View source for Texas Stadium

{{short description|Former stadium in Irving, Texas, U.S.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Use American English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox venue
|logo_image         = [[Image:TexStadLogo.png]]
|image              = [[File:Texas Stadium.jpeg|280px]]
|caption            = Texas Stadium in November 2008
|location           = 2401 East Airport Freeway<br />[[Irving, Texas]], U.S.
|coordinates        = {{Coord|32|50|23|N|96|54|39|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|display=inline,title}}
|broke_ground       = {{start date|1969|01|26}}<ref name="Stadiums">{{cite web |url=http://www.stadiumsofprofootball.com/past/TexasStadium.htm |title=Texas Stadium |website=Stadiums of Pro Football}}</ref>
|opened             = October 24, [[1971 Dallas Cowboys season|1971]]<ref name=dtppts>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gslRAAAAIBAJ&pg=5948%2C3731036 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |agency=Associated Press |title=Dallas taps Pats for 44-21 win |date=October 25, 1971 |page=35 }}</ref><ref name=mscrop>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fQkkAAAAIBAJ&pg=7195%2C4848666 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=UPI |title=Cowboys run over Patriots |date=October 25, 1971 |page=3, part 2 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> <!--{{start date|1971|09|17}} ? -->
|closed             = December 20, [[2008 Dallas Cowboys season|2008]]
|demolished         = {{start date|2010|04|11}}
|owner              = [[Irving, Texas|City of Irving]]
|operator           = Texas Stadium Corp<ref name="Stadiums"/>
|surface            = [[Artificial turf]]<br />- Texas Turf (1971–1995)<br />- [[AstroTurf]] (1996–2002)<br />- RealGrass <!--by Sportfield-->(2002–2008)
|construction_cost  = US$35 million<br />(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|35000000|1971}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
|architect          = A. Warren Morey
|general_contractor = [[Balfour Beatty Construction|JW Bateson Co., Inc.]]
|former_names       =
|tenants            = [[Dallas Cowboys]] ([[National Football League|NFL]]) (1971–2008)<br />[[Dallas Tornado]] ([[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|NASL]]) (1972–1975, 1980–1981)<br />[[SMU Mustangs football|SMU Mustangs]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]) (1979–1986)
|seating_capacity   = 65,675
}}
{{Location map
|USA
|relief     = 1
|label      = <small>Texas Stadium</small>
|lat        = 32.840
|long       = -96.911
|caption    = Location in the United States
|marksize   = 5
|float      = 
|background = 
|width      = 280
}}
'''Texas Stadium''' was an [[American football]] [[stadium]] located in [[Irving, Texas]], a suburb west of [[Dallas]]. Opened on October 24, [[1971 Dallas Cowboys season|1971]],<ref name=dtppts/> it was known for its distinctive hole in the roof, the result of abandoned plans to construct a [[retractable roof]].

The stadium was the home field of the [[National Football League|NFL's]] [[Dallas Cowboys]] for 38 seasons, through [[2008 Dallas Cowboys season|2008]], and had a [[seating capacity]] of 65,675. In [[2009 Dallas Cowboys season|2009]], the Cowboys moved to Cowboys Stadium (now [[AT&T Stadium]]) in nearby [[Arlington, Texas|Arlington]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/cowboys/2009-09-17-cowboys-stadium-cover_N.htm | work=USA Today | title='This transcends football': 'Boys boast as new stadium shines | first=Jarrett | last=Bell | date=September 18, 2009}}</ref>

Texas Stadium was demolished on April 11, 2010, by a [[building implosion|controlled implosion]].<ref name="Implosion">{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/dallas/nfl/news/story?id=5075040 |title=Texas Stadium leveled in successful implosion|work=ESPN |publisher=Associated Press|date=April 11, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-04-11 |title=Blowing up God's Peephole: The 10-yr anniversary of Texas Stadium's demise |url=https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2020/04/11/texas-stadium-implosion-10th-anniversary/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Cowboys Wire |language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Texas Stadiumtoit.jpg|thumb|left|Interior, 2007]]
The Cowboys had played at the [[Cotton Bowl (stadium)|Cotton Bowl]] in Dallas since their inception in [[1960 Dallas Cowboys season|1960]]. However, by the mid-1960s, founding owner [[Clint Murchison, Jr.]], felt that the [[Fair Park]] area of the city had become unsafe and downtrodden, and did not want his season ticket holders to be forced to go through it.<ref>Shropshire, 1997 pg. 138-139</ref> Murchison was denied a request by mayor [[J. Erik Jonsson|Erik Jonsson]] to build a new stadium in downtown Dallas as part of a [[municipal bond]] package.<ref>Shropshire, 1997 pg. 139</ref>

