The Dallas Cowboys took over Oxnard on Saturday, with a dazzling display of showmanship, cheerleading and speeches, to kick off the team’s annual training camp.
Opening ceremonies took place at River Ridge Playing Fields. Hundreds of cars lined up at the entrance on Ventura Road, some waiting hours to get in.
Owner and General Manager of the Dallas Cowboys Jerry Jones delivered the welcome speech.
Jones highlighted the adversity and hard work the team and DCC’s have gone through to get where they are today.
“What you get to see here, what you’re seeing when you see our cheerleaders, you’re seeing individuals that have worked and worked and worked,” Jones said to the crowd. “The story is you got to put it all out there and sometimes that’s not enough, so you have to put more.”
He noted that’s what training camp is all about.
Mayor of Oxnard, Luis McArthur, was present and he welcomed the Dallas Cowboys to the city.
McArthur announced the Dallas Cowboys organization is back for their second year as part of a five-year renewed contract in Oxnard.
“It’s just an absolute honor having the Cowboys here,” McArthur said. “With all this media coverage, Oxnard every single day is coming out of the mouths of so many reporters, so many people that are highlighting the Dallas Cowboys.”
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders opened the ceremony with a dance performance.
Cheers erupted everywhere for the women and only grew throughout the day when players took the field.
The mayor gave Jones a coveted medallion for how special he and the Dallas Cowboys are for boosting Oxnard’s economy of over $4 million.
In return, Jones gifted the City of Oxnard $25,000 on behalf of the Dallas Cowboys organization as a thank you for hosting the team.
After the opening ceremonies, open practice took place where fans had the chance to see drills and live scrimmages.
Player outlook
Dak Prescott: The team’s starting quarterback who finished third in the NFL passing yard rankings last year.
CeeDee Lamb: Prescott’s go-to wide receiver and a franchise favorite. Another player to look out for who is dominant on the field.
George Pickens: After playing with the Cowboys last season, the wide receiver quickly became a notable player. He signed a $27.3 million one-year contract with the organization this year before heading off to free agency next season.
Brandon Aubrey: The kicker for the team who is known for his numerous long field goal attempts. Aubrey finished fourth in NFL kicking rankings with 36 field goals made.
Caleb Downs: The Cowboys’ first-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft, making his NFL debut. Downs played for Ohio State, where he won a national championship.
The upcoming season
A new and improved defense was talked about frequently at the training camp.
Cornerback Cobie Durant signed with the Cowboys in March after playing for the Los Angeles Rams the past four years.
Durant spoke about how the team is preparing for this season.
“Take one game at a time and doing our 1/11 on the offensive side, defensive side and special teams,” Durant told the News-Press.
Players ended the day by engaging with fans. Many took photos and signed memorabilia before heading off the field.
The Dallas Cowboys will be in Oxnard until Aug. 18 and will head to Arizona for the team’s second preseason game against the Cardinals on Aug. 22.
