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Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 is a night forever etched into the history of Denton, TX and North Texas Mean Green football.

Everything perfectly coordinated to manufacture a gathering like DATCU Stadium had never seen before. North Texas cleared its first five opponents, highlighted by a 59-10 thrashing of Washington State, to claim its first 5-0 start since 1959. Next on the home slate was none other than No. 24 South Florida, which already pummeled Boise State and knocked off Florida at The Swamp to piece together an impressive résumé. Best of all, it was a nationally televised Friday night game on ESPN2, serving as a standalone college football spectacle for the first two hours after kickoff.

American Conference title stakes were on the line, and everybody associated with both schools knew it, especially given North Texas’ friendly schedule to conclude the year, devoid of perennial powers like Memphis and Tulane. In anticipation of the high-stakes showdown, North Texas president Harrison Keller canceled classes after 12 p.m. to provide students, faculty, and staff ample time to gear up for the main event.

The atmosphere drew a North Texas record 31,386 spectators in the first sellout in stadium history. The picture painted underneath the October Denton sky was one only North Texas fans could dream of. Even with backed up I-35 traffic, the stands were nearly packed to capacity at the 6:30 p.m. kickoff time, with everybody in attendance receiving the memo to adhere to a “blackout” — mirroring the color of the Mean Green’s alternate uniforms. By the second quarter, you couldn’t locate an empty seat in the house, and there were even black shirts occupying the top corners of the “eagle wings” behind the north end zone — typically the most vacant area of the venue.

“I definitely enjoyed it because this is my fifth year here and I’ve never even seen it that close to getting packed,” North Texas center Gabe Blair said. “That was awesome to see that many people here.”

North Texas embraced the energy and South Florida needed to adjust to it. The Bulls committed three turnovers in the first quarter alone, and the Mean Green capitalized by never trailing in the first half. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker made several pro-level throws in the early goings of the contest, and each of the Mean Green’s first three touchdowns were met by vociferous crowd pops, unlike anything ever heard at DATCU Stadium.

“I thought the crowd played a huge part in it early, hearing the roars after the fumble and the interception,” North Texas head coach Eric Morris said. “The energy running out was true college football homefield advantage. It was incredible.”

It was an all-out party. The crowd embraced the call-and-response chants of “North” and “Texas,” with the “North” side of the stadium amplifying in volume with each iteration, trying to outdo the “Texas” half. Sheck Wes’ 2018 smash hit Mo Bamba was also sung in unison by the record crowd, vibrating the bleachers like an XBOX controller when you’re playing a road game on EA Sports College Football 26. The pyrotechnics specialists repeatedly launched green fireworks from pregame to the start of the third quarter in a display that would make local downtown Fourth of July shows jealous.

Everything was perfect. Until it wasn’t.

Despite a homefield advantage many longtime Denton residents never imagined would occur, North Texas couldn’t meet the moment. The Mean Green spectacularly collapsed in a 5-minute stretch spanning from the last minute of the first half to the first four minutes of the third quarter. In that timeframe, South Florida concocted a 28-0 run and snatched three takeaways to ultimately put the game away. By the time the third quarter concluded, there were more bleachers visible than black t-shirts. North Texas lost, 63-36, taking the first blemish on its 2025 résumé.

“I’ll beat myself up for a long time over this one because it was such a great opportunity for our fans, our program, our university on national TV,” Morris said. “We had a stretch there to capture the momentum at the end of the first half, and we did just the opposite.”

South Florida brushed off the record atmosphere in Denton. The Bulls already played the role of spoiler in front of 89,909 at Florida in Week 2, silencing The Swamp with a game-winning field goal at the buzzer — citing that experience as a reason they thrived in Denton.

“Going on the road hasn’t really phased us at all,” strong safety Fred Gaskin said. “We always go to the same mentality. We actually feed off the crowd, all the loud noise, all the extra-ness that we got from Miami and Florida. We already know what to expect going into another team’s homefield.”