Murchison envisioned a new stadium with [[luxury box|sky box]]es and one in which attendees would have to pay a [[personal seat license]] as a prerequisite to purchasing season tickets.<ref name="Shropshire139-140">Shropshire, 1997 pg. 139-140</ref> With two games left for the Cowboys to play in the [[1967 Dallas Cowboys season|1967]] season, Murchison and Cowboys general manager [[Tex Schramm]] announced a plan to build a new stadium in the northwest suburb of Irving.<ref name="Shropshire139-140" />

Texas Stadium, along with [[Foxboro Stadium|Schaefer Stadium]] (1971), [[Arrowhead Stadium]] [[1972 Kansas City Chiefs season|(1972)]], [[Rich Stadium]] [[1973 Buffalo Bills season|(1973)]], and the [[Pontiac Silverdome]] [[1975 Detroit Lions season|(1975)]], was part of a new wave of football-only stadiums (all with [[artificial turf]]) built following the [[AFL–NFL merger]]. More so than its contemporaries, Texas Stadium featured a proliferation of luxury boxes, which provided the team with a large new income source exempt from league revenue sharing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dhingra |first=Karn |date=2019-09-02 |title=Game-changing stadiums |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2019/09/02/Teams-and-League/Stadiums.aspx |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=www.sportsbusinessjournal.com |language=en}}</ref>

It hosted its first Cowboys game on October 24, 1971, a 44–21 victory over the [[1971 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]],<ref name=dtppts/><ref name=mscrop/> and became an icon of the Cowboys with their rise in national prominence. The Cowboys entered the season as [[Super Bowl V|defending NFC champions]] and won their first world title in [[Super Bowl VI]] in January 1972. The field was surrounded by a blue wall emblazoned with white stars, a design replicated in its successor, [[AT&T Stadium]].

Texas Stadium's field alignment (between the goal posts) was southwest-to-northeast, perpendicular to the Cotton Bowl, which is southeast-to-northwest.

===Roof===
The most distinctive element of Texas Stadium was its partial roof, the only one in the NFL. The roof was originally supposed to be the first [[retractable roof stadium|retractable roof]] in the NFL. However, it was discovered that the structure could not support the additional weight. This resulted in a partial roof that covered most of the stands but not the playing field itself. Cowboys linebacker [[D. D. Lewis (linebacker, born 1945)|D. D. Lewis]] once famously said that "Texas Stadium has a hole in its roof, so [[God]] can watch His favorite team play".

The open roof allowed snow to cover the field in the [[NFL on Thanksgiving Day|Thanksgiving Day game]] against the [[1993 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] in [[1993 Dallas Cowboys season|1993]]. The unusual roof also introduced a unique difficulty in televising games, as sunlight would cover part of the field and make it hard for television cameras to adjust for the changes in light.<ref>Shropshire, 1997 pg. 140</ref>

The roof was repainted in the summer of 2006 by the city of Irving, the stadium's owners. It was the first time the roof had been repainted since Texas Stadium opened.

===Other events===
'''Football'''

Texas Stadium hosted five [[NFC Championship Game]]s. The [[1973 Pro Bowl]] was held at Texas Stadium in front of 47,879 spectators.

The first football game played at Texas Stadium was on October 15, 1971, when [[1971 Texas Southern Tigers football team|Texas Southern]] defeated {{cfb link|year=1971|team=Bishop Tigers|title=Bishop}} 34–21 in a [[college football]] game.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kilgore-news-herald-tsu-rolls-past-b/127158797/|work=The Kilgore News Herald|title=TSU rolls past Bishop in Dallas|date=October 17, 1971|accessdate=June 27, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> The stadium hosted numerous neutral-site college football games and was the home field of the [[SMU Mustangs]] for eight seasons, from 1979 through 1986. After the school returned from an NCAA-imposed suspension in 1988, school officials moved games back to the school's on-campus [[Ownby Stadium]] to signify a clean start for the football program (since replaced by [[Gerald J. Ford Stadium]] in 2000). The [[2001 Big 12 Championship Game]] was held at the site.

In November and December, Texas Stadium was a major venue for high school football. It was not uncommon for there to be high school football tripleheaders at the stadium. Texas Stadium served as a temporary home for two Dallas-area high schools, [[Plano Senior High School]] in 1979 after its home stadium was damaged by a prank gone awry, and [[Highland Park High School (University Park, Texas)|Highland Park High School]] while a new stadium on campus was being built.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://coppellstudentmedia.com/9263/sports/say-goodbye-to-texas-stadium/|title=Say goodbye to Texas Stadium|date=April 16, 2010|last=Culp|first=Wren}}</ref>

