COWBOYS
Oxnard, California: More than just the Dallas Cowboys training camp
The Cowboys have held their training camp in Oxnard since the early 2000s and it’s since become a tradition, but Oxnard has a lot more to offer as well.
Texas summers are brutal, and July and August are usually the worst of the intense heat. For the Dallas Cowboys, though, that’s not a problem, as they set off to Oxnard, California for their training camp, same as they’ve done for years now.
The Cowboys have been coming to train in Ventura County since the 1970s, when they practiced at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. They moved to Oxnard in the early 2000s and have been coming there ever since. The Cowboys fanbase is Southern California has grown quite a lot over the years, since Los Angeles didn’t have a team for many years.
Dallas is one of the few NFL teams that still allows fans at training camp practices - for free - and allows videos. Sometimes up to 10,000 fans show up to watch their favorite players practice and even stick around for photos and autographs.
But there’s so much more to the city of Oxnard than just the Dallas Cowboys training camp. So if you’re there to see the Cowboys, don’t miss some of the other things Oxnard has to offer. Here’s a little bit more about the city that’s become home to the Cowboys each summer.
Oxnard, California: A seaside oasis rich in agriculture, art, and sport
Oxnard, California is just 60 miles west of Los Angeles and boasts beautiful beaches, dunes, and an oceanfront resort. The area has a rich history of farming and is a major transportation hub in Southern California.
The lavish agriculture on the Oxnard Plain includes strawberries, lima beans, and other vegetable crops. In fact, Oxnard is known as the strawberry capital of the world, producing about 44% of the strawberries in the state and 85% of the strawberries in the U.S.
The city is also abundant in art and culture. In the center of the city, you’ll find the Carnegie Art Museum with contemporary California art, located inside of the Oxnard Public Library, built in 1907. Oxnard is also home to the Chandler Vintage Museum of Transportation and Wildlife, the Murphy Auto Museum, and the Channel Islands Maritime Museum. In late July, the city hosts its annual Salsa Festival, which includes the food and music/dance! There is a salsa tasting tent, local bands, and a large dance floor.
Heritage Square sits in downtown Oxnard, where you’ll find restored Victorian homes once owned by ranching families in Oxnard. There, you’ll also see the Petit Playhouse, the Elite Theatre Company, the Oxnard Performing Arts Convention Center, and the historic farm park, Gottfried Maulhardt/Albert Pfeiler Farm.
Oxnard also offers three large beaches along the Pacific Coast and two smaller beaches along the inlet of Channel Islands Harbor. Silver Strand Beach is a perfect destination for surfers and kayakers, Hollywood Beach is great for a picnic, and Oxnard/Mandalay Beach features grassy hills, dunes, and bike trails.
The Cowboys began this year’s training camp on July 24 and will hold their last practice in Oxnard on August 21 before heading home to Texas to finish out training camp and host the last of their three preseason games against the Los Angeles Chargers. The team’s contract with the city of Oxnard runs through 2024 with an option for a 2025 extension. As it’s become a tradition for the Cowboys, it’s likely they’ll continue it as long as possible.