Dallas Cowboys to get $650 MILLION stadium!

[peaceloveunderstanding]

Why would anyone want to build a stadium in the sprawlburbs when its already been proven they work so much better downtown. This is Stupid.

[rantanamo]

Yup that's me.

I wouldn't be surprised if an eminent domain precedent from another case puts this deal in trouble. The citizens should fight it if they feel the offers are unfair. It would buy them time. As much as I want DFW to have the world's greatest stadium, I don't think they are doing this the right way.

[eastsider]

Its been a few years since I've been in the ballpark/six flags area so I couldn't quite picture where this was going. But, after seeing a better map of the proposed site today, I agree with you guys. This is horrible!!!

[Aporkalypse]

I would rather have the Dallas Cowboys stay at least on this side of 360 than in some suburb thats closer to Fort Worth.  Irving is the population center of the Metroplex and it is in Dallas County.  Arlington is closer to Fort Worth than Dallas.

If anything, it should be in Dallas city.  But then, Jerry Jones is looking for someone who will whore out the most money on his bad deal.  Dallas said no to his bad deal and rightfully so.

If they move to Arlington I hope attendence will drop off.  Then they can be Fort Worth/Arlington Cowboys.  Metroplex Cowboys.

I wish they'd been able to work out the deal to put in Fair Park. Laura Miller just wasn't going to put much of Dallas' money into it and from the financial end of being mayor, she's probably right in that the city of Dallas won't recoup their investment. Still, it was a nice opportunity to clean up a blighted area with terrific potential.

I also don't blame Jones, he's a businessman. He'd rather spend his own money on free agents than a new stadium and why should he use his own money if someone is willing to build it for him?

I hope attendance drops off as well, it's hard enough to find tickets for a decent price. I'll drive my butt to Arlington, I may not like it was much but I'll do it.

[eastsider]

Preliminary plans for the new Cowboys Stadium have been have been filed with the city of Arlington. Right now, the plans call for 414 luxury suites spread throughout the stadium with 20 at the field level. Also, there are 16 bunker suites under the stands that can be used for parties before and after the games.

Among the other ideas in the Cowboys stadium blueprints:

[rantanamo]

They announce a name too: Bulldoze Folks Out of Their Homes Stadium.

[Spades]

I wish Jerry Jones somehow magically had a change in heart and brought this team to the city of Dallas instead of Arlington. Hell I wish the Rangers were in Dallas but they never played in the city but the Cowboys did.

[rantanamo]

There's still the possibility the state doesn't allow them to buyout all the homeowners and businesses. The stupid ruling that allowed private companies to use Eminent Domain has really helped Jerry. Otherwise, homeowners were holding out big time and it would have taken a long time if never to acquire land. The state can still put a stop to it if they like.

[eastsider]

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Land costs surge for Cowboys stadium

Acquiring the land in the path of the planned Dallas Cowboys stadium may cost the city $70 million to $100 million -- about double the original estimate -- according to Mayor Robert Cluck.

Cluck hinted at the rising cost during his state of the city address Thursday. The mayor and other city officials provided details later.

Higher-than-anticipated appraisals, negotiations with property owners, settlements from lawsuits and the need for more land are the key factors driving up the cost, officials said.

The city of Arligton is responsible for acquiring the land for the stadium, but they have a $325M cap for total spending on the project. So far, the city has closed on 48 of the 131 properties they were seeking to aquire.

[eastsider]

The Trinity Railway Express may serve the new stadium in Arlington. A TRE station could be built near the Collins Street railroad bridge. Collins Road would then be restriped for bus only lanes allowing for express service to the new stadium 3 miles down the road. The station would also serve as a park-and-ride facility for Arlington commuters.

But Arlington's cost is an estimated $3.75 million, and federal money would only cover about half the tab. Arlington would have to figure out a way to pony up the rest of the money, even though voters have repeatedly rejected a transit sales tax.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: TRE could serve new stadium

[Aporkalypse]

I wish Jerry Jones somehow magically had a change in heart and brought this team to the city of Dallas instead of Arlington. Hell I wish the Rangers were in Dallas but they never played in the city but the Cowboys did.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Really? I thought they were always in Irving.

[eastsider]

The city of Arlington and the county have reached an agreement were the cost of demolision of buildings and streets will come from the $25M the county pledged for the project. Demolition on some houses and streets could begin in several weeks. The official groundbreaking for the Cowboys Stadium will be next spring.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: City ready to clear stadium's path

[eastsider]

Tarrant County commissioners on Tuesday approved the first installment of a $25 million promise to help demolish buildings and roads in Arlington to make way for a new Dallas Cowboys stadium.

