Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones and officials of Irving, TX, are
discussing a plan to expand Texas Stadium by the year 2000. The
plan would increase capacity to a league-high 104,000 seats, add
air-conditioning, a grass field, and a retractable "clam shell"
roof. Jones said the project would cost $130M to $140M and would
make Texas Stadium attractive for Super Bowls and college bowl
games. Irving Mayor Bobby Joe Raper said the the idea is "more
than just talk. It's starting to pick up some momentum." Raper
said there are no details on how the project would be paid for,
but he did say part of the money could come from "hotel-motel
taxes and franchise fees that the city collects from the
stadium." Irving City Council member Morris Parrish "believes
the idea will be tough to sell to taxpayers, many of whom already
have concerns about the city's efforts to lure" the Mavericks and
the North Stars. Jones paid $140M for the Cowboys and the
Stadium in 1989 (Cowlishaw & Lunsford, DALLAS MORNING NEWS,
10/24). CNBC's Sue Herera said the expansion would make Texas
Stadium "the largest stadium in the U.S., and the only NFL
stadium with over 100,000 seats" ("Market Wrap," 10/24).
