Choctaw Stadium is getting ready for a fall full of Friday-night football, with 10 high school games scheduled at the former Texas Rangers home in Arlington. The 2026 lineup starts Aug. 28 and gives Arlington ISD programs a big-league backdrop without making fans wait for a playoff run.
The lineup announced Monday features at least one Arlington ISD team in every game, with five matchups entirely inside the district. The first is North Mesquite at Arlington Sam Houston on Aug. 28, and the stadium has hosted nearly 80 Texas high school football games since 2020, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Sam Houston And Bowie Carry The 2026 Slate
After the opener, South Grand Prairie visits Bowie on Sept. 4, Haltom visits Bowie on Sept. 11, Arlington visits Sam Houston on Sept. 18, and Granbury visits Bowie on Sept. 25. Martin then visits Sam Houston on Oct. 8, followed by Lamar on Oct. 16, Arlington at Bowie on Oct. 23, Aledo at Sam Houston on Oct. 30, and Bowie at Sam Houston on Nov. 5, according to the published schedule.
That makes Sam Houston the busiest Choctaw tenant, with six appearances, while Bowie is scheduled for five games. The other five matchups bring in North Mesquite, South Grand Prairie, Haltom, Granbury and Aledo.
For fans already circling dates, Arlington ISD says 2026-27 varsity football season packages went on sale Monday, Aug. 3, with Sam Houston and Bowie packages listed at $35 before convenience fees. The district lists presale admission at $8 for adults and $5 for non-Arlington ISD students, with general admission at the gate set at $10, according to Arlington ISD.
The Former Rangers Ballpark Keeps Finding New Uses
Choctaw Stadium, formerly Globe Life Park, was the Texas Rangers’ home from 1994 through 2019 before becoming a multipurpose venue in Arlington’s entertainment district. The Arlington Sports Commission lists the stadium’s capacity at 40,000 and notes that it now hosts soccer, concerts, community events and football.
The Oct. 30 meeting with Aledo adds some serious Texas football pedigree to the schedule. Aledo has won 12 UIL football state championships, a total documented in the UIL’s all-time records.
For Arlington families, the appeal is straightforward: a full season of nearby games, familiar rivalries and a stadium that still feels much bigger than a normal Friday night. By the time the final Bowie-Sam Houston matchup arrives in November, Choctaw Stadium will have hosted another sizable chapter of North Texas high school football.
