Who has traveled to Oxnard for Training Camp

[Wood]

I am considering making the trip this year. Looking for some feedback from others who have made this trip. I read that temps are usually in mid 70's. Would you go back? Thanks

 

[SHAMSzy]

I've been there three times but I'm an hour away..

It is pretty awesome.. Bunch of Cowboys fans and you get to watch them get coached up pretty close up. Get a first hand view of all the players, I enjoyed it every time I have gone.

 

[Wood]

I've been there three times but I'm an hour away..

It is pretty awesome.. Bunch of Cowboys fans and you get to watch them get coached up pretty close up. Get a first hand view of all the players, I enjoyed it every time I have gone.

do you pay extra for VIP area or everyone just huddles along fence?

 

[Romonater]

I am from Austin, TX. The wife and I made the drive about 2 years ago. The weather and atmosphere is absolutely awesome! I enjoyed it immensely. We are heading back there this summer again.

 

[SHAMSzy]

do you pay extra for VIP area or everyone just huddles along fence?

Was behind the fence for free. It's really close.. Never felt like I was far away from the action. I went during the 8-8 years I'm sure it'll be way too packed this year as more bandwagon fans will probably show up.

 

[Meat-O-Rama]

I've been a couple of times, but I live in the LA area. I personally would not make a trip from out of town specifically for training camp as it's not all that exciting. But if you're going to be in the area any way, then yeah it's worth a stop.

 

[Tabascocat]

It is a heck of a lot better than going to see them in San Antonio

There is numerous activities to do in the LA area while you are there, don't just go see camp but explore Southern Cali.

 

[DandyDon1722]

I'm also in LA also and go multiple times every year and it's awesome. Where do I even start.

First, while the rest of the country is sweltering it will be low to mid 70's and perfect...every single day. It's so nice your body doesn't even trust it.

If you've never been I think you will find it extremely exciting.

Everything, from the pace of practice to the various drills, to the player's reactions to things is phenomenal. You're so close you'll hear players and coaches cursing, there will be some scraps and If you get a day where they hit (they don't everyday) from where you are on the fence you will get a tremendous appreciation of the speed and violence of the game. Whenever I'm on my couch on a Sunday night screaming during a Giants game I will catch myself and think back about how hard the game of football really is.

You will also get a new appreciation for both Romo and Dez. The catches Dez makes are unbelievable and the battles he has with Scandrick are awesome. When you are 20 yards away from Romo at eye level and he's dropping back to pass with the line coming, you will simply wonder how the hell he sees what he sees and how he can be so accurate..

The crowds are great, fans are from everywhere and very friendly. The parking lot will have some amazing cars decorated with Cowboy gear. Most of the players sign after practice. Jerry comes over to the fence and talks to the fans. In fact, the whole camp is a mini Jerry World with concessions and things to do for the kids. Also they have a big trailer that has a lot of the new gear along with all the jerseys. You will see Mickey walking around, Nick Eatman, Norm does his radio show from there - it's just all Cowboys all the time.

Spend the afternoon, there's a Chili's a couple miles away where you can grab dinner and have happy hour and I have seen players in there (Oxnard's not that big).

Wood - You have to go and that night do everybody a favor and post your experience. I do and everybody here is very appreciative.

 

[Prancer]

I made the trip 2 years ago, I had a great time. I had to pay a little extra to get next to the field, but you know Jerry has to get his.
The local fans were there just because they could. I traveled from New Mexico, and knew why they had just picked up Alex Tanney, and knew the team was trying out a new DT or DE. So I was able to tell Marinelli to get us the best player, and when the backup QB was walking off the field and everybody else was trying to figure out who he was, I was able to call him over by name to get his autograph because of this website. I recommend having a roster sorted by number, because they won't have their names on their practice jerseys.

 

[Wood]

DandyDon I appreciate the info. I will be flying in from NJ. I will be bringing my wife but little concerned she could be bored. I run my own business and we had good year so this is my treat. Its been dream for long time to actually see live cowboys training camp. The weather sounds amazing at Oxnard. How many days do you think is enough? Is it close to coast that we can just cruise around?

 

[JBell]

Get there super early so that you can watch right along the fence. Otherwise you'll be stuck behind crowds trying to watch over people's shoulders, which isn't an issue if you're 6'5", but a problem for regular sized people like myself.

The players are literally feet away from you, and many of them stay after to sign autographs if you're into UDFA's and 2nd stringers vandalizing your gear. A few years back some scrub O-lineman ruined my navy Romo jersey. That's the last time I give a sharpie to a UDFA.

 

[TheDude]

DandyDon I appreciate the info. I will be flying in from NJ. I will be bringing my wife but little concerned she could be bored. I run my own business and we had good year so this is my treat. Its been dream for long time to actually see live cowboys training camp. The weather sounds amazing at Oxnard. How many days do you think is enough? Is it close to coast that we can just cruise around?

I live 35 minutes away.

Very close to the coast. Santa Barbara is 45 minutes away - spas, beach, etc. Ojai has some retreats. Can spend a day in Malibu Santa Monica and maybe get to Beverly hills. Some awesome tucked away places in the mountains around there also

PM me and I'll give you some local info

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

i live 45 minutes away. I think its okay but i wouldn't make a cross country trip for it. Go to a game instead. Ill usually drive out to 2-3 practices and I've had enough. Don't like the huge crowds much.

 

[Tabascocat]

Get there super early so that you can watch right along the fence. Otherwise you'll be stuck behind crowds trying to watch over people's shoulders, which isn't an issue if you're 6'5", but a problem for regular sized people like myself.

