Dallas Sports Blog

​Don't really get U2 so I'm not live on the scene in Arlington, but one of my faithful Sportatorium readers sends word (and the above photo) from Cowboys Stadium that U2's monstrosity of a stage wouldn't exactly fit under JumboJerry so it had to be, um, moved to one of the end zones.

Is the thing too big for its own good?

UPDATE: I'm now hearing from folks who spent a pretty penny for tickets and primo views on the 50 who are, shall I say, a tad pissed that the stage was moved. Uh-oh.

UPDATE II: Tony Romo and Jason Witten are in the house.

Somehow seven years ago I didn't forsee 5-star bars equipped with back-lit chandeliers and littered with HDTVs.

​Back in 2002 when I was at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram we first started getting wind that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was toying with the idea of building a new stadium.

"Gather some ideas, solicit some fan feedback and let your imagination run wild," my editor told me at the time. "Let's give readers a picture of what a stadium might look like in the future."

Fun. But fictional.

So how did my vision compare with Jones' reality? Well, I nailed the city (Arlington) - by the way, this is a good read if you've forgotten why the Cowboys aren't in Dallas - got greedy on the price ($2 billion) and the HDTV (200 feet), and whiffed on the name (Tom Landry Stadium).

See for yourself.

Patrick Michels

Everything's bigger on the Cowboys' new video board. Even Andy Reid.

​The day Jerry Jones introduced the world to his huge new TV screen, gamers wondered what it'd be like to plug in their PlayStation and have a game 90 feet above the Cowboys Stadium field.

Well, wonder no more. While the stadium opened up to season ticket holders for Saturday's open house, Sony and EA hosted 250 lucky gamers in a Madden NFL 2010 tournament (new additions to this year's game, due out next week, include better graphics and a more easily pissed-off Wade Phillips). A few who stuck around also had the chance to go head-to-head with Rocket Ismail.

More details on the event are over at Unfair Park, but you can check out our photos from the tournament in this slideshow.

While watching this tour of Cowboys Stadium, keep reminding yourself that Tashard Choice is third string. Third.

The video, shot after a recent OTA, includes cameos by Marion Barber III, Roy Williams, Jerry Jones and the Jonas Brothers. And it's hosted by the chattiest of Cowboys, who apparently owns a lot of dawgs, man's and boy's on the team.

"Dat's my boy!"

I told you last week Choice was the mouthiest player at minicamp. Have I reminded you that he's third string?

 

Patrick Michels

The Cowboys unveiled their humongous new home in Arlington this week, with owner Jerry Jones delivering a keynote address about how the $1.15 billion stadium is a sign for struggling Americans that times will get better.

Not sure how much of that stadium cost was invested in pyrotechnics, skydivers or marching bands, but Wednesday afternoon had plenty of all of that.

The stadium has already attracted George Strait and Super Bowls and Big 12 football games and NBA All-Star Games and ...

In Dallas we have Trinity River projects (maybe), convention center hotels (why?) and a $50 million renovated Cotton Bowl (hosting only Michael Irvin's reality show).

Call it a push?

Jerry Jones invited his friends in the media out to the Cowboys' new digs in Arlington yesterday, to show off the enormous new video board that'll hang 90 feet over the field (just 90 feet!).

On the way out to check out the screen, we got to snap some photos inside the new stadium, and you they're all up in our slideshow. After the jump, check out some facts and figures on the new TV screen (don't recommend you try comparing it to your home entertainment system, no matter what the guy at Best Buy sold you).

Shockingly, this one isn't on No. 76. In fact, it's a good thing.

At least I think it is. You tell me.

The Cowboys last week mailed letters to all 2009 season-ticket holders, informing them that their dues for tickets and parking is surprisingly being delayed. Originally due April 1, customers now don't have to cough up the cash until June 1.

Couple months doesn't seem like a big deal. But if you have, for example, four lower-level seats on the 35 at $340 per game for 10 games, plus $75 parking per pop, hanging on to your $14,350 for another 60 days is substantial.

Likewise, the interest on those piles of money could be significant.

