The newest episode of the “Arlington Archives” dives into the long and colorful history of sports in Arlington, tracing the city’s athletic roots from early horse racing and high school football glory to the rise of UTA athletics and the arrival of major professional teams.
Veteran broadcaster and Arlington native John Nelson joins host O.K. Carter to help unpack the city’s defining sports moments, legendary players and the evolution that made Arlington one of Texas’ most notable sports hubs. Nelson is the author of “The Thundering Herd,” a book detailing Arlington High School’s 1951 state football championship.
“When it comes to sports in Arlington, you’re the guy to know,” Carter noted about Nelson’s deep knowledge makes him one of the city’s most respected voices on Arlington athletics.
During the episode titled, “Homegrown History: Arlington Sports Through the Years,” Nelson recounted the Colts’ 7‑0 victory over Waco La Vega led by running back Rusty Gunn, a game still remembered as one of the city’s defining sports moments. Nelson and Carter also explore other major chapters in Arlington’s sports timeline, including early horse racing at Arlington Downs, the development of Meadowbrook Golf Course where Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson once offered free lessons, and the rise of UTA athletics before the university ended its football program in 1985.
The conversation covers professional sports as well, beginning with the Dallas‑Fort Worth Spurs who played at Turnpike Stadium before the Texas Rangers arrived in 1972. Nelson explains how the Rangers’ relocation from Washington, D.C., helped shape Arlington’s identity as a sports hub and how Arlington Stadium, the Ballpark in Arlington and later Globe Life Field continued that legacy. The episode also outlines the Dallas Cowboys’ move to Arlington in 2009 following voter approval for a new stadium.
“The importance can’t be underestimated of the impact the facility has had to the city, to the community, to the state maybe to the nation Nelson said. “It’s hosted World Cup matches, a Super Bowl, college football championships, NBA All-Star Game and Texas high school football championship games. Just a myriad of events.”
Produced in celebration of Arlington’s sesquicentennial in 2026, the series features voices from historians, city leaders and longtime residents. Future episodes will further explore Arlington’s history, spotlighting milestones and anniversaries in the city’s storied past.
The episode is now available on all major podcast platforms and the City’s social media channels including Facebook and YouTube.