Dallas Cowboys New Stadium
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This article or section is about a planned or proposed stadium. It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change dramatically as the construction and/or completion of the stadium approaches. |
Dallas Cowboys New Stadium | |
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Artist Rendition. | |
Location | Arlington, Texas |
Broke ground | September 20, 2005 |
Opened | Fall 2009 (scheduled) |
Owner | Jerry Jones |
Construction cost | $1 billion (estimated) |
Architect | HKS, Inc. |
Tenants | Dallas Cowboys (NFL) (2009-) Big 12 Championship Game (NCAA Football) (2009-2010) Cotton Bowl (NCAA Football) (2010-) Super Bowl XLV (NFL) (2011) |
Capacity | 80,000 - will be expandable up to 100,000 (estimated) |
Dallas Cowboys New Stadium is the working title of a new stadium being built in Arlington, Texas for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. It will replace Texas Stadium, which opened in 1971, as the Cowboys’ home. It is scheduled to open before the 2009 NFL season and will accommodate 80,000, with the possibility for expansion to 100,000. New Cowboys Stadium was designed by the Dallas-based architectural firm HKS.[1] Besides the Cowboys, the new stadium will be used by college football teams and other organizations for other sporting and non-sporting events. On March 10, 2008, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, joined by officials and coaches from Texas A&M University and the University of Arkansas, announced that the two schools would renew their rivalry with annual games at the stadium, beginning October 3, 2009.[2] In addition, the AT&T Cotton Bowl will move its annual game to the stadium once it opens.[3]
Originally estimated to cost $650 million, the stadium's current construction cost is in excess of $1 billion, which will make it one of the most expensive sports venues ever built.[4] To aid Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones in paying the construction costs of the new stadium, Arlington voters approved the increase of the city's sales tax by one-half of a percent, the hotel occupancy tax by 2 percent, and car rental tax by 5 percent. The City of Arlington will provide $325 million in funding, and 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.[5]
Although the stadium has yet to receive a naming rights sponsor, in reference to Jones, many fans have taken to referring to the project as "Jerry World".[6] There is also a petition by some fans to have the stadium named after longtime Cowboys coach Tom Landry.
Two nearly 300 ft (91 m)-tall archs will span the length of the stadium dome, anchored to the ground at each end. The new stadium will also comprise features including a retractable roof, protecting from weather conditions, operable glass doors, allowing each end zone to be opened, and a centre-hung video display board. This system was implemented by mechanization consultants, Uni-Systems. These Kinetic Architecture fundamentals will be employed in order to create a quick conversion of the facility to accommodate a variety of events. When the design was officially unveiled on December 12, 2006, it showed that the roof would look exactly the same as Texas Stadium's roof, with its trademark hole. However, it would be covered by the retractable roof panel should there be precipitation or if the heat conditions become unbearable.
A Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame is planned for the 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. Until it opens, the Cowboys will continue to play in Texas Stadium.
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.[7]
[edit] 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 acres (8 km²) Lakes of Arlington tract on Farm Road 157. Other cities in the running include Grapevine and Grand Prairie. In October, 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. Demolition of houses begins November 1.
2006:
Jan - The Cowboys hire Oklahoma-based Manhattan Construction as the general contractor for the stadium and the city completes its land purchases, although it still faces a number of lawsuits over land acquisition. Also in January, Tarrant County work crews begin demolition of more than 150 Arlington residences and small business structures to make room for the stadium.[8]
Mar - Alliance announced between Manahattan Construction and two minority-owned general contractors -- Rayco Construction of Grand Prairie and 3i Construction of Dallas -- to manage the stadium's construction.[9]
Apr - Excavation begins by Mario Sinacola and Sons Excavating. By August, they had moved over 1.4 million cubic yards of earth, shaping a 13 acre to 14 acre stadium bowl an average of 54 feet (16 m) deep.[10]
Aug - Two construction cranes are raised on the site.
Oct - The grass amphitheater on Randol Mill Road is leveled to make way for the extension of Baird Farm Road.
Dec - The stadium's structure begins to go up. Also on December 12, the Cowboys and Jerry Jones unveil in-depth plans and designs of the stadium to the public.
2007:
Jan - A construction worker is injured in a 20 ft (6 m) fall.[11]
Feb - Masonry work begins.
Mar - Heldenfels Enterprises awarded the contract to manufacture and erect the pre-cast/pre-stressed concrete structural components and placement of them begins in April.[12]
Jun - Work on the retractable roof, designed by Uni-Systems, starts.