South Florida was eager to play the role of spoiler as outside linebacker Mac Harris paraded around postgame with a whiteboard, with the words “Should’ve went to class” scribbled on it, referring to North Texas’ decision to cancel classes in anticipation of the game.

Meanwhile, head coach Alex Golesh acknowledged how important of a moment Friday was for Morris’ program, while also suggesting such an electrifying environment should become the standard for conference matchups in the American.

“I thought it was cool. That’s the way it should be,” Golesh said. “It’s October. It’s two really good football teams. It’s in the conference. It should be loud. I know that’s why I give Eric (Morris) so much credit with his ability to get so much excitement going up until this moment about football here. It’s awesome for him, but I did tell our guys last night the reason it’s a sellout is because the Bulls were in town.”

For many North Texas students, that was their first football game. And the busiest show in town became a desolate desert by the fourth quarter. It’s only one loss and the Mean Green are very much alive in a crowded conference championship picture. But it begs the question, can North Texas manufacture such a moment again?

Athletic director Jared Mosley penned a letter to Mean Green Nation, requesting to replicate the Oct. 10 environment when UTSA travels to Denton on Oct. 18.

“While Friday night was incredible, the sellout isn’t a one-time deal,” Mosley wrote. “It’s the new standard for Mean Green Football, and we will continue to work diligently to provide as many opportunities as possible for all fans to join us on game days at DATCU Stadium! … So let’s run it back Mean Green Nation! Your energy will fuel our team as we fight towards victory and a 6-1 record next Saturday afternoon.”

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Even the Texas Legislature dubbed Denton the "Halloween Capital of Texas" this year.

DENTON, Texas — When October rolls in, Denton doesn’t just decorate — it transforms.

Following the smashing success of its inaugural fall spectacle, the city is once again embracing the spirit of All Hallows’ Month with its "31 Days of Denton Halloween," a full-month festival of chills, thrills, and community cheer.

From October 1 through October 31, Denton is hosting several hundred events across the city, building on the momentum of last year’s debut and pushing the envelope for immersive seasonal storytelling.

One of 2025’s headliners is a 5,000-square-foot maze installed in front of the Denton Civic Center. Themed as a laboratory of a mad scientist, participants can twist through rooms, flip switches, and even interact with a control console.

Gary Packan, Parks and Recreation Director for the city of Denton, said local artists were the masterminds behind the new event.

"Chuck Crosswhite, a local artist and performer, and Dan Black, also an artist, is who helped build the mad scientist console that the mad scientist controls," Packan said. "It's so important to us and very much 'Denton' to have our local artists be able contribute in such a creative way. It's amazing."

Many of last year’s beloved attractions are back — the Scary Chairy Orchard, pop-up cemeteries, decorated photo installations, skeleton-themed scavenger hunts, and the “haunted hotlines” that whisper spooky messages through decorated phone booths.

Dustin Sternbeck is the Chief Communications Officer for the City of Denton. He said everyone "commits to the bit," even City Manager Sara Hensley — recording a spooky message for people to hear when they dial a special phone number.

"There’s really a lot of hands on activities that really touch the spirit of Halloween," Sternbeck said.

Denton’s leap into month-long Halloween programming has paid dividends — not just for fun, but for identity and economics. Last year’s event drew an estimated 660,000 visitors from all 50 U.S. states.

That success helped fuel a move to claim the mantle of “Halloween Capital of Texas”, a designation formally adopted this year in the Texas Legislature.

Denton officials emphasize that the economic benefits extend beyond decorations and costumes: food, lodging, retail, and nighttime entertainment all see a boost. The festival also reinforces Denton’s reputation as a city of creativity, local engagement, and oddball flair.

"For Denton Halloween 2025, we have over 300 events," Sternbeck said. "And the really neat thing about that is only a few require tickets. Most all of it is free."

All month long, with no single day off, the calendar features a little something for everyone: art walks, craft workshops, bar crawl nights, storytelling events, music, and themed movie screenings. Events are kid-friendly and adult-friendly — though some parts are scarier, many events are family-appropriate. Local restaurants, bars, and shops are joining the theme with special menus, décor, and promotions.

