Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.84
Amon G. Carter Stadium 2850 Stadium Dr Fort Worth, TX 76129
Year Opened: 1930
Capacity: 45,000
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
They have been playing the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas, at historic Amon G. Carter Stadium on the campus of Texas Christian University (TCU) since 2003. Formerly the Fort Worth Bowl, the game has featured numerous title sponsors and conference affiliations through the years, before settling on the current iteration.
Since 2020, the game is now a contest between teams from the SEC and American Athletic Conference, and is sponsored by defense and aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Martin. The 2024 rendition of the game pitted the Oklahoma Sooners, who were making their debut in the game, against the Navy Midshipmen in their third appearance in Fort Worth.
The game, held at one of the most historic stadiums in Texas, if not the country, has been a great boon to the city of Fort Worth, and has annually become one of the better bowl games on the calendar, both because of its matchups and also its cause. Celebrating the entirety of the nation’s military forces, spirits are always high at the contest no matter who wins.
Food & Beverage 4
The concession stands and kiosks at Amon G. Carter Stadium have pretty much everything you could want to consume at a football game – there are burgers, hot dogs, nachos, popcorn (both the regular and kettle varieties), pretzels, etc.
If you are looking for something beyond the norm, you can find chopped barbecue sandwiches, funnel cake, pizza by the slice, beef and chicken fajita tacos, and chicken tenders courtesy of local favorite Chicken Express. There are also specialty flavored popsicles, thanks to Frios Gourmet Pops, and ice cream by Dippin’ Dots.
For drinks you can purchase fountain soda (regular, or large in a souvenir TCU cup), bottled water, and sports drinks, and beer at almost every stand. Specialty beer kiosks are also sprinkled throughout the main concourse.
Atmosphere 4
Bowl games bring their own unique atmosphere to the contests; they often pit foes with no real history against one another, so there is no real sense of rivalry between the two. This animosity is often the driving force of the atmosphere in college games.
However, the Armed Forces Bowl, as mentioned, honors America’s armed forces (as implied by the name) and that elicits a whole host of emotions. Patriotism is front and center from the outset, with a flyover and giant flag spanning the field while the National Anthem is played. Halftime sees a new crop of recruits taking their oath of enlistment at the 50-yard line, while service members can be found all through the stands, dressed in their finest. It’s not the Army-Navy Game, but it does make you proud to be an American, especially when one of the service academies is one of the participants.
The bowl also has two merchandise tents available for fans to get gear from the game and/or branded swag from each participating team. There is also a memorabilia auction table where you can bid on signed jerseys from some of each program’s all-time great players – little things like this make the game feel even bigger.
Neighborhood 4
Fort Worth is almost an anti-Dallas – though Fort Worth is in close proximity to Big D, Forth Worth doesn’t carry with it much of the flash and flair associated with Dallas. Fort Worth still maintains the big city size and amenities of its sister city, though.
If you’re coming in for the game, the main point of interest in Fort Worth proper is the Fort Worth Stockyards. An experience in and of itself, the Stockyards have attractions like museums and honky tonks, as well as rodeos and restaurants – it is a living time capsule to Cow Town’s wild and wooly days. If you go, you have to stay for the cattle drive that happens twice a day. The stockyards are less than a 20-minute drive from Amon G. Carter Stadium. Quite honestly, this is going to be your best bet for attractions, eating, and lodging if you’re attending the Armed Forces Bowl.
Amon G. Carter Stadium, and TCU by extension, are in an interesting part of the city. The school and its athletics facilities are smack-dab in the middle of a residential neighborhood, and the streets that lead into and out of the area – complete with TCU purple signage – are all lined with homes.
So with that in mind, you’re going to have to do a little driving to get to anywhere to eat or stay when attending this bowl. The nearest dining option is Enchiladas Ole’, a Tex-Mex spot that has been a local favorite for years. As its name implies, enchiladas are on the menu, along with fajitas, tacos, margaritas, and more. In addition, just across the Trinity River is Woodshed Smokehouse, a legit barbecue spot where you can sample classic Texas brisket, ribs, and sausage.
For lodging, unless you’re investing in a vacation rental, you’re not going to find anything within walking distance of Amon G. Carter Stadium. However, there are quite a few options that aren’t too long of a car ride away, including Hyatt Place Fort Worth/TCU and The Rosen House Inn. As always, your budget is your only limit.
Fans 4
The 2024 rendition of the Armed Forces Bowl pitted the Oklahoma Sooners against the Navy Midshipmen. With Fort Worth being just under a three-hour drive from the Sooner State, it was anticipated to have a pretty good crowd; it turned out to be a sellout game with the stands awash in crimson and cream.
This gave what could have been a fairly benign game against two teams that had only played each other once way back in 1965 some much-needed energy. The (decidedly pro-OU) crowd was into the game the entire time, even when the outcome became well in-hand for the Mids.
The 2024 game was one of the few recorded sellouts – and it ended up having the largest attendance in the game’s history – that have happened, but it always helps to have a) someone in close proximity to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and b) a service academy.
Access 3
Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth is about a half hour drive from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. If you’re coming in from out of town, this is going to be your best bet to fly in. Driving to the stadium, the exit for TCU is clearly marked off Interstate 20, but you will be driving through a neighborhood to get there, as mentioned earlier.
Once on site, there are no fewer than 15 official parking lots for the stadium, which should offer you a good variety of options to choose from. I would recommend purchasing parking ahead of time, as lots do tend to fill up. During the Horned Frogs season, some homes in the neighborhood do rent out their driveways and parking areas for games, but I did not see much of any of that for the bowl game.
My one caveat is that these neighborhood streets were not designed to accommodate traffic and they do bottleneck pretty badly the closer you get to the stadium. I would use caution and give yourself plenty of time to get to the game during your visit.
Return on Investment 4
Prior to the game, I found tickets for the Armed Forces Bowl on several after-market sites for around $50 each. This seems like a pretty good bargain for the caliber of teams that you’re going to get in this game each year. The SEC is a conference full of big brand college football teams, and there are several teams on the rise in the AAC.
Parking varies wildly, but the most affordable I was able to find was $25 at a satellite lot near the campus. Concessions were still at their TCU pricing, so that’s not too bad. You can get a nice Chicken Express combo meal for around $10. I’ve seen costs way higher at other bowls, so this is not too bad of a bargain for fans.
Extras 4
Both teams almost brought their full assortment of game day pageantry with them, including their mascots and cheer and dance squads. Oklahoma brought the full compliment of The Pride of Oklahoma Band with them to the game, and they performed the halftime show. Navy brought the equivalent of their pep band, and they performed from the stands during the game.
The Armed Forces Bowl brought their own mascot, Freedom, to the game. The staff also went out of their way to make sure the breaks in the action were filled with patriotic events, such as honoring the wives of service members, playing the song of each branch of the military, and recognizing veterans in the stadium.
It truly felt like the bowl game was bigger than what it was, and that is a good thing.
Final Thoughts
I personally love all bowl games, and I knew I was going to enjoy myself at my first visit to the Armed Forces Bowl, no matter what, but this exceeded even my expectations. Amon G. Carter Stadium is in my top five favorite college stadiums in the country. I love its architecture and its history, and I even love how it was plopped down in the middle of a neighborhood.
The game was great, which on paper it should not have been, but that’s the quirk of bowl season. The bowl organizers did a great job of presenting themselves and what they stood for. The Armed Forces Bowl will more than likely never equal the importance of those selected by the College Football Playoffs, but I think fans will enjoy it nonetheless. Add this one to your bucket list.
Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477.
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