Demolision on some buildings could begin later this month.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: County gives go-ahead to begin clearing land for Cowboys stadium

[Spades]

Really? I thought they were always in Irving.

They started out in the Cotton Bowl before moving to Irving.

[eastsider]

The city of Arlington has completed the sale of $297.9 million of bonds to pay for it's share in building the new Cowboys Stadium.

The 30-year bonds will be paid back by a half-cent sales tax, a 2-cent hotel-occupancy tax and a 5-cent car-rental tax that became effective April 1. Voters approved the tax increases to help finance the city's share of construction costs.

Some of the bonds will be paid back with a yet-to-be-negotiated naming-rights agreement and with the Cowboys' $2 million annual rent payment, which is slated to begin in 2009. That year, the football team is scheduled to start playing its home games in the stadium, located between Randol Mill Road and Division Street, east of Collins Street.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: City sells bonds to obtain cash for stadium project

[eastsider]

Demolition of houses will begin Tuesday to make way for the future Dallas Cowboys Stadium. In total, several business, 104 houses, and 1,046 apartments will come down.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Demolition for stadium to begin

[eastsider]

An article about some possible design features of the new Cowboys Stadium.

Based on what's happening with other new NFL stadiums, fans here could see such features as:

Larger luxury suites and club seats.

Upgraded food services, even in nonluxury seating.

More team merchandise for sale.

A team hall of fame.

Bigger scoreboards.

A multiuse facility that can accommodate concerts and conventions, for example.

They did say that the sight lines will be much better than at Texas Stadium and that they are considering a grass field that can be rolled in and out like what will be at the Arizona Cardinals new stadium. The designs for the new Cowboys Stadium will be released in early 2006.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Stadium to offer a whole new ballgame

[eastsider]

So far, the city of Arlington has aquired 137 of the 168 parcels of land needed for the stadium and has spent $51.7 million on the land aquisition. 53 houses and 120 apartments have already been demolished.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Stadium update

[eastsider]

The city of Arlingtons' commercial tree ordinance requires businesses to replace trees within a buildings footprint. Trees 6-inch thick or more removed for parking will have to be replaced inch for inch and have a three inch tree for every parking spaces. The Cowboys are asking to place the trees in groupings rather than spreading them across the parking areas.

Other rules also may be relaxed for the stadium project.

Arlington requires that parking lots be made of asphalt or concrete. But the Cowboys have asked the city to allow it to use porous, honeycomb-looking stones that allow some grass to grow. Planning and Development Director Karen Brophy said the material can improve air and water quality. The grass would prevent a "heat island," which occurs when heat rises from an asphalt or concrete lot and can contribute to ozone problems during summer months.

Mayor Robert Cluck said a stone and grass parking surface also could prevent some water runoff, which can wash oil or other fluids from cars directly into gutters and into the local water system. He said the grass would act as a filtering agent, keeping chemicals from getting into the water table.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Cowboys may get flexibility in how they replace trees

[EbonyGardens]

I wanted the Cowboys to get a new stadium in Dallas, so they could play in the city like the Stars & Mavericks, but oh well. The City Of Dallas will still benefit from the new stadium because it's not like Arlington has the nightlife of Dallas.

[eastsider]

A look back at the progress for the new stadium in 2005, and what's ahead for 2006. The remaining parcels of land must be aquired by the city followed by groundbreaking in spring. The rest of the year will be spent doing sitework and digging out the lower bowl of the stadium.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Stadium is making progress

[eastsider]

Found these images here. Not sure if they are just preliminary or the final ones, but it does credit them to the Cowboys and the architect (HKS Inc).

[rantanamo]

Those are the Dallas renderings. Apparently the design will be totally different.

[Aporkalypse]

Those are the Dallas renderings. Apparently the design will be totally different.

Yeah, those were the Cotton Bowl site renderings that were floating around a couple of years back.

[erdogs]

This new home is a long time coming. Hell the deadskins have had a new stadium for years! Many consider it the best in the NFL. The Boys should hold that distinction. Jerry needs to get off some of his billion dollar retirement money and make this stadium untouchable for years to come. As far as the season ahead I see us losing maybe two games. Though Parcels needs needs to keep a close eye on T.O.