To find a spooky spectacle you're interested in, a full schedule can be found on Denton Halloween's website.

The Craver Ranch development could bring over 9,000 new homes and more than 1 million square feet of commercial space to the city of Denton.

Denton City Council members continued discussion of the 2,500-acre master-planned development at an Oct. 21 work session.

The specifics

The project, developed by Old Prosper Partners, is located on the 2,870-acre area south of Lake Ray Roberts that was annexed into the city in 2008 and 2009, according to city documents.

The development will include:

The project would be built over 17 years, with construction expected from 2028 through 2045, according to city documents.

The impact

Development Services' interim Director Charlie Rosendahl said the assessed value of the development at buildout would be just over $5 million. He said Craver Ranch would generate approximately $38 million in net revenue to the city over 40 years.

Council member Brandon McGee said he was excited about the amount of townhomes included in the plan for the community.

“That’s what affordability is today,” he said.

In addition, Old Prosper Partners is giving the city a $3 million funding contribution toward affordable housing initiatives.

Also of note

The proposed development is part of a municipal management district, or MMD, a separate political subdivision from the city that can collect property taxes or assessments from property owners within the district, per city documents.

However, the Craver Ranch MMD will not collect property taxes and will only charge assessments, to fund infrastructure within the community like roads and parks.

Denton City Council approved a resolution supporting the legislation for the creation of a MMD in March.

Looking ahead

Rosendahl said there will be a zoning, comprehensive plan and mobility plan hearing at the planning and zoning commission meeting Nov. 19. The Craver Ranch development will come back before city council at the Dec. 2 meeting, he said.

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With this addition, the historic venue will join a short list of Texas theaters offering 70-millimeter projection.

DENTON, Texas — The historic Fine Arts Theatre in Denton is currently undergoing a major revitalization, and it was announced today that the theater will be offering both 70-millimeter and 35-millimeter film screenings upon reopening.

Showings of 70-millimeter films are a rarity nowadays, with only about a dozen theaters across Texas equipped to show the format. Both 70-millimeter and 35-millimeter screenings can offer a unique visual experience due to the film grain aesthetic, with a wider dynamic range compared to films projected digitally.

“Having both 35MM and 70MM in Denton is going to be a big deal for the cinephiles in the area, as we will be one of the very few places in Texas where you can see films in that format,” said Jason Reimer, creative director and co-owner of Aviation Cinemas, which operates both the Texas Theatre and the Fine Arts Theatre in Denton.

This development comes, Reimer said, after seeing a massive shift in the moviegoing demographic to young cinephiles who wish to see prints of classic movies on real film, or 4K restorations.

"While we still pepper in new studio releases for our customer base, the repertory is a vital aspect of our strategy," Reimer said. "Sure, you can watch many of these movies at home but there’s no bragging rights in that. All of this and a premier live event space shows the full potential of these art houses on a community and gives a home to countless events.”

The Fine Arts Theatre will also offer Digital Cinema Package (DCP) projection, the digital equivalent of 35-millimeter film.

Renovations of the theater began last February after the Denton City Council allotted $1.6 million towards its renovation. The project will cost about $10 million in total to reopen the theater, which has been vacant since 1982.

“The renovation of the Fine Arts Theatre is much more than a cultural project for Denton.” said Denton Assistant City Manager Christine Taylor, who helped with the plan. “By restoring this historic landmark, it not only represents public and private investment in our local arts scene but also provides a critical, additional tourism draw that will generate new activity and revenue in the heart of our city. This revitalized space will also be an important resource for our younger demographic, offering hands-on opportunities and a professional venue that helps attract and retain creative talent emerging from our local universities, ensuring the next generation of artists stays right here in Denton.”

The Fine Arts Theatre will join its sister cinema, the Texas Theatre in Oak Cliff, in regular screenings on both 35-millimeter and DCP projections, as well as 70-millimeter projection. The restored space is expected to open in the summer of 2026.