Drew Pearson’s Sports 88 is a sit-down sports bar and restaurant airside in Terminal E at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), near Gate E5. Priority Pass lists it as open 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily, and it is one of the few places at DFW where you can use your Priority Pass on a full meal instead of a lounge buffet. You need a same-day boarding pass to get in. If you’re connecting through DFW from Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Palm Beach, plan for at least 75 minutes between flights so the meal doesn’t make you late.
We checked these details against the Priority Pass listing, the 2018 opening coverage and third-party Priority Pass guides. Where a detail comes from only one source or may be out of date, we say so. Airport restaurants change hours, menus and partner terms with little notice, so check before you rely on any number here.
What Drew Pearson’s Sports 88 Is
Sports 88 opened in January 2018. It was run by Atlanta-based airport concessionaire Concessions International in a joint venture with local partners, as the airport’s restaurant program encourages. The concept is simple. It’s a full-service sports bar with TVs, Dallas Cowboys memorabilia, a bar, and a menu of burgers, sandwiches and Texas comfort food.
Why it’s called Sports 88
The “88” is the number Drew Pearson wore as a Cowboys wide receiver from 1973 to 1983. He wasn’t drafted out of the University of Tulsa, yet he became one of the best receivers of his era. He was named first-team All-Pro three times, won Super Bowl XII, and caught the 1975 playoff touchdown against Minnesota that made “Hail Mary” a football term. His career ended after a 1984 car crash that injured him and killed his brother. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021. That story is why No. 88 still matters in Dallas, and it explains the memorabilia on the walls. Opening coverage also mentioned Pearson-branded apparel for sale. Whether it’s still stocked is something to check on the spot.
Where Sports 88 Is in DFW Airport
The restaurant is past security in Terminal E, near Gate E5. You can’t visit it from the landside curb or baggage claim. You must be a ticketed passenger who has cleared TSA.
Getting there from another terminal
DFW’s terminals are all connected airside by Skylink, a free train that runs inside security, so you don’t have to clear TSA again. Trains run in both directions and come every few minutes. Even the longest ride between terminals takes about 10 minutes or less. Here’s a realistic plan if you land at Terminal A, B, C or D:
- Walk from your gate to the Skylink station: 3–10 minutes, depending on the gate.
- Wait for a train and ride to Terminal E: 5–12 minutes. Take whichever direction is shorter, because the stations are on a loop.
- Walk from the Terminal E station to Gate E5: a few minutes. Check the overhead signs, because the station isn’t at every gate.
So allow about 15–25 minutes each way if you’re coming from a different terminal and flying out of that terminal. That adds up quickly on a short layover.
Accessibility
Skylink stations have elevators, and the trains board level with the platform, so wheelchairs and strollers roll right on. DFW also offers wheelchair assistance through your airline, which you should request when you book. We couldn’t find published details on the restaurant’s own seating layout, such as how many tables are at wheelchair height or how much room there is between them. If that matters to you, ask the host when you arrive or call DFW customer service ahead of time.
Drew Pearson’s Sports 88 Hours, Prices, and Priority Pass
| Item | What we found | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Hours | 6:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. daily | From the Priority Pass listing only. Check before you go |
| Location | Terminal E, airside, near Gate E5 | Confirmed by Priority Pass and the airport directory |
| Priority Pass credit | About $28 per eligible person | From a 2024 third-party guide. Not verified |
| Sample prices | Famous Firestone Shrimp $12.99; Chicken Chop-Shop Salad $15.99 | From 2024. Likely higher now |
| Reservations | None found | Expect first-come, first-served |
Drew Pearson’s Sports 88 Priority Pass rules
The Priority Pass listing sets several conditions you should know before you go:
- Bring your physical or digital Priority Pass membership and a boarding pass for the same day. A card linked through a credit card benefit works the same way, but some newer card programs have changed what restaurant access they include. Check your app.
- Entry depends on seating. If the restaurant is full, staff can turn Priority Pass members away even when you have a valid card.
- No takeout on the credit. You have to eat in. That’s the restriction that catches most people.
- You pay anything over the credit, along with any items the program excludes. Tip on the full bill, not only the part you paid.
A $28 credit usually covers an entrée and a soft drink, or an appetizer and a beer. It won’t cover a full meal with two drinks. Before you order, ask your server what the current credit is. Staff know the number, and it changes more often than the websites get updated.
The Drew Pearson’s Sports 88 Menu and Vibe
We couldn’t find a current official menu online, so think of what follows as the menu’s general themes, not a promise of specific dishes. Past menus and reviews describe:
- Breakfast early in the day, which fits a 6 a.m. opening and the first wave of departures
- Burgers and sandwiches, including barbecue sandwiches
- Texas comfort food such as Frito Pie
- Salads and shrimp, including the Chicken Chop-Shop Salad and Famous Firestone Shrimp named in the 2024 guide
- A full bar with beer, cocktails and plenty of TVs showing games
The room is a classic sports bar with screens, framed Cowboys photos and a bar crowded with connecting passengers. Reviews are mixed, which is normal for airport restaurants. People like the service when it isn’t busy and complain about waits when it is. Diners who need gluten-free or vegetarian food should ask for substitutions. Salads and plain proteins are the safest choices, but we found no published allergen information.
