With five Super Bowl victories and eight conference titles, the Dallas Cowboys have firmly established themselves as one of football’s most storied franchises. But what about their home turf, AT&T Stadium?
For over 30 years, the Cowboys called Texas Stadium their home, a venue where all their championships were won and a place that became a cherished landmark for fans. When team owner Jerry Jones decided it was time to upgrade, he knew the new stadium had to live up to Texas Stadium’s legacy.
The result was AT&T Stadium, a modern marvel that’s as impressive as it is extravagant. With its cutting-edge technology, striking design, and massive scale, this arena isn’t just a stadium—it’s a fitting home for “America’s Team.”
Where Is AT&T Stadium? Exploring It’s History
Although the arena is the home of the Dallas Cowboys, AT&T Stadium is not located in Dallas. It sits close to the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Arlington is a suburban community located in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones started exploring options for a more giant stadium in 1994. Initially, he proposed adding 40,000 seats to Texas Stadium’s 65,000-seat capacity, but he ultimately chose to build a new stadium from scratch.
The team explored several sites for the new Dallas arena but ultimately settled on Arlington when the city offered $325 million to fund the new stadium.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
The Dallas-based firm HKS Architects handled design duties. The firm stated its goal was to make the building “an event in and of itself.” Construction began in 2006 and took three years to complete. The project cost approximately $1.3 billion, almost twice as much as initially estimated.
What Is AT&T Stadium’s Seating Capacity?
AT&T Stadium can seat 80,000 fans. If the standing room is included, its total capacity comes out to 105,000 people. It is the third-largest stadium in the NFL by seating capacity.
Also read: Dallas Cowboys Pull Off Surprise Blockbuster Trade With Minnesota Vikings
AT&T Stadium’s Feature And Design
AT&T Stadium, often known as “Jerry World,” is a remarkable blend of modern architecture and cutting-edge technology. Its grand and innovative design makes it one of the most impressive sports venues in the world.
The new stadium takes several design cues from the old Texas Stadium, most notably the shape of the roof. The roof appears very similar to Texas Stadium’s from inside the arena, with the famous hole in the middle.
Unlike Texas Stadium, AT&T Stadium includes a retractable roof with motorized panels that can close the hole in bad weather, turning the stadium into an indoor venue.
The most famous feature of AT&T Stadium is the monumentally-sized high-definition screen hanging from the ceiling. At the time of construction, it was the largest HD video screen in the world.
The screen runs from one 20-yard line to the other, 2/3 of the length of a football field. It measures 160 feet long by 71 feet high, larger than an NBA basketball court.
The screen has had its fair share of controversies. During the first-ever NFL game at AT&T Stadium, a pre-season match between the Titans and the Cowboys, Titans punter A.J. Trapasso kicked a punt that hit the screen and bounced backward. As per NFL rules, the down had to be replaced, and Trapasso was able to try the punt again.
Although Jerry Jones claims Trapasso must have intentionally hit the video board, independent analysts state that teams may have to modify their punting strategy to avoid hitting the screen. Despite this analysis, punts have not frequently hit the board during the screen’s 12 years of use.
Although the giant screen over the field gets all the attention, it is only one of over 3,000 LCDs scattered throughout AT&T Stadium.
The stadium is also a model of sustainability and innovation. Despite its vast size, it’s designed with energy efficiency in mind. The retractable roof and end-zone glass doors help reduce energy consumption while advanced systems manage resources efficiently. In addition to its environmental features, the stadium is equipped with the latest technology, from its powerful Wi-Fi network that can support thousands of devices simultaneously to a state-of-the-art sound system that delivers an immersive audio experience.
When did the Dallas Cowboys announce that AT&T Stadium would be their home ground?
Before AT&T Stadium officially became the Dallas Cowboys home, the project was known by various fan-given nicknames, reflecting its grand scale and significance. Names like “Jerry World,” “The Death Star,” “Cowboys Cathedral,” and “Jerrassic Park” circulated among fans, capturing the imagination and anticipation surrounding the stadium’s construction. Some fans even petitioned to have it named after legendary coach Tom Landry.
The stadium was initially named Cowboys Stadium when Jerry Jones announced its official title on May 13, 2009. However, the name changed on July 25, 2013, when Jones revealed that the team had secured a naming rights deal with AT&T. The transition from Cowboys Stadium to AT&T Stadium happened immediately, with the new signage installed shortly after. This sponsorship deal, estimated at $17–19 million per year, made AT&T Stadium one of the most recognizable names in sports venues.