The stadium has also played host to the two largest capacity crowds for Texas high school football playoff games. In 1977, Plano defeated Port Neches-Groves 13-10 in front of a record crowd of 49,953. In 2006, the matchup between Trinity High School from [[Euless, Texas|Euless]], and [[Carroll Senior High School]] from [[Southlake, Texas|Southlake]], in the second round of the playoffs, ended in a 22-21 Southlake victory (on their way to a fourth 5A state championship in five years) before an announced crowd of 46,339 at Texas Stadium. These games marked two of the top three all-time attendance figures for a Texas high school football game and the stadium recorded three of the top 20 attendance records.<ref>{{cite web |title=State's single-game attendance record in jeopardy this weekend |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/2011/12/15/state-s-single-game-attendance-record-in-jeopardy-this-weekend/ |website=Dallas Morning News |date=15 December 2011 |access-date=28 November 2019}}</ref>

In 1988, Texas Stadium hosted the Class 5A championship game, where [[David W. Carter High School|Dallas Carter]], led by future [[New York Giants]] [[Pro Bowl]] linebacker [[Jessie Armstead]], defeated [[Judson High School|Converse Judson]] 31-14. The [[University Interscholastic League]] later stripped Carter of its title due to numerous rule violations. Carter advanced to the final by defeating [[Permian High School|Odessa Permian]] 14-9 in the semifinals at [[DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium|Memorial Stadium]] in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] in a game highlighted by the book ''[[Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream]]'' and its [[Friday Night Lights (film)|film adaptation]]. 

In 1994, the stadium hosted the [[1994 John Tyler vs. Plano East high school football game|John Tyler vs. Plano East high school football regional playoff]], whose wild seesaw finish won it the 1995 Showstopper of the Year [[ESPY Award]].

'''Soccer'''

In addition to American football, the [[Dallas Tornado]] of the [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|NASL]] used it as their home stadium from 1972 to 1975 and again from 1980 to 1981 when the team folded.

On November 21, 1991, the [[US men's national soccer team|U.S. Men's National soccer Team]] played a friendly match against Costa Rica.<ref>{{cite web |title=USA Men's Soccer NAT Team vs Costa Rica at Texas Stadium nov 1991 Ist Half Highlights.mpg |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd-3Lt4q2Fo | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211118/Bd-3Lt4q2Fo| archive-date=2021-11-18 | url-status=live|website=Youtube | date=November 20, 2010 |access-date=28 November 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! width=12% style="text-align:center;{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys|border=2}};|Date
! width=10% style="text-align:center;{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys|border=2}};|Competition
! width=10% style="text-align:center;{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys|border=2}};|Team 1
! width=16% style="text-align:center;{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys|border=2}};|Team 2
! width=10% style="text-align:center;{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys|border=2}};|Score
|-
!November 21, 1991 || [[Friendly (sport)|Friendly]] || United States ||Costa Rica || 1-1 
|}

'''Supercross'''

Texas Stadium hosted a round of the [[AMA Supercross Championship]] from 1975 to 1977 and 1983 to 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=Historical Dates of Motocross at Texas Stadium |url=https://vault.racerxonline.com/venue/texas-stadium |website=The Vault |access-date=28 November 2019}}</ref>

'''Bull riding'''

The [[Professional Bull Riders|Professional Bull Riders (PBR)]] held a Bud Light Cup event at Texas Stadium known as the "Battle of the Bulls"<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSQvl1uDbg4 PBR Tour: Battle of the Bulls at Texas Stadium (April 22, 1995)]</ref> during the organization's first two years of existence (1994 & 1995). In both instances, the event was won by three-time PBR world champion Adriano Morães (in 1994 he was the co-champion along with Pat Yancey). The 1995 event was also notable because of rain which turned the dirt into mud, affecting the performance of several bulls.

'''Lacrosse'''

On May 25, 2008, Texas Stadium hosted the first ever professional lacrosse game in Texas when the two-time defending [[Major League Lacrosse]] champions [[Philadelphia Barrage]] played the [[Long Island Lizards]].<ref>{{cite web |title=MLL MAKES TEXAS DEBUT |url=https://www.yardbarker.com/lacrosse/articles/mll_makes_texas_debut/s1__257424? |website=Yardbarker (Lacrosse News Archives) |date=25 April 2008|access-date=28 November 2019}}</ref> The Barrage disbanded [[2009 Major League Lacrosse season#Team_movement|after the 2008 season]] while the re-named New York Lizards remained as a member of MLL's Eastern Conference until 2020 when the MLL [[MLL–PLL merger|merged]] with the [[Premier Lacrosse League]].<ref name="MLL_East">{{cite web |title=2019 MLL Standings |url=https://majorleaguelacrosse.com/news/2019/7/10/2019-mll-standings.aspx |website=Major League Lacrosse |language=en |access-date=January 1, 2020 |archive-date=January 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101215343/https://majorleaguelacrosse.com/news/2019/7/10/2019-mll-standings.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Turner |first1=Nick |title=Premier Lacrosse League Merging With Rival in Bid to Unify Sport |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-16/premier-lacrosse-league-merging-with-rival-in-bid-to-unify-sport |access-date=16 December 2020 |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=16 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

'''Professional wrestling''' 

From 1984 to 1988, the stadium hosted the annual [[World Class Championship Wrestling]] (WCCW) David Von Erich "Memorial [[Parade of Champions]]" professional wrestling card every May. The initial 1984 card drew more than 40,000 fans, the highest attendance of any wrestling card in the state of Texas at that time.

