North Texas Super Bowl Host Committee President & CEO Bill Lively yesterday said that future host committees "should have a voice in preparations at Cowboys Stadium" in the wake of the seating debacle at this month's Super Bowl, according to Pete Alfano of the FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM. Lively "did not learn" that temporary seats "might not be finished on time until 11:30 the night before the game, when he received a call from a staff member." Lively: "We should have been more informed than we were. ... The last time I was in the stadium was Jan. 19, for a Host Committee and Council of Mayors meeting. We expressed concern (about progress on the seats), but we had nothing to do with the stadium." Lively added that "plans are on fast forward to create a North Texas sports commission to help the region bid for the 50th Super Bowl, among other major events," and he "hopes it will be in place by the summer." Lively said that "the 'enormous' revenue that Cowboys Stadium generated for the NFL will earn the region a second chance." Lively: "The (NFL) owners will look at the revenue yield, and I think we'll get another game. When that will be, I don't know" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 2/17).
ADDRESS FROM THE OWNER: Lively yesterday said Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones "was devastated" by the negative reaction to the Super Bowl in North Texas. Jones addressed the host committee, and Lively said, "It was emotional for them and him. And he said, 'You all did a tremendous job here, you could have done no more' and was sorry for the temporary seating thing. 'Guys, you have set new standards, you made a brand new day for host committees, and we will always be grateful.' They felt like they failed, and they didn't fail." In Ft. Worth, Jennifer Floyd Engel writes the "problem with the Super Bowl was bigger than just weather or seats." It was the "need to be bigger than the huge it already is." But she adds, "Nobody failed. In fact, Lively and Co. did a fantastic job" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 2/17).
