her do what she loves and achieve her dreams. As her dad, that’s my role and one that I cherish.

After the interview, my daughter relaxed a bit and posed for a picture with another one of her favorite players, Anna Cruz. As we exited in the locker room, someone asked my daughter what she wanted to be when she grew up. Her response, a pot-holder maker. Looks like I need to make a run to the store and buy some more looms.

You can find the interview here – 8-Year-Old Girl Interviews WNBA Star Tina Charles

Watching sports with my daughter is different than watching sports with my son. I admit that it shouldn’t be, but it is.

With my son, we get caught up in the excitement of the game, root for our favorites and cheer at the opposing team’s failures. With my daughter, though, somehow I get caught up in giving her a history lesson on women’s sports and trying to convince her that she needs to work harder in every area of her life.

Why? Because the inequalities between the genders are glaring when viewed through the sports lens. Women’s sports continue to play second fiddle to men’s. And in everyday life, women earn 77 cents for every dollar that men make.

I don’t want my daughter to be on the sidelines cheering the men on, whether it be in business or sports. I want my daughter to be the one everyone hopes will hit the big shot. I want her to have the same opportunities that her two brothers have. I want her to be treated equally and paid equally.

I’m big fan of the WNBA for those reasons. I want the women’s game to be appreciated on the same level as the men’s. After a promising start, the league’s momentum slowed down. However, it seems that, talent-wise, the WNBA is rebounding these days and marketable personalities are also flourishing.

When I was invited to attend a “Dads and Daughters” day at a New York Liberty game, I said yes without even checking my calendar. I wanted to give my daughter the gift of seeing amazing athletes who were once little girls like her. My daughter quickly became fascinated with one of the players, Cappie Pondexter. The tattooed-covered scoring machine put on a show the day we went and my daughter couldn’t wait to learn to dribble like her new hero. (The reason she opted to dribble like a pro and not shoot like a pro is that my daughter is very petite and can’t quite hit the rim yet.)

I hope these WNBA athletes continue to inspire my daughter (and sons, too). I want her to persevere and break through glass ceilings, to avoid the temptation to stand by and let others receive all the opportunity and glory.

As if you need more incentives to watch the New York Liberty play, there is currently a “We Stand for Women ” sweepstakes running where fans can win NYC concert tickets and future Liberty tickets. The contest runs through August 17.

Disclaimer: I received tickets to attend the game with my daughter. Although I was given tickets, the ideas within this post about the We Stand for Women event are my own and I strongly stand by them.

Editor’s Note: This post has been cross-posted at City Dads Group.