'''Religious gatherings'''

The stadium hosted religious gatherings such as Promise Keepers and Billy Graham crusades; a Graham crusade was the first event held at Texas Stadium.

From October 17 to October 20, 2002, evangelist [[Billy Graham]] held the Metroplex Mission crusade in Texas Stadium. Several Christian musical groups also played during the event. Former president [[George H. W. Bush]] gave an introduction for Graham on the first night of the crusade.

===Concerts===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! width=12% style="text-align:center;{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys|border=2}};|Date
! width=10% style="text-align:center;{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys|border=2}};|Artist
! width=10% style="text-align:center;{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys|border=2}};|Opening act(s)
! width=16% style="text-align:center;{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys|border=2}};|Tour / Concert name
! width=10% style="text-align:center;{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys|border=2}};|Attendance
! width=10% style="text-align:center;{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys|border=2}};|Revenue
! width=20% style="text-align:center;{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys|border=2}};|Notes
|-
|July 31, 1974
|[[Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young]]
|[[The Beach Boys]]
[[The Band]]

[[Jesse Colin Young]]
|[[CSNY 1974#Tour|CSNY 1974]]
|60,000
|—
|
|-
| July 13, 1984 || rowspan=3|[[The Jacksons]] || rowspan=3|— || rowspan=3|[[Victory Tour (The Jacksons tour)|Victory Tour]] || rowspan=3|120,000 || rowspan=3|$3,564,090 || rowspan=3|
|-
| July 14, 1984
|-
| July 15, 1984
|-
| July 26, 1987 || [[Madonna]] || [[Level 42]] || [[Who's That Girl World Tour]] || 40,601 / 41,000 || $812,020 ||
|-
| September 17, 1988 || [[INXS]] || — ||Calling All Nations World Tour || || ||
|-
| October 14, 1988 || [[George Michael]] || — || [[Faith World Tour]] || 38,564 / 41,000 || $846,923 ||
|-
| April 7, 1990 || [[Paul McCartney]] || — || [[The Paul McCartney World Tour|World Tour]] || 57,337 / 57,337 || $1,863,453 || 
|-
| March 14, 1992 || [[Willie Nelson]]<br />[[Neil Young]]<br />[[John Mellencamp]] and many others || — || [[Farm Aid]] VI || — || — || 
|-
| May 7-8, 1992 || [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]] || — || [[We Can't Dance Tour]] || — || — ||This was the opening show to the tour.
|-
| June 13, 1992 || [[The Cure]] || [[Curve (band)|Curve]]<br />[[Cranes (band)|Cranes]] || The Wish Tour || — || — ||
|-
| September 5, 1992 || [[Guns N' Roses]]<br />[[Metallica]] || [[Faith No More]] || [[Guns N' Roses/Metallica Stadium Tour]] || 44,391 / 44,391 || $1,220,753 || Faith No More lead guitarist [[Jim Martin (musician)|Jim Martin]] joined Metallica onstage for their cover of the [[Misfits (band)|Misfits]] song "[[Last Caress/Green Hell|Last Caress]]".
|-
| September 24, 1993 || rowspan=2|[[Garth Brooks]] || rowspan=2|— || rowspan=2|[[The Garth Brooks World Tour (1993–94)|The Garth Brooks World Tour]] || rowspan=2|— || rowspan=2|— || rowspan=2|The first show was recorded and broadcast on [[NBC]], titled ''This is Garth Brooks, Too!'' (a follow-up to Brooks' 1992 televised concert).<ref name=variety>{{cite news|last1=Sandler|first1=Adam|title=Review: 'This Is Garth Brooks, Too!'|url=https://variety.com/1994/tv/reviews/this-is-garth-brooks-too-1200437324/|access-date=10 March 2016|work=Variety|date=6 May 1994}}</ref> It was later included in Brooks' ''[[The Entertainer (Garth Brooks video album)|The Entertainer]]'' DVD collection, released in 2006.
|-
| September 25, 1993
|-
|July 3, 1994
|[[Eagles (band)|Eagles]]
|[[Melissa Etheridge]]
|Hell Freezes Over Tour
|—
|—
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eagles Setlist at Texas Stadium, Irving |url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/eagles/1994/texas-stadium-irving-tx-3dd9117.html |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=setlist.fm |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Eagles Tour Information - Hell Freezes Over Tour |url=https://www.eaglesonlinecentral.com/tour/1994hfo.htm |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.eaglesonlinecentral.com}}</ref>
|-
| October 22, 1994 || [[Carman (singer)|Carman]] || — || — || 71,132 || — || <ref name="billboardbio">{{cite book|last=Alfonso|first=Barry|title=The Billboard guide to Contemporary Christian Music|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard Books]]|page=134|location=New York|year=2002|isbn=978-0-8230-7718-2}}</ref><ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|last=Ankeny|first=Jason|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p2229|pure_url=yes}}|title= Carman&nbsp;– Biography|publisher=[[Allmusic]] ([[Macrovision Corporation]])|access-date=December 9, 2009}}</ref>
|-
|August 14, 1999
|*NSYNC
|Jordan Knight
5ive
|Boys of Summer Tour
|
|
|
|-
| November 14, 1999 || [[Shania Twain]] || — || [[Come On Over Tour]] || 40,000 || — || This concert was filmed for a [[CBS]] TV special which aired on Thanksgiving night.<ref name="3rdleg">{{cite web |url=http://www.livedaily.com/news/1003.html |title=Shania Twain Adds Cities To Her East Coast Tour |author=Evans, Rob |date=11 October 1999 |work=[[LiveDaily]] |publisher=[[Ticketmaster|Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc.]] |access-date=24 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030830184429/http://www.livedaily.com/news/1003.html|archive-date=30 August 2003}}</ref>
|-
| July 9, 2000 || [[Metallica]] || [[Korn]]<br />[[Kid Rock]]<br />[[Powerman 5000]]<br />[[System of a Down]] || [[Summer Sanitarium Tour]] || — || — || Metallica lead singer [[James Hetfield]] was unable to attend the concert as he hurt his back during a jet skiing accident while in Georgia before the Atlanta show. Metallica bassist [[Jason Newsted]], along with other lead singers from the other bands on hand, sang most of the songs. Metallica did return in August to perform two make-up shows at the Starplex in Dallas a month later.<ref>{{cite web|last=Basham|first=David|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432057/20000710/metallica.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010418090820/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432057/20000710/metallica.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 18, 2001 |title=UPDATE: Metallica Frontman Forced to Sit Out Shows|work=MTV.com |publisher=MTV Networks  |date=2000-07-10 |access-date=2009-02-07}}</ref>
|-
| July 15, 2001 || [[Dave Matthews Band]] || [[Angelique Kidjo]]<br />[[Wyclef Jean]] || 2001 Summer Tour || — || —||
|-
| August 3, 2003 || [[Metallica]] || [[Linkin Park]]<br />[[Limp Bizkit]]<br />[[Deftones]]<br />[[Mudvayne]] || [[Summer Sanitarium Tour]] || — || — ||
|}

