Texans Reliant Stadium beginning to spawn NFL copycats

[tigereye]

It appears that Reliant Stadium is beginning to become the NFL's version of Camden Yards in that everyone has to have one specifically with a retractable roof. The Cardinals, Colts, Chiefs, Jets, Cowboys, Saints, and Vikings are all now trying to build retractable-roofed stadiums. Some of these proposals are completely ridiclous. The Jets plan to build in Manhattan wiht the cost soaring to 1.2 billion dollars and the Cowboys want to build a staduim that would seat over 100,000 fans. That would be a huge mistake since it would be extremely difficult to sellout and because the building is not sold out, blackouts would probably roll across TV screens throughtout DFW. Just ask Redskin fans who have a hard time filling up 85,000-seat Fedex Field. Hear are some images from Arizona and Minnesota as to what you can expect to see in the future.

Minnesota

http://www.vikings.com/stadium/images/ns-open.jpg

http://www.vikings.com/stadium/images/ns-cover.jpg

http://www.vikings.com/stadium/images/ns-outside.jpg

Arizona

http://www.azcardinals.com/uploads/view1_daytime.jpg

http://www.azcardinals.com/uploads/view4_dayaerial.jpg

http://www.azcardinals.com/uploads/view3_interior.jpg

[Groogrux]

That Arizona one is so God-awful, I almost like it.

[tigereye]

The architects say the Arizona stadium is designed to look like a cactus. But I keep thinking to myself, isnt a cactus green instead of gray? Doesnt a cactus have sharp prickly thorns on its side?:confused:

[MadMax]

wow...except arizona, those all look a TON like reliant...particuarly the one from minnesota!!

[A-Train]

Redskins fans have a hard time filling up FedEx Field? I thought that there was something like a 10 year waiting list for season tickets...

[codell]

Originally posted by tigereye
http://www.azcardinals.com/uploads/view4_dayaerial.jpg


This is another rendering of Arizona's new stadium.

http://www.sfo.com/~csuppes/NFL/ArizonaCardinals/newaerialo.gif

BTW, here is a great website that has photos and renderings of past, present and future sports venues in the United States: http://www.ballparks.com

[rrj_gamz]

I know I'm biased, but...

Reliant Stadium is the best stadium around...

I went to FEDEX last year and it sucked...

I think I'm spoiled by being in Houston...MM Park, Rockets Arena...

[BanginScrew]

I wouldn't say those team are trying to copy the Texans stadium because of it's retractable roof. If that was the case then you could say that the Texans copied the Seahawks old stadium since it had a restractable roof first.

[MadMax]

Originally posted by BanginScrew
I wouldn't say those team are trying to copy the Texans stadium because of it's retractable roof. If that was the case then you could say that the Texans copied the Seahawks old stadium since it had a restractable roof first.

the Kingdome?? no, it didn't. the Texans are the first NFL team to play in a retractable roof stadium.

but it's not just the roof...it's the design...

[StupidMoniker]

Why would you want a retractable roof in Minnestoa? Isn't it like 4 degrees there during football season? Weren't they going to contract the Twins?:confused:

[MadMax]

Originally posted by StupidMoniker
Why would you want a retractable roof in Minnestoa? Isn't it like 4 degrees there during football season? Weren't they going to contract the Twins?:confused:

i think it's a football only stadium...

[Dave2000]

I think that Reliant set the standards on new stadiums just like the Astrodome did. The Minnesota one looks almost like an exact duplicate of Reliant and AZ's are just plain ridicolous looking. :rolleyes:

[Live]

From RM95:

That Arizona one is so God-awful, I almost like it.

Ditto.

And I'm talking about the 'cactus' concept, not that other 'thing.' YUCK!

[MadMax]

i just noticed...that bottom picture of a game day view of the arizona stadium...even in the fictional pictures trying to sell a new stadium...even in those pictures the stands aren't full for a Cardinals game! :)

[A-Train]

Originally posted by StupidMoniker
Why would you want a retractable roof in Minnestoa? Isn't it like 4 degrees there during football season? Weren't they going to contract the Twins?:confused:

Number of Super Bowl appearances when the Vikings played outdoors: 4

Number of Super Bowl appearances when the Vikings played indoors: 0

The 72 degree climate controlled dome has turned the once proud Vikings into a bunch of pansies...

