Grand-slam opportunity

Meet a Texas Rangers legend at CultureMap Dallas' Tailgate event

Shake hands with former Rangers superstar Rafael Palmeiro at The Tailgate.

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

CultureMap is making final preparations for The Tailgate presented by Verizon, our all-out celebration of Dallas sports and the fans who cheer for them. Taking place at The Empire Room on December 9, it will be an evening of food and fun that combines the best parts of tailgating with the cool vibe readers have come to expect of a CultureMap event.

Attendees who treat themselves to VIP tickets will get a variety of perks, including early access to the event, a dedicated VIP bar, and valet parking. As a special bonus, they'll also get a personal meet-and-greet with former Texas Rangers star and baseball legend Rafael Palmeiro.

Palmeiro played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball, including two separate stints with the Rangers, from 1989-1993 and from 1999-2003. One of only seven players in MLB history to amass 3,000 hits and 500 home runs in his career, Palmeiro was one of the most feared hitters of his era. In addition to the Rangers, he also played for the Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles.

Fun fact: A decade after the end of his Major League career, Palmeiro briefly ended his retirement in 2015 at the age of 50 to appear in a single game for the Sugar Land Skeeters (of the independent Atlantic League), going 2-for-4 with one walk and one RBI. In 2018, at age 53, he suited up in 31 games for the Cleburne Railroaders (of the American Association), earning six home runs and 21 RBI.

Palmeiro lives in Colleyville with his wife, Lynne, and has two adult children: Patrick and Preston, both of whom have played professional baseball at the minor league level.

Attendees of The Tailgate will enjoy a range of experiences showcasing local sports and local food. Some of Dallas' hottest restaurants will be serving game day-inspired bites, including Anaya's Seafood, Cenzo’s Pizza & Deli, McRae's American Bistro & Cocktails, Le Rêve Gelato & Pâtisserie, Postino, Snuffer's, Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse, and more.

Don't forget to vote for your favorite wings in our bracket-style Ultimate Wing Showdown; the winner will be announced at the event.

The Tailgate will also shine a spotlight on local sports organizations, including the 2023 World Series champs Texas Rangers, who will be raffling off an autographed baseball to fans. The Frisco RoughRiders' mascot, Bull Moose, will be on hand for fun giveaways. And Former FC Dallas soccer star Kenny Cooper will kick it with fans in a meet-and-greet.

Attendees can expect more revelry, games, and prizes courtesy of our event sponsors and local vendors, including Verizon, HOWDY, EIGHT Beer, and more.

Verizon and CultureMap are even giving away a VIP trip for two to Super Bowl LIX*. More details on how to enter here for a chance to win. To get into the spirit, Verizon and their Super Bowl bus will host a special appearance from a surprise celebrity athlete at Tailgate. (Who will it be??? Such suspense!)

Read more about the event here, and keep up on all Tailgate-related in our special editorial series of stories leading up to the event.

Tickets for The Tailgate are $75 for VIP and $50 for general admission. For a limited time, we’re giving you $15 off all tickets; use discount code RAFAEL at checkout. Get your tickets now.

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The Tailgate is presented by Verizon and sponsored by HOWDY, EIGHT Beer, and more to be announced.

*The NFL Entities shall have no liability or responsibility for any claim arising in connection with participation in this sweepstakes or any prize awarded. The NFL Entities have not offered or sponsored this sweepstakes in any way.

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Celebrities Galore

'80s hit Young Guns rides again with rare cast reunion at Fan Expo Dallas

Charlie Sheen, Dermot Mulroney, Kiefer Sutherland, Emilio Estevez, Casey Siemaszko, and Lou Diamond Phillips in Young Guns.

Photo courtesy of Fan Expo Dallas

Young Guns stars Charlie Sheen, Dermot Mulroney, Kiefer Sutherland, Emilio Estevez, Casey Siemaszko, and Lou Diamond Phillips wil reunite at the 2026 Fan Expo Dallas.

Events like Fan Expo Dallas are all about nostalgia, and those who grew up in the '80s will get a big dose of it when the stars of the 1988 film Young Guns come together for a reunion.

Fans will have the rare opportunity to see Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, Lou Diamond Phillips, Dermot Mulroney, and Casey Siemaszko together for one of the most complete Young Guns cast reunions ever assembled.

"Released in 1988, Young Guns transformed the traditional Western into a fast-paced, stylish action adventure for a new audience," a release says. "Anchored by a charismatic cast of rising stars, the film reimagined the legend of Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County Regulators with humor, swagger, and youthful energy."

The annual Fan Expo Dallas will take place at Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, September 11-13.

Most of the cast - which includes Terry O'Quinn, who will also participate in a Lost reunion - will be at the event on Saturday and Sunday, while Sheen is only scheduled to appear on Saturday.

"This is exactly the kind of once-in-a-lifetime moment Fan Expo Dallas was created to deliver," said Andrew Moyes, Vice President of Fan Expo HQ, in a statement. "Young Guns wasn't just a movie - it was lightning in a bottle. It captured the rebellious spirit of a generation and turned a group of young actors into icons. To reunite this many members of the cast nearly four decades later is extraordinary, and we know fans will travel from across the country to experience it."

Fan Expo Dallas always attracts many big-name actors and filmmakers, and the 2026 edition is shaping up to be one of the most star-studded yet.

It will also include reunions of casts of The Lord of the Rings (Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, Karl Urban, John Rhys-Davies, David Wenham, and John Noble), The Goonies (Astin, Corey Feldman, Joe Pantoliano, Kerri Green, Martha Plimpton, and Robert Davi), Lost (Monaghan, O'Quinn, Emilie de Ravin, Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, and Henry Ian Cusick), and Starship Troopers (Denise Richards, Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer, Michael Ironside, and Jake Busey).

Other stars appearing at the event will include Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Mathew Lewis (Harry Potter films), director Sam Raimi, Alec Baldwin, Dolph Lundgren, many cast members of The Boys, and more.

Attendees will have opportunities for autographs and professional photo opportunities with most of the celebrities. Tickets and special experiences, starting at $33, are now on sale at FanExpoHQ.com.

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