===In television===
The stadium appeared in numerous episodes of the television series, ''[[Walker, Texas Ranger]]'' (1993&ndash;2001), which was filmed in the [[Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]].

The stadium made an appearance on [[MTV]]'s ''[[Headbangers Ball]]'' in early 1994, when host [[Riki Rachtman]] interviewed [[Dimebag Darrell]], [[Vinnie Paul]] and [[Rex Brown]] of [[Pantera]] on the field in promotion of the band's then-new album ''[[Far Beyond Driven]]''; the band and Rachtman then played some football with fans who won a contest to appear on the show.

The stadium appeared in the 1999 movie ''[[Any Given Sunday]]'' being the home of the "Dallas Knights" in the film.

The stadium has also appeared in the season one finale of ''[[Friday Night Lights (Season 1)|Friday Night Lights]]'' as a setting for the State Championship game between the Dillon Panthers and the West Cambria Mustangs.

Throughout the network run of the television series ''[[Dallas (TV series)|Dallas]]'', a number of scenes were filmed on location at Texas Stadium. An overhead shot of the stadium (looking down at the field from the hole in the roof) was also featured prominently as part of the show's opening credits for each of its thirteen seasons on [[CBS]]. This trend has continued with the [[Dallas (2012 TV series)|new]] series with [[AT&T Stadium]] taking its place.