[tigereye]

This pic below is of the Saints proposed retractable roofed stadium from 2002. Right now it appears though that the Saints will probably have to settle on remodeling the Superdome because of funding issues with the new stadium. Currently they are still mulling there options

http://www.stadiumsofnfl.com/future/saints101.gif


Also, if you are looking for a direct copycat of Reliant, look no further than the Jets new retractable roofed stadium in Manhattan that was unvieled earlier this month. It looks almost the same as Reliant did in its first renderings. I am trying to find a pic of it, but I am having a hard time finding one.

[Miguel]

http://www.azcardinals.com/uploads/view4_dayaerial.jpg


Nickname: The Igloo

[tigereye]

Originally posted by codell
This is another rendering of Arizona's new stadium.

http://www.sfo.com/~csuppes/NFL/ArizonaCardinals/newaerialo.gif

BTW, here is a great website that has photos and renderings of past, present and future sports venues in the United States: http://www.ballparks.com


This is actually the old rendering of the Arizona stadium when it was supposed to be located in Tempe. Originally, it was supposed to be located near Sky Harbor Airport but it was moved because it was too tall and to close to the Airport runway.

The rendering I have posted is actually now the updated and final design fro the stadium to be now located in Glendale, AZ next to the Coyotes new arena. Interestingly enough, the interior of the Coyotes new arena looks very similar to the new Rox arena

[tigereye]

If anyone has the pic of the new Jets stadium unvieled earlier this month please post it. It looks almost exactly like Reliant.

[DuncanIdaho]

Originally posted by MadMax
the Kingdome?? no, it didn't. the Texans are the first NFL team to play in a retractable roof stadium.

but it's not just the roof...it's the design...


Don't the Cowboys have a retractable roof stadium?

[tigereye]

The Cowboys are also stadium shopping as everyone knows already. they have been in talks with Arlington Irving and various other sites around DFW. However, recently the Dallas Morning News reported that Dallas County wants create a Sports Authority like Houston did to fund its facilities and over see the project. The money they could generate would be substantially more than other sites could offer. The Cotton Bowl would probably end up the best site if the county landed a deal since there are efforts already underway to renovate the Cotton Bowl. Here are some pics I dug up of the the renovation plans. they would probably change a tad bit if Jones gets his way and adds a retractable roof to the dome project. But this could probably be what lies ahead for the Cowboys in the future.

http://cottondome.org/newcotton.gif

http://cottondome.org/pix/img0013.jpg

[tigereye]

Originally posted by DuncanIdaho
Don't the Cowboys have a retractable roof stadium?

Nope. They have a hole in the roof so God can watch them play...............or so they claim.

[RC Cola]

Originally posted by tigereye
Nope. They have a hole in the roof so God can watch them play...............or so they claim.
That's one thing that always seemed weird to me. It was stange for one side to be like 76 degrees and the other 103. I guess its kind of cool...kind of...sort of.

I like Realiant Stadium. It seemed pretty cool and looks pretty cool. I remember seeing it a couple of times driving by. If the Cowboys had a similiar one, I'd be happy. (not that I would go to a game, though. I don't know how much they cost, but I want to say NFL tickets are pretty expensive, at least for my family.)

[EddieWasSnubbed]

Originally posted by tigereye

http://www.stadiumsofnfl.com/future/saints101.gif



What's the point of having a retractable roof if your going to have a hole in the side?:eek:

[tigereye]

Originally posted by EddieWasSnubbed
What's the point of having a retractable roof if your going to have a hole in the side?:eek:

The roof the Saints had planned would actually be like Seattle's Safeco Field in that it would just cover the building, not enclose it. The roof would just sort of be like a ginat umbrella for the stadium. One side of the stands would have glass to preserve the view of downtown N.O. and the end zone would be sort of left open to the elements but covered overhead by the edge of the umbrella. That section would still get wet though which totally defeats the purpose of having a retractable roof like in Seattle. This plan will probably change abit if they do build a new stadium because of rising costs and an impractical design. This plan might even be abandoned if they choose to remodel the Superdome or leave for Gulfport-Biloxi casinoland in Mississippi. They have yet to make a final decision.

[Raven Lunatic]

I think the new Arizona stadium was designed with no sharp edges so none of the fans will hurt themselves.

