Texas to Welcome Super Bowl XLV in February

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- What better backdrop for football's biggest game than the world's largest domed stadium, in the state where everything is bigger?  On February 6, 2011, the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington will make history by hosting Super Bowl XLV, marking the first Super Bowl in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex and the third Super Bowl held in Texas.  The stadium will seat more than 90,000, serving as the largest venue to host a Super Bowl since 1993. This event presents a valuable opportunity for visitors to experience the Lone Star State, and to enjoy all the experiences Texas has to offer beyond the stadium.

Sixteen events hosted by several North Texas cities will surround the 45th Super Bowl, including the NFL Experience at the Dallas Convention Center on January 27-30 and February 2-6. On February 5, the Taste of the NFL will take place at the Fort Worth Convention Center, and the NFC Fan Party will be held in Dallas' historic Fair Park. Fort Worth's Sundance Square will serve as ESPN's production headquarters. For the schedule of events, please visit http://www.northtexassuperbowl.com.

"The Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex is a vibrant melting pot of nightlife, cuisine, shopping, culture and family fun, and we encourage visiting sports fans to spend a few extra days exploring," said Julie Chase, Tourism Director for the Governor's Office of Economic Development and Tourism.

Part of the Prairies and Lakes Region, the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex is a popular Texas destination. Located between Dallas and Fort Worth, Arlington is also home to the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, the International Bowling Museum, Six Flags over Texas and Hurricane Harbor. The region stretches north and south through charming small towns, as well as natural attractions such as freshwater lakes, forests, and authentic dinosaur tracks.

A sophisticated city with superb nightlife and restaurants, Dallas welcomes visitors to shop and dine at NorthPark Center and the Galleria, to explore the Dallas Arboretum, bustling Uptown area, historic West End Entertainment District, Dallas Museum of Art or Nasher Sculpture Center, and experience the multi-venue AT&T Performing Arts Center with four state-of-the-art facilities featuring music, opera, theatre and dance. Fort Worth, the "City of Cowboys and Culture," is home to some of the country's best museums, in addition to Bass Performing Arts Center, the annual Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo (January 14 through February 5), the world's largest honky tonk (Billy Bob's Texas) and world's only twice daily cattle drive in the Stockyards National Historic District.

Visitors to Plano enjoy museums, shopping, historic landmarks, and the famous Southfork Ranch of "Dallas" fame. Grapevine is easily accessible by the Tarantula Train from the Fort Worth Stockyards, and features wineries, parks, the Grapevine Opry, shopping at Grapevine Mills and downtown, and more. Denton is known for its lively music scene and is considered Texas' horse country. Centrally located in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, Irving is home to numerous hotels, golf courses, and the Mustangs of Las Colinas, the largest equestrian sculpture in the world.

The Prairies and Lakes Region is only one of Texas' seven diverse regions, each of which offers dramatic landscapes, storied history, and opportunities for exploration and adventure. This includes outdoor adventure in the Big Bend Region and live music, art and cuisine in the Hill Country, the 624-mile Texas Gulf Coast, world-renowned birding in the Rio Grande Valley and lush national forests in the Piney Woods. In Texas, there truly is something for everyone.

For more information about travel experiences in Texas, please visit http://www.traveltex.com and find us on Twitter (@texastourism) and on Facebook.

About Tourism in Texas

Tourism is one of the largest industries in Texas, supporting 525,700 jobs across the state.  In 2009, travelers spent an estimated $51.8 billion in Texas.  Travel expenditures generated $2.7 billion in state taxes and $943 million in local taxes.  For more information on Texas travel events and vacation destinations, visit TravelTex.com or for a free Travel Guide call 1-800-8888-TEX.

SOURCE Texas Tourism