The Cowboys' AT&T Stadium, built by Owner Jerry Jones and local taxpayers, provides the "biggest home-field disadvantage in the NFL," as Texans fans yesterday "matched and maybe exceeded the 49ers fans who showed up in huge numbers for the season opener," according to Tim Cowlishaw of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. The "high price of tickets at AT&T Stadium has many fans willing to sell their seats on the secondary market." Combine that with the "fact that the stadium -- now in its sixth year -- remains more of a novelty for visitors than for local fans and you have a house divided." The Cowboys "had to overcome a crowd that made this essentially a neutral-site game." Cowboys QB Tony Romo said, "I was a little bit surprised by the number of Houston fans. Today we played on the road." He added, "We need to do a better job as a team, as a fan base, to make sure how big of a difference playing at home is. I think going forward I'm going to press the issue. We just need to tighten up on selling our tickets. ... There was probably half and half today. That was every bit as loud as going to St. Louis or Tennessee" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/6). In Dallas, Jon Machota wrote, "Another game at AT&T Stadium and another very strong showing by the visiting crowd." Texans fans were "all over the upper and lower bowls, but especially noticeable in the Party Pass areas" (DALLASNEWS.com, 10/5).