[tigereye]

Get this, both Arizona stadium concepts were designed by world renouned architect Peter Eisenman, the same guy who came up with the concepts for the World Trade Center memorial. The old concept was of a swirling Arizona desert wind and the stadium was to have two retarctable parts, the roof and the side was a glass wall that was supposed to drop down and give fans a view outside like at MMP. The stadium was also to have a convention center and a Hotel as you can tell by the rendering. But because of rising costs the plan has been scaled back severly. The "cactus concept" that you see is now the stadium that will be built for the Cardinals in 2005. Gone are the convention center, the Hotel, and the drop-down glass side with a view. The stadium will still have its retractable roof overhead and will also feature a roll out field but in short, all the good stuff that made this stadium actually cool and interesting are gone and replaced by this boring, ugly "cactus" you now see. Glad I'm not a Cardinal fan. Bad team, Bad owner, Ugly uniforms and logo, ugly old stadium, ugly new stadium..........How much can a fan take?:rolleyes:

[Baqui99]

Originally posted by tigereye
Get this, both Arizona stadium concepts were designed by world renouned architect Peter Eisenman, the same guy who came up with the concepts for the World Trade Center memorial.

Those renderings look like Frank Gehry models. Anyways, I've never been a fan of indoor football stadiums. Actually, I thought the New Orleans model was really cool with the downtown skyline views.

Football is meant to be played outdoors with open air. I was disappointed that Reliant is pretty closed in on all sides. If ya'll want to see a real football stadium, I suggest you check out Kyle Field on a Saturday afternoon in the fall.

Kyle Field
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/texas/college_station_kyle.jpg

Royal Texas Memorial Stadium
http://www.texassports.com/images/facilities/2001_02/FB_big.jpg

Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska

http://www.randymalick.com/Husker-photo-album/memorial%20stadium%20pic.jpg

[tigereye]

Here is something even more interesting regarding the Cardinals stadium. The NHL's Coyotes are building an arena next door to the "Big Cactus" and strangly enough, the interior looks very similar to the Rox new downtown arena.

I have posted pics of the two buildings in a new thread in the new arena section of the BBS. Check it out because I believe Arizona has been checkin out our new venues a little too hard.

[BanginScrew]

Originally posted by tigereye
Nope. They have a hole in the roof so God can watch them play...............or so they claim. From what I've heard the original plan was for Texas Stadium to have a retractable roof. I'm not sure why they didn't finish it though. It's unique the way it is but man that stadium is a serious eye sore. The Cowboys definately need a new stadium.

Jones has said that he wants the new stadium to be part of an amusement park (not the State Fair or the Cotton Bowl). He wants his own stadium with his own amusement park. They been talking about an area close to the trinity or the area right behind where Texas Stadium is currently located in Los Colinas.

[tigereye]

That's interesting Banging Screw. Jones wants a theme park with his stadium? Why doesnt he just build in Arlington next to Six Flags over Texas. What's even more interesting is how is he and the taxpayers in the DFW area gonna pay for all with the current bad economic situation and war now upon us. He wants a 100,000 seat retarctable roof stadium and a theme park. (BTW, that 100,000 capacity is antoher huge mistake by Jones) The cost of building such an ambitious project would probably be in the neighborhood of 1 Billion Dollars!!! New York cant even pay that for a new stadium for the Jets and the Olympics. Arizona had the same ambitious plans for there new digs but given the bad economic times, they have been reduced to that ugly "cactus" you now see. San Francisco had plans for a stadium mall project that would only cost $600 million dollars, but for the same reason as Arizona, the mall idea has been scrapped due to rising costs and now the stadium is in jeporedy of being scrapped too. True, there project has been delayed by there nasty ownership situation, but now that the dispute is resolved, they are focusing on building the stadium. Only problem is that they have funding issues due to rising costs and bad economic times which has been stated in the past in the Contra Costa Times by team officals. How on earth will Jerry pull this off? Personally, I believe he will get his stadium but its only a matter of time before that amusement park idea of his is scrapped too. And if Dallas County is giving him a deal as was reported in DMN, they will push hard for that Cotton Bowl site because of the money raised privatley by those who want to Dome it. This money could be used to lessen the burden on taxpayers. I am glad I am not living up in Dallas. You guys are going to have to pay a high price for Jerry's dream.

[MadMax]

Originally posted by BanginScrew
From what I've heard the original plan was for Texas Stadium to have a retractable roof. I'm not sure why they didn't finish it though. It's unique the way it is but man that stadium is a serious eye sore. The Cowboys definately need a new stadium.