Nearby Options in Terminal E
If Sports 88 is full, or Priority Pass entry is paused, you still have choices nearby. Terminal E has quick-service food, coffee and grab-and-go shops along the concourse, and a Delta Sky Club for members. Tenants change often, so use the dining map on the DFW website or app for the current list. Search by Terminal E and filter for food near low-numbered gates.
Here’s a practical fallback. Sign up for the wait if they’ll take your name, then get coffee nearby and come back. If your layover is short, eat at a quick-service spot near your departure gate. A $28 credit isn’t worth a sprint to make your flight.
Visitor Tips From Experienced DFW Connectors
- Look up your departure gate before you head over. Gate changes are common at DFW, and Sports 88 only makes sense if you’re departing from Terminal E or have a lot of time.
- Avoid the meal rushes. Late morning, around 10:30, and mid-afternoon, around 2:30–4:00, are usually quieter than the lunch peak and the evening departure bank.
- Check the Cowboys schedule. On game days and around Thanksgiving, when the Cowboys traditionally host a game, the bar fills with fans and seating limits come into play quickly.
- Arrive well before closing. If you get there at 7:40 p.m., the kitchen may not take your order even though the listing says 8:00 p.m.
- Close your check before boarding starts, not when your group is called. Paying the part not covered by the credit takes time when the place is busy.
South Florida service box: flying MIA, FLL or PBI to DFW
Availability: American Airlines runs many daily flights from MIA to DFW and also serves FLL and PBI. Most of those flights use Terminals A, B, C and D, not E. Other carriers’ gates differ, so check your boarding pass and the app.
Timing: The flight from South Florida takes about 3 hours, and a 45–60 minute connection doesn’t leave time for a sit-down meal. Allow 75 minutes or more if you’re leaving from Terminal E, or 2 hours or more if you have to ride Skylink both ways.
Rules: You need a same-day boarding pass and a valid Priority Pass, and the credit doesn’t cover takeout. Hours are listed as 6:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Flights that leave South Florida in the evening often arrive after the kitchen has closed.
Risk: Summer thunderstorms in both Florida and North Texas cause ground stops. If your first flight is delayed, skip the restaurant and head straight to your gate. A rebooking costs a lot more than the credit is worth.
Do you connect through other hubs too? Our guide to the Titans Press Box at Nashville’s BNA applies the same Florida-flyer approach to another airport sit-down restaurant. If you’ve been following DFW-area aviation news, read what we know about the American Airlines pilot who slammed the brakes to avoid an airport operations truck. You’ll find more airport and trip guides in our Travel section.
Bottom line: Drew Pearson’s Sports 88 is worth a stop if you’re leaving from Terminal E, have time, and carry a Priority Pass. The name has real Cowboys history behind it, the credit pays for most of a meal, and you sit down at a table instead of eating at your gate. Check the hours and credit in your Priority Pass app before you land, and make catching your flight the priority.
FAQs
Where is Drew Pearson’s Sports 88 in DFW airport, and is it before or after security?
It’s past security in Terminal E, near Gate E5. You need a same-day boarding pass to get to it. If you’re in another terminal, take the free Skylink train, which runs inside security, and allow about 15–25 minutes each way.
What are the hours for Drew Pearson’s Sports 88?
Priority Pass lists 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. That comes from one source and may change, especially on holidays. Check the Priority Pass app or the DFW dining directory on the day you travel, and arrive well before closing.
Does Drew Pearson’s Sports 88 accept Priority Pass, and how much is the credit?
Yes. It’s a Priority Pass restaurant partner. A 2024 third-party guide put the credit at about $28 per eligible person, but we couldn’t confirm the current amount, so ask your server. You pay anything over the credit.
Can you order takeout with Priority Pass at Sports 88?
No. Priority Pass terms say the credit is for dining in only. Entry also depends on available seats, so members can be turned away when the restaurant is full.
Who is Drew Pearson, and why is it called Sports 88?
Drew Pearson wore No. 88 as a Dallas Cowboys wide receiver from 1973 to 1983. He wasn’t drafted out of Tulsa, became a three-time first-team All-Pro, won Super Bowl XII, and caught the famous 1975 ‘Hail Mary’ touchdown. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
Who owns Drew Pearson’s Sports 88?
It opened in January 2018 as a joint venture led by airport concessionaire Concessions International with local partners, and it carries Drew Pearson’s name and branding.