So why would Jerry Jones allow, even suggest this postponement? My best guess - like most things these days - is tied to the shitty econony.

By no means is it a steal. But perhaps a deal?

When the first Jonestown Coliseum ticket prices were announced last year, we all fainted via sticker shock: 4 lower-level seats on the 35-yard line - adding in $340 tickets, $75 parking and 30-year seat options - cost over $150,000.

But this morning: Numbers we can digest.

 

   The Dallas Cowboys have already sold 85 percent of the tickets to their new stadium in Arlington.

   Go ahead, act surprised. But, deep down, did you really think Jerry Jones would have trouble selling out his new Jonestown Coliseum?

   I didn't.

   I went to Circuit City last week for a recorder. Going out of business and all, I figured I'd find a great deal. But across the street at Target the same recorder was $23 cheaper. The difference?

   Jerry is indeed Circuit City, all cocky and over-priced and cocky. But he can afford to jack up the price on his new toy because, let's face it, our local sports scene provides no Target.

Well, after Arlington's new Jonestown Coliseum snared another 100,000-kilowatt event this morning, that feels like the score. Right?

On the heels of Dallas being shunned by the women's Final Four last week, the Cowboys' new stadium today landed the 2014 men's Final Four.

Dallas last hosted a Final Four in 1986, same year it hosted its only NBA All-Star Game. Of course, coupled with this recent announcement, both events -- like everything else it seems -- have moved 20 miles west.

Is it possible to up and move a river? Because if so, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will slap a “wide load” banner on the Trinity River project and steer it toward Tarrant County any day now. And the JFK museum, and Deep Ellum and the 2010 NBA All-Star Game.

In surprising news along the lines of facial hair on a President, Jerry has a basketball Jones and Mavs owner Mark Cuban is actually considering hosting an All-Star Game. Not in American Airlines Center, of course, but in the Cowboys’ new $1.1 billion stadium in Arlington we affectionately have dubbed "Jonestown."

More Kool-Aid, anyone?

Jerry Jones is an ego-maniac. A cold-blooded, bottom-line businessman. A ruthless competitor hell-bent on acquiring the biggest, baddest toys on the planet.

And, lest I forget, a friggin' genius.

Exhibit A is yesterday’s announcement of the pricing for about 50,000 reserved, season-ticket seats at the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington. It’s timing, man. All timing.

Back around Thanksgiving Jerry releases the eye-popping prices and personal seat licenses for the joint’s elite seats, knowing full well he’ll absorb some public relations hits and initial fan backlash. Telling even your best, most affluent customers that they’ll be forced to pay upwards of $340 per ticket along with a nice down payment of $16,000 will have that effect.

But just look at him now. Relatively speaking, the prices for the majority of the stadium are affordable. Dare I say, cheap?

Okay, it’s not that cool. Unless you’re a fan of Arizona State or Notre Dame, that is. But it is a sporting event. And, no, it ain’t coming to Dallas.

In a deal announced just moments ago, the Sun Devils and Fighting Irish have agreed to a college football game at the Cowboys new stadium in Arlington on Oct. 5, 2013. I know, mark your calendars, right?

"We are excited to participate in this unique college football event in the new, state-of-the-art stadium the Dallas Cowboys are building in Arlington, Texas," said Arizona State Director of Athletics Lisa Love, who, I’ll be darn, was the women’s volleyball coach at UT-Arlington back in my college days. Good on her. "We believe this will be a magnificent game for our fans and alumni. Our coaching staff recruits the state of Texas, and this will only serve to assist in that area."

If you’re keeping score, the new stadium will now host the Cowboys starting in 2009, the Cotton Bowl starting in ’10, the Big 12 Championship Games in ’09 and ’10, an annual Arkansas-Texas A&M game starting in ’09 and, of course, Super Bowl XLV in ’11. There’s even talk of the digs attracting the NCAA Lacrosse Final Four.

Dallas, last I checked, was “hoping” to land Texas Tech-Oklahoma State, or perhaps another bowl game to put in the abandoned Cotton Bowl.

If I hadn’t told you in a while, thank you, Laura. Thank you so much. -- Richie Whitt