A "cost-conscious" Dallas 2012 Olympic bid committee
approved a list of 38 "likely" venues on Tuesday that
"focused heavily" on such existing facilities as Texas
Stadium and The Ballpark in Arlington, but also placed
"considerable faith" in future projects, according to
Michael Young of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. The Olympic
Village, which would provide housing, restaurants, shops and
other amenities to 15,000 athletes, would be built on a
"yet-to-be-determined site." Some events would be held in a
"roofed" Texas Stadium, while the opening and closing
ceremonies would be at a new $265M Cotton Bowl. It's
"almost certain" that the "centerpiece" for a North TX
Olympics would be Fair Park and the new Cotton Bowl. Dallas
2012 officials "wouldn't disclose" their exact cost
projections for the Games, but $2B "should be enough."
Dallas 2012 Chair Tom Luce: "We are absolutely confident we
will be able to pay for all of this with private funds"
(DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/19). In Arlington, Rachel Horton
writes that the 38 venues will be in 18 area cities. Dallas
faces competition from Houston, Baltimore/DC, Cincinnati,
L.A., N.Y., Seattle and Tampa, FL (ARLINGTON MORNING NEWS,
7/19). In Ft. Worth, Mede Nix writes the cost of closing
the roof on Texas Stadium "would probably be about one-tenth
the cost of building an Olympic Stadium." If Cowboys Owner
Jerry Jones builds a new stadium, the Olympic money for
Texas Stadium "could go toward that project." But Luce said
"he would not get in the middle of negotiations between
Jones and the city of Irving" (F.W. STAR-TELEGRAM, 7/19).
