AT&T Stadium

AT&T Stadium

AT&T Stadium is a large stadium with a retractable roof in Arlington, Texas. It is the home of the Dallas Cowboys, a team in the National Football League. The stadium was finished in 2009 and has hosted many important games and events. It is also used for concerts, basketball games, soccer matches, college and high-school football games, rodeos, motocross, Spartan Races, and professional wrestling.

The stadium is often called Jerry World, named after the team's owner, Jerry Jones. It can seat 80,000 people, but with special seating areas, it can hold more than 100,000 people, making it the largest stadium in the NFL. It has very large screens for fans to watch the action.

Construction and design

AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, was planned to cost $650 million but ended up costing $1.15 billion. It is one of the most expensive sports venues ever built. The city of Arlington agreed to raise some taxes to help pay for it. The owner of the Dallas Cowboys also helped cover extra costs.

The stadium was designed to look like a civic building, not just a sports place. It has tall arches and large screens for fans to watch games. The roof can be opened or closed to protect against weather. The field can be changed for different events like concerts or other sports.

Timeline

In 1994, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys wanted to make their old stadium better for big events like the Super Bowl. Over the next few years, they looked at different places to build a new one. In 2004, they chose Arlington, Texas. People voted to help pay for it, and building started in 2005.

The stadium opened to the public on May 27, 2009. The first event was a country music concert on June 6, 2009. The first football game there was on August 21, 2009, and the first regular-season NFL game was on September 20, 2009. The stadium has hosted many big events, including the Super Bowl in 2011 and wrestling’s WrestleMania in 2016 and 2022.

Naming

Fans had many fun nicknames for the stadium before it got an official name, like "Jerry World" and "Cowboys Cathedral." On May 13, 2009, it was named Cowboys Stadium.

Later, on July 25, 2013, the name changed to AT&T Stadium. A company agreed to pay for the naming rights. Special large letters were placed on top of the stadium to show the new name. This stadium and another one in Lubbock, Texas both share the AT&T name.

Video boards

Guinness World Records came to a game on September 28, 2009, between the Dallas Cowboys and the Carolina Panthers. They gave awards to the leader of Mitsubishi Electric and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for having the biggest HD video screen in the world at that time. When basketball games happen at the stadium, like the 2010 NBA All-Star Game, the two big video screens are larger than the basketball court. Even though some stadiums have built bigger screens since then, these video boards are still counted among the largest in the world.

Major events

NBA All-Star Weekend

On February 14, 2010, the stadium hosted the 2010 NBA All-Star Game. The game had a very large crowd and set a new record for the highest-attended basketball game in history. The East squad won with a score of 141–139 over the West.

NFL

• On January 3, 2010, the Cowboys defeated the Philadelphia Eagles to win the NFC East division title.
• On January 9, 2010, the Cowboys hosted the stadium's first playoff game, playing the Eagles again. Dallas won.
• On February 6, 2011, the stadium hosted Super Bowl XLV, in which the Green Bay Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers. Others wanted to host the game, too. The Cowboys tried to add more seats to set a record for attendance. During an ice storm, some construction workers were hurt by ice from the roof. Some seats were blocked off for safety before the game. Some people could not be seated, and they were given free tickets to the next year's Super Bowl and other offers.
• In 2018, the stadium hosted the 2018 NFL draft.

College football

College Football Playoff National Championship

• January 12, 2015: The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Oregon Ducks before a crowd of 85,689 in the inaugural 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship.

Big 12 Championship Game

AT&T Stadium was the site of the 2009 and 2010 Big 12 Championship Games. On December 5, 2009, the Texas Longhorns defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The following year, on December 4, 2010, the Oklahoma Sooners and Nebraska Cornhuskers played again, with the Sooners winning.