The players are literally feet away from you, and many of them stay after to sign autographs if you're into UDFA's and 2nd stringers vandalizing your gear. A few years back some scrub O-lineman ruined my navy Romo jersey. That's the last time I give a sharpie to a UDFA.

It does get crowded but don't follow the lemmings if you get there late. Just walk around the right side to the other side of the field..........not many walk over there.

I like it better on the opposite side because you get to see a lot more individual drills, and Dez loves it over there, as well as Witten.

 

[mugsybows]

do you pay extra for VIP area or everyone just huddles along fence?

It's worth it to pay $20 bucks and get the true blue fan club membership. They allow you in to access the field first before everyone, but still with that in mind there are a lot of people allowed to do this so you even gotta be early for that. As soon as the gates open to the camp run as fast as you can to the field wait area at the very right hand side. Then a line will start there for people who are members of the true blue fan club. My suggestion is if your gonna go go an hour Early. As far as the players and practice when I've gone they always practice for the most part on the far field away from most of the fans. I went the hard knocks year and they hammed it up for the cameras and big time players signed a couple autographs, I got romo and wittens. I've went many times since then and when practice is over most of the time all the players just go straight to the locker room and if someone does sign autographs it's usually players who aren't going to make the team. But it varies for everyone. Some days many players sign and then other days none sign. It's a fun experience though. It's like a Cowboys carnival. Plus you're surrounded by your newest friends all repping the Cowboys. I like Oxnard too. Go to experience it but don't get your hopes up meeting any of the big name players or actually being right up front for big time action.

 

[mugsybows]

DandyDon I appreciate the info. I will be flying in from NJ. I will be bringing my wife but little concerned she could be bored. I run my own business and we had good year so this is my treat. Its been dream for long time to actually see live cowboys training camp. The weather sounds amazing at Oxnard. How many days do you think is enough? Is it close to coast that we can just cruise around?

She could b bored, there is a lot of waiting. Just make sure after it's over to take her to a nice restaurant or explore Oxnard or like Mclovin said explore the surrounding area. Go to a beach. The weather is beautiful but since you're waiting a lot and standing in the sun it will get very hot and you will get burnt if you aren't prepared. I'd say 2-3 days is good. The first day your usually just getting used to the lay of the land of it. But then once you get that done you'll figure out a routine. After the second or third day you get the jest of it in my opinion.

 

[Idgit]

It's good. In addition to the camp itself, they have a trailer with Cowboys memorabilia. They have inflatable climbing walls and such for the little fans. They'll normally have former Cowboys doing signings--though that's not going on all the time. If you're making a trip of it, I'd go the week of the SD game and hop down the road to see that, too. There's also an SF game this year, but that's six hours north, so you'd want to hop a flight if you did that.

As mugs said, TrueBlue is the way to go. Bring a copy of the training camp roster with you because you'll spend time trying to figure out which guy who won't be on the roster in two weeks is wearing which number. Bring eggs or something to throw at Broaddus in his Gilligan hat or at Tiny Jim. You get a CowboysZone bumper sticker if you hit one of them and have photo or video proof. Can't take food in because they prefer to have their way with you at the concessions inside, but parking is free or very inexpensive if I'm remembering right. All in all, it's a great experience to be around nothing but other Cowboys fans and get up-close access to the team.

 

[BARRYRAY]

Well I still have my memories from Austin, it was about 102, there were crispied babies , British folks passing out with no hats , water, or sunscreen.The funniest thing that happened is my friend was leaving and this guy had a Tom Landry autographed picture--sure it was real , he was in about a 1960 truck.The picture looked a little less than authentic ,anyway we got on the shuttle and my friend winked at me and said hey I got Roger Staubach( he scribled it out on the program) and I said yea I got Don Meredith, anyway you had to be there this little kid behind us threw a fit punching his dad saying why didn't we get any of those, where were they,etc..Anyway it is a distant memory.I love the Cowboys with all my heart but traiing camp is boring.All the wrs and qbs look all world no safeties or other blitzers coming at them.It truly is a different game at ground level once they snap the ball it is like a pile of ants swarming, wonder how the qb ever sees anything.for what it is worth went to an Oilers practice and Warren Moon threw the prettiest passes dead on the money than anyone I ever saw.They put in the second string guy and the ball was high or low every time, one more memory here, Jimmy would have the biggest guy line up against the littlest guy one on one I guess it was to build toughness--of course the biggest guy pounded the little cb or whoever it was.Never saw the point of that.My love of the Cowboys began when my father in law was diagnosed with cancer.The team was awful that year it went 0-18 or something like that, the year after they go Troy Aikman.The point is I watched every game with my best friend int he world.I told him I would keep the faith and I have.We had the same birthday..Anyway thanks for letting an old man ramble.I wish I could go one more time with him boring or not.Enjoy the journey life is so short.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

I have been a few times over the years an it is a great place training camp. Weather is "nearly perfect" and although It was much easier and cheaper for me to attend training camps in San Antonio......it is much better for the fans in Oxnard.

Food is great also........and I can visit my daughter in LA.........she works at SpaceX.

Go Cowboys.

 

[jzcowboy]

It does get crowded but don't follow the lemmings if you get there late. Just walk around the right side to the other side of the field..........not many walk over there.

I like it better on the opposite side because you get to see a lot more individual drills, and Dez loves it over there, as well as Witten.

Agreed. The defense is on this side, db blocking sleds and other stuff, all just a few feet away from me. I also liked sitting top row bleachers in the end zone. Great view there.