Dallas Cowboys kick-off 7th year of football practice in Oxnard
America’s team is back in Oxnard. The Dallas Cowboys arrived in Oxnard on Tuesday but began practice Thursday.
There is a different look this time around due to some big names missing from the team and new development around the facility.
The Dallas Cowboys will practice at the River Ridge Football complex for the seventh straight summer. The team makes the trip to get out of the heat and humidity in Dallas to train for the upcoming season.
“We did our conditions test yesterday and I think after two sprints in Dallas I would already be dying,” said Conner Williams, a rookie for the Cowboys. “It was a breeze out here.”
A new season means, working out the kinks with the new players, and getting used to former players not being there.
“I think people are expecting less from us just because there are a lot of younger guys and there is no Dez Bryant or Jason Witten,” said Cole Beasley, the Cowboys wide receiver.
“I am excited about the mix of guys we have,” Jason Garrett, Cowboys head coach. “We are going to try to find the best blend of all of them to try to be as effective as we can offensively.
For the next three weeks while the Cowboys train fans will get to see an NFL team up close and personal. Good for the fans, and good for the cash registers.
“We actually have two more years left in this contract and the Cowboys can simply exercise those two-year options,” said Jesus Nava, the assistant Oxnard City Manager.
The Dallas Cowboys mean a lot to local businesses, especially hotels, and restaurants. Last year fans spent an estimated 3.2 million dollars making the trip to see a practice. But the City of Oxnard also spends a lot to host to Cowboys.
“Our goal is to break even, and by that, I mean to cover our expenses,” said Nava. “The remainder of the money we make available to the community. We have our high school booster’s who provide concessions here. Last year we gave our high school boosters approximately $15,000 in total, we also have contributions that go to police explorers, and a verity of different organizations.”
For the first time ever homes now surround the practice field. That won’t change how the Cowboys practice, or how the city markets the facility to other groups.
“We consider this to be an excellent facility for not only the NFL but also other professional sports and our plan is to actively market the facility and to see if we can get other types of sports team to come in here,” said Nava.
The Dallas Cowboys will train in Oxnard until August 17, 2018.
Here is a full list of the practice dates and times:
Wednesday, July 25, 2018, No Practice Dallas Cowboys arrive in Oxnard, CA Thursday, July 26, 2018 Practice 4:00 PM Friday, July 27, 2018 Practice 4:00 PM Saturday, July 28, 2018, Opening Ceremonies 3:00 PM, Practice at 4:00 PM Sunday, July 29, 2018 Practice 4:00 PM Monday, July 30, 2018, No Practice Tuesday, July 31, 2018 – Military Appreciation Day Practice 4:00 PM Wednesday, August 1, 2018 – Military Appreciation Day Practice 4:00 PM Thursday, August 2, 2018 Practice 4:00 PM Friday, August 3, 2018, No Practice Saturday, August 4, 2018 Practice 4:00 PM Sunday, August 5, 2018 Practice 4:00 PM Monday, August 6, 2018 – Military Appreciation Day Practice 4:00 PM Tuesday, August 7, 2018 Practice 10:30 AM Wednesday, August 8, 2018, No Practice Travel to San Francisco Thursday, August 9, 2018, No Practice Pre-season game vs. San Francisco 49er’s Friday, August 10, 2018, No Practice Saturday, August 11, 2018 Practice 4:00 PM Sunday, August 12, 2018 Practice 4:00 PM Monday, August 13, 2018 – First Responders Day Practice 4:00 PM Tuesday, August 14, 2018, No Practice Wednesday, August 15, 2018 Practice 4:00 PM Thursday, August 16, 2018 Practice 10:30 AM Friday, August 17, 2018, No Practice Break Camp