Cotton Bowl Classic

• January 2, 2010: In the first bowl game played at the stadium, the Ole Miss Rebels defeated the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
• January 7, 2011: In the next year, the LSU Tigers defeated the Texas A&M Aggies.
• January 6, 2012: The Arkansas Razorbacks defeated Kansas State Wildcats.
• January 4, 2013: The Texas A&M Aggies defeated the Oklahoma Sooners.
• January 3, 2014: The Missouri Tigers defeated the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
• January 1, 2015: The Michigan State Spartans defeated the Baylor Bears.
• January 2, 2017: The Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Western Michigan Broncos.
• December 29, 2017: The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the USC Trojans.
• December 29, 2018: The Clemson Tigers defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
• December 28, 2019: The Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the Memphis Tigers.
• December 30, 2020: The Oklahoma Sooners defeated the Florida Gators.
• December 31, 2021: The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats.
• January 2, 2023: The Tulane Green Wave defeated the USC Trojans.
• December 29, 2023: The Missouri Tigers defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes.
• January 10, 2025: The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Texas Longhorns.

Rose Bowl

• January 1, 2021: The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. This game was the first since 1942 that the Rose Bowl was not played in Pasadena, California; this was because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Advocare Classic

• September 5, 2009: The Brigham Young University Cougars and Oklahoma Sooners played the first college football game in the new stadium, with the Cougars winning.
• September 4, 2010: TCU defeated Oregon State.
• September 3, 2011: LSU defeated Oregon.
• September 1, 2012: Alabama defeated Michigan.
• August 31, 2013: LSU defeated TCU.
• August 30, 2014: Florida State defeated Oklahoma State.
• August 31, 2019: Auburn defeated the Oregon Ducks.

Southwest Classic

The Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Texas A&M Aggies football rivalry began in 1903 and was played at Cowboys Stadium from 2009 through 2011. In 2012, Texas A&M joined Arkansas in the Southeastern Conference, and the series went back to the schools' home fields. The Southwest Classic returned to AT&T Stadium in 2014 and will stay there through at least 2024. The 2020 game was moved because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• October 3, 2009: The Arkansas Razorbacks defeated the Texas A&M Aggies.
• October 9, 2010: The Arkansas Razorbacks defeated the Texas A&M Aggies.
• October 1, 2011: The Arkansas Razorbacks defeated the Texas A&M Aggies.
• September 27, 2014: The Texas A&M Aggies defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks.
• September 26, 2015: Texas A&M defeated the Razorbacks again.
• September 24, 2016: The Aggies defeated the Razorbacks.
• September 25, 2021: Arkansas defeated Texas A&M.

Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Shootout

In 2009, the Big 12 Conference game between the Baylor Bears and Texas Tech Red Raiders was held at Cowboys Stadium. After the 2010 game was held at the Cotton Bowl, the series returned to AT&T Stadium for the 2011 and 2012 games.

East–West Shrine Bowl

The 100th edition of the East–West Shrine Bowl, a postseason all-star game, will be held at AT&T Stadium on January 30, 2025.

Basketball

• December 19, 2009: In the first college basketball game at the stadium, the Texas Longhorns defeated North Carolina.
• March 2013: 2013 NCAA Tournament South Regional featuring 3 games
• 2014: 2014 NCAA men's Final Four

Soccer

• July 19, 2009 – Cowboys Stadium hosted two matches in the quarterfinal round of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Costa Rica defeated Guadeloupe, and Mexico shut out Haiti, in front of 85,000 fans.
• July 17, 2010 – On July 17, 2010, two top professional soccer clubs in Mexico met in a friendly at Cowboys Stadium.
• June 5, 2011 – Cowboys Stadium hosted the opening matches of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Costa Rica defeated Cuba and Mexico defeated El Salvador in front of 80,108 fans.
• August 6, 2011 – 2011 World Football Challenge; Club America vs FC Barcelona; in front of 60,087 fans.
• June 3, 2012 – Cowboys Stadium hosted a soccer match in which Mexico played against Brazil. Mexico defeated Brazil with goals from Giovani dos Santos and Javier Hernández.
• July 24, 2013 – Cowboys Stadium hosted the semifinals matches of the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
• July 22, 2017 – 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-final.
• July 31, 2018 – 2018 International Champions Cup; AS Roma defeated FC Barcelona
• July 10, 2021 – 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage.
• July 25, 2021 – 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-final.
• July 8, 2023 – 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals.
• July 29, 2023 – In a friendly match, Barcelona defeated Real Madrid in front of 82,026 fans.
• March 21–24, 2024 – 2024 CONCACAF Nations League Finals,
• June 21, 2024 – 2024 Copa América group stage.
• June 23, 2024 – 2024 Copa América group stage.
• July 5, 2024 – 2024 Copa América quarter-final.
• June 18, 2025 – 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage.
• June 22, 2025 – 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage.