===Seating capacity===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}};"| Years
! scope="row" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}};"| Capacity
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}};"|1971–1972
| 65,000<ref>{{cite news |title=Cowboys, 49ers in Collision|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ok8fAAAAIBAJ&pg=4256,336756&dq=en|newspaper=Daytona Beach Morning Journal|date=January 1, 1972}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}};"|1973
| 65,111<ref>{{cite web|title=1973 Dallas Cowboys Media Guide|url=http://media.dallascowboys.com/media-guide/1973-media-guide.tekdownload|publisher=Dallas Cowboys|access-date=June 4, 2018}}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}};"|1974–1984
| 65,101<ref>{{cite news |title=SMU-Arkansas Game a Sellout|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1PU_AAAAIBAJ&pg=5581,5575718&dq=en|newspaper=Associated Press|date=November 15, 1982}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}};"|1985–1988
| 63,855<ref>{{cite news |title=Cowboys Buying Ads to Sell More Tickets|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-BZQAAAAIBAJ&pg=7186,7463954&dq=en|newspaper=The Victoria Advocate|date=June 27, 1988}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}};"|1989–1994
| 65,024<ref>{{cite news |title=Cowboys Are in Demand|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zytDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1197,1945527&dq=en|newspaper=Altus Times|date=September 20, 1992}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}};"|1995–1996
| 65,812<ref>{{cite news |title=City Officials Vow to Bring Super Bowl to Irving, Texas|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fJtPAAAAIBAJ&pg=2716,1858417&dq=en|newspaper=Kingman Daily Miner|date=February 8, 1996}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}};"|1997–2000
| 65,675<ref>{{cite news |title=Sports Line|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wi1fAAAAIBAJ&pg=6586,1764766&dq=en|newspaper=The Bonham Daily Favorite|date=June 23, 1999}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}};"|2001–2002
| 65,639<ref>{{cite web|title=2001 Dallas Cowboys Media Guide|url=http://media.dallascowboys.com/media-guide/2001-media-guide.tekdownload|publisher=Dallas Cowboys|year=2001|access-date=June 8, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141549/http://media.dallascowboys.com/media-guide/2001-media-guide.tekdownload|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}};"|2003–2008
| 65,529<ref>{{cite news|title=2003 Dallas Cowboys Media Guide|url=http://media.dallascowboys.com/media-guide/2003-media-guide.tekdownload|publisher=Dallas Cowboys|year=2003|access-date=June 8, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140546/http://media.dallascowboys.com/media-guide/2003-media-guide.tekdownload|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|}

===The Cowboys' departure===
[[Image:Texas Stadium - Dallas Cowboys World Champions Mural.JPG|thumb|200px|"Five-time Super Bowl Champions Mural" in the Cowboys' tunnel]]

When opened, the stadium had many amenities that included 381 luxury suites, a stadium club where fans gathered for parties and banquets, and The Corral that provided food, beverages, entertainment and large screen televisions. However, by the 2000s other NFL teams received new stadiums that had more club and luxury seating than Texas Stadium had, so the Dallas Cowboys asked for a new stadium.<ref name="Stadiums"/><ref name="Irish_Times">{{cite news |last1=McGeady |first1=Andy |title=The great American stadium: High cost, short lifespan |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/the-great-american-stadium-high-cost-short-lifespan-1.2659341 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=24 May 2016}}</ref><ref name="Upgrades">{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Brian T. |title=Facing the reality of NRG Stadium upgrades |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/columnists/smith/article/Facing-the-reality-of-NRG-Stadium-upgrades-10926138.php |work=Houston Chronicle |date=11 February 2017}}</ref>

The Cowboys left Texas Stadium after the 2008 NFL season for Cowboys Stadium (opened for the 2009 NFL season) that was partially funded by taxpayers in [[Arlington, Texas|Arlington]]. In November 2004, Arlington voters approved a half-cent (.005 per U.S. dollar) sales tax to fund $325 million of the then estimated $650 million stadium by a margin of 55%-45%. [[Jerry Jones]], the Cowboys' owner, spent over $5 million backing the ballot measure, but also agreed to cover any cost overruns which as of 2006 had already raised the estimated cost of the project to $1 billion.

The new venue, later named [[AT&T Stadium]], which has a retractable roof system, also includes a setting that mimics a hole in the roof as a tribute to Texas Stadium.<ref name="Unveil">{{cite news |title=Cowboys unveil plans for new stadium |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2695427 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=12 December 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/texas/entry/jerrydome_or_jerry_dome_dallas_cowboys_stadium_in_arlington/ |title=Jerrydome or Jerry Dome (Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington)|date=August 22, 2009|website=Barry Popik }}</ref>

The Cowboys lost their final game at Texas Stadium to the [[2008 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]], 33–24, on December 20, 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Aron |first1=Jaime |last2=Press |first2=The Associated |date=2008-12-21 |title=Ravens beat Cowboys 33-24 in Texas Stadium finale |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-fbn-ravens-cowboys-122008-2008dec20-story.html |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>

====Closure====
The stadium was scheduled for [[demolition]] and [[Building implosion|implosion]] on April 11, 2010, as confirmed by the mayor of [[Irving, Texas|Irving]] on September 23, 2009.<ref name="Demo_Mayor">{{cite web |title=Texas Stadium decision due… |url=http://www.demolitionnews.com/2009/09/24/texas-stadium-decision-due-2/ |website=Demolition News |access-date=29 December 2019 |date=24 September 2009 |quote=Irving Mayor Herb Gears says it’s a bittersweet feeling sad...|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Many of the items in the stadium were auctioned off by the city and the Dallas Cowboys including the stadium seats, scoreboard and other pieces of memorabilia.