Jul - Exterior facade and enclosure work will begin.
Oct - First steel arch is completed.
2008:
Feb - Second steel arch is completed.
Work on the parking lots will begin in March. The steel roof will be in place and completed by June. Installation of the scoreboard and sound system will begin in September. Later in the year, the seats will be installed and landscaping will begin.
2009: The artificial-turf field will be brought into the stadium. The stadium is scheduled to be completed in August, and the Cowboys will play their first home game there in September.
On October 3, the Texas A&M Aggies and Arkansas Razorbacks will begin a 10-year series of games at the stadium, as was announced on March 10, 2008.[13]
2010: On January 1, the AT&T Cotton Bowl will be played at the new stadium, as was announced on February 27, 2007.[14]
2011: On February 6, Super Bowl XLV will be played at the new stadium, as was announced on May 22, 2007.[15]
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ Arlington Welcomes Dallas Cowboys Selections for New Stadium. City of Arlington (2006-01-31). Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
- ^ Texas A&M, Arkansas to renew football rivalry at new Cowboys stadium. Dallas Morning News (2007-03-10). Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
- ^ Cotton Bowl to move to new stadium in Arlington. ESPN.com (2007-02-28). Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
- ^ Mickey Spagnola (2006-12-12). Cowboys Build For The Future By Honoring The Past. DallasCowboys.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
- ^ Cowboys unveil plans for new stadium. ESPN.com (2006-12-13). Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
- ^ Matt Mosley (2007-05-22). Indy, Arizona had no chance. ESPN.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
- ^ Mickey Spagnola (2007-05-22). At Long Last, Super Bowl Coming To North Texas. DallasCowboys.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
- ^ Demolition Started for Cowboys Stadium. Associated Construction Publications.
- ^ Alliance Announced. Associated Construction Publications.
- ^ All Up From Here. Associated Construction Publications.
- ^ Construction worker remains hospitalized. the Dallas Morning News.
- ^ Heldenfels Awarded Contract. Associated Construction Publications.
- ^ Texas A&M, Arkansas to renew football rivalry at new Cowboys stadium. Dallas Morning News (2007-03-10). Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
- ^ "AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic Moving To Cowboys New Stadium", 2007-02-27. Retrieved on 2007-05-23.
- ^ "New stadium gets Dallas 2011 Super Bowl", NFL.com, 2007-05-22. Retrieved on 2007-05-23.
[edit] External links
- Official Website of the New Stadium
- Stadiums of the NFL
- Fort Worth Star Telegram
- Construction updates
- Website of GloryPark
- City of Arlington Cowboys Complex Project Information
- Video of stadium being built, by Rare Footage Films
- Aerial map of stadium under construction
Preceded by Texas Stadium |
Home of the Dallas Cowboys 2009 – future |
Succeeded by Future |
Preceded by Arrowhead Stadium |
Host of the Big 12 Championship Game 2009 – 2010 |
Succeeded by Future |
Preceded by Cotton Bowl Stadium |
Home of the Cotton Bowl 2010 – future |
Succeeded by Future |
Preceded by Dolphin Stadium |
Host of Super Bowl XLV 2011 |
Succeeded by Stadium TBA |
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Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (I, VII) · Miami Orange Bowl (II, III, V, X, XIII) · Tulane Stadium (IV, VI, IX) · Rice Stadium (VIII) · Rose Bowl (XI, XIV, XVII, XXI, XXVII) · Louisiana Superdome (XII, XV, XX, XXIV, XXXI, XXXVI) · Pontiac Silverdome (XVI) · Tampa Stadium (XVIII, XXV) · Stanford Stadium (XIX) · Qualcomm Stadium (XXII, XXXII, XXXVII) · Dolphin Stadium (XXIII, XXIX, XXXIII, XLI, XLIV) · Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (XXVI) · Georgia Dome (XXVIII, XXXIV) · Sun Devil Stadium (XXX) · Raymond James Stadium (XXXV, XLIII) · Reliant Stadium (XXXVIII) · Jacksonville Municipal Stadium (XXXIX) · Ford Field (XL) · University of Phoenix Stadium (XLII) · Dallas Cowboys New Stadium (XLV) |
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Trans World Dome (1996,1998) • Alamodome (1997,1999,2007) • Arrowhead Stadium (2000,2003,2004,2006,2008) • Texas Stadium (2001) • Reliant Stadium (2002,2005) • Dallas Cowboys New Stadium (2009,2010) |