2026 FIFA World Cup

AT&T Stadium will host nine matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be organized and hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico. It is also one of two venues in Texas which have been selected to host matches, the other being NRG Stadium in Houston. The stadium will undergo renovations in the years prior to the start of the tournament. The stadium will temporarily change its name to "Dallas Stadium" in accordance with FIFA's policy on corporate sponsored names. The stadium will host the most matches of any venue in the tournament.

Boxing

The stadium has hosted multiple world championship boxing fights since its opening. Many of the sport's biggest stars including Manny Pacquiao and Canelo Álvarez have headlined championship bouts there.

• March 13, 2010 - The Event: Before a crowd of 50,994, Manny Pacquiao recorded a decision over Joshua Clottey to retain his WBO welterweight title.
• November 13, 2010 – The Eighth Wonder of the World: In front of 41,734 fans, Manny Pacquiao defeated Antonio Margarito to win the WBC super welterweight title.
• September 17, 2016 – Before a crowd of 51,420, Canelo Álvarez defeated Liam Smith to win the WBO light middleweight title.
• March 16, 2019 - Before a crowd of 47,525, Errol Spence Jr. defended his IBF welterweight title.
• December 5, 2020 - In front of 16,978 fans, Errol Spence Jr. defeated Danny García.
• May 8, 2021 - Before a crowd of 73,126 people, Canelo Álvarez unified the WBA (Super), WBC and WBO super-middleweight titles when he beat Billy Joe Saunders.
• April 15, 2022 - Errol Spence Jr. unified the WBA (Super), WBC and IBF welterweight titles when he beat Yordenis Ugas by knockout before a crowd of 40,828.
• November 5, 2024, YouTuber-turned-professional boxer Jake Paul defeated former undisputed heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson in a decision before a crowd of 72,300.

WrestleMania

AT&T Stadium hosted WWE's WrestleMania 32 on April 3, 2016. It was the third WrestleMania to be hosted in Texas. 101,763 people attended the event.

On April 2 and 3, 2022, the stadium hosted WrestleMania 38. 131,372 people attended the two night event.

Supercross

AT&T Stadium has hosted a round of the AMA Supercross Championship since 2010, replacing Texas Stadium, which had been host since 1975.

Ice Hockey

AT&T Stadium is set to host the 2027 NHL Stadium Series between the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights. The game is scheduled for February 20, 2027.