The City of Irving announced that the [[Texas Department of Transportation]] would pay $15.4 million to lease the site for 10 years for use as a staging location for the [[Texas State Highway 114|State Highway 114]]/[[Texas State Highway Loop 12|Loop 12]] [[diamond interchange]]. The city has the right to relocate the staging area if [[redevelopment]] becomes available.<ref>{{cite press release | url = http://www.ci.irving.tx.us/news-articles/texas-stadium-transition-0209.html | title = Texas Stadium Transition Under Way | date = 2010-02-16 | access-date = 2010-04-11 | publisher = City of [[Irving, Texas]] | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100528231016/http://www.ci.irving.tx.us/news-articles/texas-stadium-transition-0209.html | archive-date = 2010-05-28|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

====Demolition====
[[Image:Texas-Stadium-Implosion-WFAA-sm.png|thumb|right|A post-demolition view<br />by [[WFAA]]-TV in April 2010]]

On September 23, 2009, the City of [[Irving, Texas|Irving]] granted a demolition contract to Weir Brothers Inc., a local [[Dallas]] based company, for the [[demolition]] and [[building implosion|implosion]] of the stadium.<ref name="Demolition Plans">{{cite web |url=http://www.irvingweekly.com/story.php?s=102|title=Plans for the Demolition of Texas Stadium Move Forward after City Council Approves Resolution|website=Irving Weekly |date=28 March 2009 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Demolition Set">{{cite web |url=http://www.irvingweekly.com/story.php?s=387 |title=Texas Stadium Demolition Set|website=Irving Weekly |date=5 October 2009 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Contracts">{{cite news |url=http://cbs11tv.com/local/irving.auction.texas.2.1207297.html|author1=Gormley, Jay |work=CBS 11 News |date=24 September 2009 |title=Irving Exploring Auction To Implode Texas Stadium |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102083044/http://cbs11tv.com/local/irving.auction.texas.2.1207297.html |archive-date=2010-01-02|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

On December 31, 2009, The City of Irving and [[Kraft Foods]] announced details of their sponsorship deal for the stadium's implosion — including a national essay contest with the winner getting to pull the trigger that finishes off the stadium.<ref name="Demolition">{{cite web |title=Texas Stadium Demolition |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20z7hHe9z9k | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211118/20z7hHe9z9k| archive-date=2021-11-18 | url-status=live|website=YouTube |format=Video |date=11 April 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Kraft paid the city $75,000 and donated $75,000 worth of food to local food banks to promote its "Cheddar Explosion" version of [[Kraft Dinner|Kraft Macaroni & Cheese]].<ref name="Kraft">{{cite news |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2010/07/10/kraft-s-big-food-donation-to-irving-pantries-delayed-by-shipping-logistics/|title=Kraft's big food donation to Irving pantries delayed by shipping logistics|work=The Dallas Morning News |date=10 July 2010|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The city council unanimously approved the sponsorship deal.

At 7:07&nbsp;a.m. [[Central Time Zone|CDT]] on April 11, 2010, 11-year-old Casey Rogers turned the key to cause the demolition.<ref name="Implosion" /> From the first explosion, it took approximately 25 seconds for the stadium to completely fall. Debris removal continued until July 2010. Texas's Department of Transportation is using the site as an equipment storage and staging area, after which Irving will decide long-term plans.<ref name="Crumbles">{{cite news |title=Thousands cheer, reflect as Texas Stadium crumbles into lore |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2010/04/12/thousands-cheer-reflect-as-texas-stadium-crumbles-into-lore/ |work=The Dallas Morning News |date=12 April 2010 |quote=the Texas Department of Transportation is renting the site as a staging area for its Diamond Interchange project}}</ref>

In 2013–15, the area around the former stadium has been the epicenter for at least 46 small earthquakes, ranging in magnitude from 1.6 to 3.6.<ref name="2015_Quake">{{cite web |title=Dallas, Texas Earthquake 2015 Today Rocks Irving, 2nd Day of Quakes |url=http://news.lalate.com/2015/01/07/dallas-texas-earthquake-2015-today-rocks-irving-2nd-day-of-quakes/ |website=LaLate News |access-date=29 December 2019 |date=15 January 2015 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Earthquakes">{{cite web |url=http://earthquaketrack.com/us-tx-dallas/recent|title=Recent Earthquakes Near Dallas, Texas, United States |website=Earthquake Track}}</ref>