Jones has said that he wants the new stadium to be part of an amusement park (not the State Fair or the Cotton Bowl). He wants his own stadium with his own amusement park. They been talking about an area close to the trinity or the area right behind where Texas Stadium is currently located in Los Colinas.

i've heard this talk for a while...honestly, at least 2 years now with no concrete steps moving forward..but with an economy like this...and the continuing war on terrorism..i'm willing to bet it will be a long time before you could get voter approval for that kind of project. not sure how much he would be floating with his own private funds.

[BanginScrew]

I would have to say that the war obviously changes (or at least postpones) any stadium plans. As for where the money is going to come from. They (city of Dallas) have been talking about putting together some kind of sports authority similar to what the City of Houston has that will basically come up with an idea for funding of a new stadium without killing the locals with all kinds of taxes. The latest idea has them adding an extra tax to all hotel, and car rentals. They've estimated that the amount generated would be more than enough to fund a new stadium. It all has to pass in a vote though. I personally think it will pass because the majority of the people that it will effect are out of towners.

Also Jones will fund the building of the amusement park himself. The tax payers would only be paying for the stadium itself. I also agree that a 100,000 seat stadium would be a mistake unless a good 20,000 of those seats can be removed in case the stadium doesn't sell out. I have a feeling that Jones knows what he's doing though. He may suck as a football man but this is one area where he is one of the absolute best at. I also think that he wants the revenue from the amusment park which is why he won't do it at Six Flags over Texas.

If the new stadium were built in Irving or Arlington it wouldn't be a big deal to the people of Dallas because we wouldn't have to pay the taxes to fund the new stadium. I would perfer for the Cowboys to be back in Dallas though.

[mrpaige]

By the time the Vikes get a new stadium, there will probably be something else beyond retractable roofs that tickle owners' fancies. It isn't on the horizon anytime soon.

As for the Cowboys, they'll probably get their pleasure palace in one of the suburbs and not have to return to the Cotton Bowl (domed or not). I don't think 100,000 capacity for regular season games is smart, either, and expect to see that scaled down in the final building.

I actually drove by Reliant for the first time the other day since it was finished. Beautiful stadium.

[mrpaige]

Originally posted by tigereye
This money could be used to lessen the burden on taxpayers.

When has Dallas ever cared about lessening the burden on taxpayers? We've been talking about spending half a billion dollars of taxpayer money to build a private tollroad between one Ross Perot property and another (of course, they sold it to the public as something else, but Dallas has gone to court to win the right to not be forced to follow their campaign promises).

Makes even us Plano people seem sensible.

[tigereye]

Originally posted by BanginScrew
They (city of Dallas) have been talking about putting together some kind of sports authority similar to what the City of Houston has that will basically come up with an idea for funding of a new stadium without killing the locals with all kinds of taxes. The latest idea has them adding an extra tax to all hotel, and car rentals. .

That would almost kill tourism in your city. You already have those taxes levied on hotel and car rentals from the AAC deal and AAC was the most expensive arena built to date. The DMN reported that if those taxes to build a new cowboys stadium were applied to the taxes already there form the AAC deal, the hotel and car rental taxes would be the highest in the nation. They were worried that this might drive tourists away because Hotel and car rental rates would go through the roof. Plus it would cause some hotels to go out of business. It might not be possible business wise to go through with this deal. That's the question floating around your town. I believe eventually some other taxes will applied to this deal if it's gonna work for everyone involved. That could eventually hurt the taxpayers in your town.

BTW.......the latest vision for Jones' plan does not include an amusement park according to the DMN. it has mentioned that he is lookig to build some sort of year round retail and office developement and a Cowboys Hall of Fame.

[mrpaige]

That's one reason why going to Arlington makes so much sense because they can raise the sales tax again like they did to build the Ballpark. They are one municipality that hasn't tapped out their potential funding sources.

I also think it would be easier to get a vote passed in Arlington vs. Dallas. Fewer people to convince, for one. And also Arlington, despite having the Rangers already, has the typical suburb issues in that they tend to support getting new, high-profile projects in an effort to put them on the map.

Dallas likes expensive projects, as well, but they do have the anti-tax north side to deal with (and a Mayor who was staunchly against the AAC), which is why this regional sports authority went through county government, I suppose.

[mrpaige]

An article about the Cowboys stadium deal. For what it's worth, the State passed the legislation necessary to get that Sports Authority district formed.

