History
History and Timeline of New Cowboy Stadium
Although there has been a fan-based movement to have the stadium named after longtime Cowboys coach Tom Landry, Cowboy Stadium is the current name of a new stadium in Arlington, Texas and the current home of the Dallas Cowboys.
This new Cowboy stadium replaces Texas Stadium, which opened in 1971. The new Cowboy Stadium has opened and its first event was a George Strait concert.
The new Cowboys Stadium was designed by the Dallas-based architectural firm HKS. In addition to the Cowboys, it is possible the new stadium will be used by college football teams and other organizations for other sporting and non-sporting events.
Originally estimated to cost $650 million, the cost of constructing the Cowboys new stadium is currently estimated to be in excess of $1 billion dollars, which will make it one of the most expensive sports venues ever built. The City Arlington is paying for a portion of the new stadium through an one-half cent increase of the city's sales tax, a two (2) percent in the City's hotel occupancy tax by 2 percent, and a five (5) percent increase in the Arlington's car rental tax.
According to the terms of the deal with the City of Arlington, the City will provide $325 million in funding, and Jerry Jones will cover any cost overruns. Also, the NFL will provide the Cowboys with an additional $150 million, as per their policy for giving teams a certain lump sum of money for stadium finance.
The Cowboys new home will be spectacular. A nearly 300-foot tall arch will span the length of the stadium dome. The stadium also will have a retractable roof and doors will allow each end zone to be opened.
A Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame is planned for the appropriately named Hall of Fame level. The drawings also include a site for a large sculpture northeast of the stadium, close to Randol Mill Road.
Excavation work at the stadium site began in May 2006 near Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. This stadium will host Super Bowl XLV in 2011, beating out bids from the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Timeline
1994: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says he wants to expand the 65,000-seat Texas Stadium by up to 40,000 seats, add retractable roof panels and install a climate-control system to make the stadium a year-round venue for sporting events, including the Super Bowl, concerts, and conventions.
1997 - 2000: The Cowboys hold preliminary talks with Arlington officials about building a stadium there. The team also publicly discusses a $260 million plan to upgrade Texas Stadium. In 2000, the Cowboys compile a list of potential stadium sites, which include Grapevine, Coppell and Arlington. The team continues negotiating with Irving to renovate Texas Stadium.
2001: Jones says Arlington is a leading contender for a $500 million stadium. The primary site being considered is the 2,000-acre Lakes of Arlington tract on Farm Road 157. Other cities in the running include Grapevine and Grand Prairie. In October 2001, Jones discusses the new stadium with the mayors of Arlington, Irving, Grapevine, and Dallas.
2003: The Cowboys ask the Irving City Council to extend their lease at Texas Stadium, which expires at the end of the 2008 season, on a year-to-year basis. They narrow their search to sites in Las Colinas and Dallas, and state legislators file bills that would allow Dallas County to increase its hotel-occupancy and car-rental taxes to pay for a new stadium.
2004: In April, the Cowboys announce plans to build a $650 million stadium at Fair Park in Dallas. The deal requires $425 million in public financing from a 3 percent hotel-occupancy tax and a 6 percent car-rental tax.
The deal falls apart in June when Dallas County commissioners say they cannot justify asking voters to approve the team's request for $425 million in public funding.
In July, the Cowboys and Arlington announce they are negotiating to locate the stadium near Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (then Ameriquest Field).
In August, the City Council agrees unanimously to put before voters a tax increase that would fund the city's $325 million portion of the project.
Voters approve the tax increase on November 2, 2005
Arlington and the Cowboys choose the site south of Randol Mill Road and east of Collins Street for the new stadium. The city begins notifying residents and property owners of its plans to acquire their property. The Cowboys hire the HKS architectural firm to design the stadium. Early blueprints show 414 luxury suites and a two-panel retractable roof. The city completes its sale of $297.9 million in bonds to pay for its portion of the construction.
2006:
By August, more than 1.4 million cubic yards of earth has been moved, shaping a 13 acre to 14 acre stadium bowl an average of 54 feet deep .
In December, the stadium progress is such that the structure begins to go up.
On December 12, the Cowboys unveil in-depth plans and designs of the stadium to the public.
2007:
In February the masonry work begins.
2008: First steel arch is completed and a majority of the structual components of the project are set to be completed.
2009: The artificial-turf field is installed.
On June 6, 2009, George Strait appears in concert as the first event at the new stadium. The Cowboys will play their first home game there in September.
2011: On February 6, Super Bowl XLV will be played at the new stadium, as was announced on May 22, 2007.