==Las Vegas Sands redevelopment proposal==

[[Las Vegas Sands]] is looking to develop an [[integrated resort]] at the site in the event that Texas legalizes casinos. The proposed development could also include a new arena for the [[Dallas Mavericks]] which is owned by Las Vegas Sands owner [[Miriam Adelson]].<ref>[https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2025/03/12/las-vegas-sands-irving-destination-resort-zoning.html Las Vegas Sands' resort vision in Irving relies on casino — but what about Mavericks arena?]</ref><ref>[https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nba/mavericks/mavs-new-arena-irving-city-council-destination-resort/287-c027568d-dcb7-455c-bdbf-f0d7ad6dce15 Irving City Council considering rezoning land owned by Adelson family for possible destination resort, including an arena]</ref> In March 2025, the Irving Zoning Commission approved the zoning changes for the land. The state would still need to change its gambling laws in order for the proposed resort to be built.<ref>[https://www.casino.org/news/sands-texas-casino-hopes-helped-by-irving-zoning-vote/ Sands Texas Casino Hopes Helped by Irving Zoning Vote]</ref> Shortly after revealing details of the proposed development, Las Vegas Sands dropped the casino proposal from the planned resort due to community opposition.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/irving-next-step-construction-casino-resort-sands-corporation/ Las Vegas Sands Corporation pulls casino-style gaming from proposal ahead of Irving City Council vote]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Sources==
*Shropshire, Mike. (1997). ''The Ice Bowl''. New York: Donald I. Fine Books. {{ISBN|1-55611-532-6}}
*Murchison, Burk & Granberry, Michael. (2022). ''Hole in the Roof: The Dallas Cowboys, Clint Murchison Jr., and the Stadium That Changed American Sports Forever''. College Station: Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 978-1-64843-096-1

==External links==

{{Commons category}}
*Sarnoff, Nancy. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20100426184427/http://blogs.chron.com/primeproperty/2010/04/in_irving_stadium_implosiondev.html In Irving, stadium implosion=development opportunity]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. April 19, 2010.
*[http://www.crossroadsdfw.com crossroadsdfw.com] shows potential redevelopment plans for the stadium after the Cowboys leave.

{{s-start}}
{{Succession box
|title  = Home of the<br />[[Dallas Cowboys]]
|years  = 1971–2008
|before = [[Cotton Bowl (stadium)|Cotton Bowl]]
|after  = [[AT&T Stadium]]
}}
{{Succession box
|title  = Home of the<br />[[Dallas Tornado]]
|years  = 1972–1975<br />1980–1981
|before = [[Franklin Field]]<br />[[Ownby Stadium]]
|after  = [[Ownby Stadium]]<br />final venue
}}
{{Succession box
|title  = Host of the [[Pro Bowl|NFL Pro Bowl]]
|years  = 1973
|before = [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]]
|after  = [[Arrowhead Stadium]]
}}
{{Succession box
|title  = Home of the<br />[[Big 12 Championship Game]]
|years  = 2001
|before = [[Arrowhead Stadium]]
|after  = [[Reliant Stadium]]
}}
{{Succession box
|title  = Host of [[NFC Championship Game]]
|years  = 1972<br />1974<br />1978<br />1994<br />1996
|before = [[Kezar Stadium]]<br />[[RFK Stadium]]<br />[[Metropolitan Stadium]]<br />[[Candlestick Park]]<br />[[Candlestick Park]]
|after  = [[RFK Stadium]]<br />[[Metropolitan Stadium]]<br />[[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]]<br />[[Candlestick Park]]<br />[[Lambeau Field]]
}}
{{end}}

{{Dallas Cowboys}}
{{Dallas Tornado}}
{{Irving, Texas}}
{{SMU Mustangs football navbox}}
{{Defunct NFL stadiums}}
{{Big 12 Championship Game navbox}}
{{AMA Supercross venues}}

[[Category:1971 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:2008 disestablishments in Texas]]
[[Category:American football venues in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Irving, Texas]]
[[Category:Dallas Cowboys stadiums]]
[[Category:Dallas Tornado sports facilities|t]]
[[Category:Defunct college football venues]]
[[Category:Defunct NFL venues]]
[[Category:Defunct soccer venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Demolished sports venues in Texas]]
[[Category:Former Major League Lacrosse venues]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) stadiums]]
[[Category:Wrestling venues in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]]
[[Category:SMU Mustangs football venues]]
[[Category:Sports in Irving, Texas]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1971]]
[[Category:Sports venues demolished in 2010]]
[[Category:Soccer venues in Texas]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures demolished by controlled implosion]]