Cowboys Eye Several College Football Games For New Stadium

Cowboys Stadium Will Host Four College  Football Games In '09, Including Cotton Bowl

The Cowboys' new stadium "eventually could become as much a college field as an NFL venue if the Jones family has a say," according to Jeff Mosier of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Cowboys Exec VP & COO Stephen Jones this week said that there is "even the potential to schedule more college football games than NFL match-ups at the stadium." Jones: "Our goal would be to have as many (college games) as we have Cowboys games, which would be 10. We're not there yet, but we're pushing forward." For the first full year in the new stadium, the team is "nearly halfway to that booking goal." Four college games, "including the Cotton Bowl Classic, are already on the schedule." Jones said that the Cowboys also are "close to a deal" with Texas Tech Univ. and Baylor Univ. for a game this fall. Meanwhile, Jones said of the stadium possibly hosting a Pro Bowl, "We always would love to do it, but there's obviously a lot of dynamics that we respect and appreciate" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/13).

PUSHING FORWARD: Supporters of the new stadium said that the "impact of the new stadium, opening at a time when the economy and the promise of America's Team are on shaky ground, will shine through gloom" and "open the door to more revenue and sports clout for North Texas." Jones said that "despite the economic downturn, sales have continued on suites and seats." While "no multimillion-dollar naming rights sponsorship" for the stadium has been "hammered out, sponsorships have been forged with AmericanAirlines, Miller Lite, Ford, Dr Pepper and Pepsi," among others. Jones: "The challenge now is finishing selling the building in this type of environment. If we'd have known all the details, maybe we wouldn't have jumped in as quick as we did" (DALLAS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/6 issue).