Concerts

Other events

• September 5, 2009 – No. 20 BYU defeated No. 3 Oklahoma in the first college game played in the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
• September 7, 2009 – The first high school football game played at Cowboys Stadium was between Euless Trinity and Bingham (Utah).
• November 12, 2009 – The first Texas high school football playoff game played at Cowboys Stadium was between Bowie High School (Arlington, Texas) and Richland High School (North Richland Hills; Texas).
• February 2010 – The Professional Bull Riders hosted the Dickies Iron Cowboy Invitational in February 2010.
• February 2010 – The first MDA Muscle Walk in the Dallas-Fort Worth area took place.
• February 27, 2010 – The stadium hosted its first Monster Jam event with 11 trucks.
• June 30, 2011 – The final round of the 2011 US Women's Open in bowling was played at Cowboys Stadium, with Leanne Hulsenberg winning.
• Dec. 7 – 17, 2011 – Cowboys Stadium hosted all the Texas 11-man football state championships for the first time.
• February 2011 – The Professional Bull Riders hosted the Dickies Iron Cowboy Invitational in February 2011.
• February 2012 – The Professional Bull Riders hosted the Dickies Iron Cowboy Invitational in February 2012.
• February 2013 – The Professional Bull Riders hosted the Dickies Iron Cowboy Invitational in February 2013.
• February 11, 2013 – American Sniper Chris Kyle's memorial ceremony proceeded by a 200-mile procession across Texas.
• March 2014 – The Professional Bull Riders hosted the Dickies Iron Cowboy Invitational in February 2014.
• March 2014 – The inaugural The American Rodeo was held.
• April 26, 2014 – AT&T Stadium hosted the senior prom of South Garland High School.
• June 27 – 29, 2014 – International Assembly of Jehovah's Witnesses
• July 6, 2014 – Semi-pro football (EFL) held its first indoor Pro Bowl game.
• July 25–27, 2014 – International Assembly of Jehovah's Witnesses
• February 2015 – The Professional Bull Riders hosted the Choctaw Casino Resort Iron Cowboy in February 2015.
• March 2015 – The American Rodeo was held.
• March 7, 2015 – The 2015 AT&T American Cup, an FIG World Cup event, is held at the stadium.
• June 20, 2015 – AT&T Stadium hosted thousands of Spartans for Reebok's Spartan Race.
• January 12, 2016 – The world premiere of 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi was shown on the stadium's high-definition video board.
• February 2016 – The Professional Bull Riders hosted the Choctaw Casino Resort Iron Cowboy in February 2016.
• February 2016 – The American Rodeo was held.
• March 6, 2016 – Greg Laurie's Harvest America took place at the stadium. Special guests included Chris Tomlin, Lecrae, MercyMe, and Switchfoot.
• February 2017 – The Professional Bull Riders hosted the Choctaw Casino Resort Iron Cowboy in February 2017.
• February 2017 – The American Rodeo was held.
• February 2018 – The Professional Bull Riders hosted the WinStar World Casino and Resort Iron Cowboy in 2018.
• February 2018 – The American Rodeo was held.
• February 2019 – The third PBR Global Cup took place at AT&T Stadium.
• March 2019 – The American Rodeo was held.
• February 2020 – The fourth PBR Global Cup was held.
• March 2020 – The American Rodeo was held.
• November 2020 – The annual PBR World Finals took place at AT&T Stadium after being moved from Las Vegas due to restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• March 2021 – The American Rodeo was held.
• February 2022 – The fifth PBR Global Cup was held.
• March 2022 – The American Rodeo was held.
• May 2024 – Kid Rock's Rock n' Rodeo was held.
• May 2024 – The final two days of the 2024 PBR World Finals were held.
• November 2, 2024 - Major League Wiffle Ball hosted its 2024 World Series at the stadium.
• May 2025 – Kid Rock's Rock n' Rodeo was held.
• March 2026 – Grand Prix of Arlington's course will feature AT&T stadium.

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Concessions and merchandising

On October 20, 2008, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys and the owner of the New York Yankees announced a partnership called Legends Hospitality Management LLC. This company would provide food and sell team items at the new stadium in Arlington, Texas, and at the new Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. A former leader of Pizza Hut would manage the company from its office in Newark, New Jersey. The company received support from a Wall Street investment firm and a Dallas private equity firm.

Art collection

The Jones family asked 18 modern artists to create special artworks for the stadium. You can see paintings, sculptures, and installations by artists like Franz Ackermann, Doug Aitken, Ricci Albenda, and many more.

In 2013, the stadium received a special sculpture called Sky Mirror, made by Anish Kapoor. It is placed in a plaza outside the east end of the stadium.

Transportation

Parking

Parking at Dallas Cowboys games costs around $75 for special areas. For big concerts and sports events, parking costs about $40. A shuttle runs between the T&P Station and AT&T Stadium for some games. During very special events, parking prices can go up.

Public transit

The stadium used to have a special bus called the Metro Arlington Xpress (MAX). This bus stopped near Collins and Andrews and connected to the Trinity Rail Express at CentrePort/DFW Airport. This bus service started in April 2013 and was run by Dallas Area Rapid Transit. It was later replaced by a ride-sharing service. This new service still connects to the CentrePort/DFW Airport station.

Criticisms

Video boards

Since AT&T Stadium opened, some people have worried about the big video screens above the field. During an early game, a kick by a player from the Tennessee Titans hit one of the screens. This made some people think the screens might cause problems during games.

Sunlight glare

AT&T Stadium has large windows that let in a lot of sunlight. During late afternoon games, this sunlight can create a glare that makes it hard for players to see the ball. Some players have said the glare makes it difficult to see passes or kicks. In a 2024 game, a player missed a possible touchdown because of the glare. Some people think the stadium should use curtains to block the sunlight during games, but the team has not done this yet.