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Arts & Entertainment

Team spirit: NFL Draft Experience outside of AT&T Stadium is built for every fan

The National Football League Draft is in D-FW this year, and it's appropriately Texas-sized.

It will be at a football arena for the first time, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The draft has become a pep rally for the teams as they select players. And what's a pep rally without as many fans as you can, ahem, draft?

Enter the 2018 NFL Draft Experience, touted as the "largest free football festival in league history." It will take up three of the parking lots on the East side of the stadium, an area the size of "26 football field," according to the NFL.

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The usual events are on the schedule: autograph signings with NFL and Dallas Cowboys legends; photo opportunities; and memorabilia.

But there is so much more to go and do, so here are some highlights.

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Think of it as a pre-game show. (Here's your first tip: Register for a Fan Mobile Pass to get access to games and other attractions.)

Eat, drink ...

It wouldn't be a proper Texas event without a lot of food.

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Options at the NFL Draft Experience Tailgate include stadium food from Legends Hospitality, of course; the company stocks the concession stands at AT&T Stadium.

But this is your chance to try food from eateries all over the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including Torchy's Tacos; Roots Chicken Shak in Plano; Off the Bone Barbeque in Dallas; and Fort Worth's Woodshed Smokehouse.

The Bud Light Ice House will offer spots to chill out with a beverage and Ascension Coffee will help you energize to conquer even more turf.

Don't stuff yourself, though. There's still a lot to do.

And be merry

Where there are fans, there's trouble. Vintage Trouble.

The rhythm and blues band, which opened for Lenny Kravitz at American Airlines Center during the College Football Playoff National Championship weekend in 2015, will take the stage as part of the festival.

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Music will kick off Friday, April 27, at 5 p.m. with trumpeter-singer-songwriter-eclectic dresser Spencer Ludwig. (You may know his catchy song "Diggy" better than you know him; it was featured in an almost-invasive Target commercial.) Pittsburgh rock band The Commonheart will play at 7 and punk band White Reaper will play at 9.

On Saturday, Austin R&B-soul singer Tameca Jones will play at 3. Vintage Trouble will cap off the performances at 5.

Work it out

Agile and mobile? Head to the games area where you can go through paces just like an athlete vying for a chance to go pro. You'll need a Fan Mobile pass for the "Combine Corner," where you can measure your speed with a 40-yard dash or get on up with your vertical jump. No word on whether there will be any scouts in attendance.

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For the kids

The NFL PLay 60 Zone sounds like kids' football heaven. From trying on NFL equipment to running an obstacle course, children can work off some energy or just enjoy the show.

There's also a free daily football clinic for ages 6-17, on April 26-27 from noon to 9 p.m. and April 28 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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But wait, there's more

1. Take a photo with one of the five championship trophies that belong to the Dallas Cowboys.

2.  The NFL Museum has bronze busts of this list of legendary names: Jerry Jones; Michael Irvin; Troy Aikman; Tom Landry; Deion Sanders; Emmitt Smith; Roger Staubach; and Tony Dorsett. Enough said.

3. This! "Step inside a uniformed body-cast mold bearing the insignia of your favorite NFL team and have a friend snap your photo."

The NFL Draft Experience will be April 26 and April 27 from noon to 10 p.m. and April 28 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. outside of AT&T Stadium, 1 At&T Way, Arlington. Admission is free, but registration is suggested. https://2018nfldraft.fishsoftware.com/prereg/

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