My own comments are sprinkled throughout.

Proposed Cowboys complex must set itself apart to win, experts say


04/04/2003

By STEVE BROWN / The Dallas Morning News

The plan is for a state-of-the-art sports facility on the edge of downtown Dallas, surrounded by a development with entertainment, restaurants and retail.

Sound familiar? It should.

That's what the Victory project promised five years ago.

And now another sports team owner and developer – the Dallas Cowboys' Jerry Jones – is considering a similar complex and more for a site southwest of downtown.

The problem, developers and leasing agents say, could be finding enough tenants for both.

Heck, I'd be happy with ONE tenant for the Victory project. I'd have been happy with one tenant for the development that was supposed to happen around Reunion when it was sold to the public. Twenty years. Nothing.

"To try and do two similar projects at the same time would be very difficult," said veteran downtown retail broker Jill Tiernan of the Weitzman Group.

Doing one has been tough enough.

Dallas voters approved $125 million in public financing in January 1998 to help pay for American Airlines Center on Stemmons Freeway northwest of downtown.

In return for public-sector support, developers promised to create an urban village of shops, restaurants, hotels, offices and residential space on more than 50 surrounding acres.

Five years later, the arena has been built but little else – even with an additional $45 million in public incentives approved last summer.

Now the Dallas Cowboys Football Club is floating a proposal to build a Cowboys-themed development that includes a stadium surrounded by entertainment venues, restaurants, office buildings, a hotel and playing fields. One of the sites being considered is southwest of downtown on Industrial Boulevard near Corinth Street. The Cowboys stadium and surrounding complex would also require a public-private partnership.

News of this potential project comes just weeks after Victory's lead retail and residential developer, New York-based Related Urban Development Corp., pulled out of the deal because of the poor economy. The company also said it lacked local support.

Lacked local support? The bending over and coughing up an additional $45 million with no requirements that they build anything resembling what was promised five years ago was not local support?

Victory owner Hillwood is preparing to release a new plan for its development.

"A new Cowboys complex along the Trinity would be a huge positive for all of downtown Dallas, with an impact similar to the effect Victory has had on the downtown area, particularly the West End and Uptown," said Jonas Woods, president of Hillwood Capital, which oversees development of Victory.

I would hope the impact would be more than the parking lot that the American Airlines Center has so far spawned.

"We haven't seen the actual plans, but from what was in the newspaper, it appears that the Cowboys facility will be more of an athletic complex promoting sports participation, while Victory is a dynamic mixed-use urban district with unique entertainment, dining and shopping experiences, integrated with hotels and offices."

Victory is a parking lot. It's not a dynamic mixed-use urban district with unique entertainment, dining and shopping experiences. It's a parking lot surrounding an arena. You can't say it is something until it actually is that.

Think different

Real estate developers say that for two such developments to have a chance in central Dallas, they will have to be very different.

"The Cowboys project needs to be a sports-based theme park," said developer Ken Hughes, who built the award-winning Mockingbird Station project near Southern Methodist University. "They have to recognize that they wouldn't want to go down there and put up something where they have to go head-to-head with Victory for the same tenants."

Ms. Tiernan said the two projects could be designed to appeal to different tenants.

Well, so far, the Victory development doesn't appeal to any tenants.

"Maybe a Cowboys facility would draw some components like ESPN Sports Zone and very theme-oriented restaurants and retail," she said. "There are some retail and restaurant uses that won't go to Victory because there is not enough land."

There's plenty of land still available around Victory because no one's built anything there yet.

Preliminary plans call for the Cowboys development to be three or four times the size of Victory with more of a sports theme. For instance, a recreation complex planned to accompany the football stadium would have facilities for rock climbing, bowling, basketball, volleyball, inline skating and ice skating.

Public recreational fields for youth and adult leagues in football, soccer and other sports are also being discussed.

Like Victory, the project is also to include a "town square" with retail stores, dining, bars and entertainment.

Victory's developers are sticking to an urban mixed-use theme, with shopping, hotel rooms, office buildings and apartments that will complement the nearby Uptown and West End neighborhoods.

Dallas shopping center broker Mickey Ashmore said it's unlikely that both of the projects will be built at once.

I don't think Victory will be built at all.

"These types of projects – even the most successful of them – have to be built in phases," said Mr. Ashmore, who is chief executive of Dallas' UCR Cos. "These centers take an intense amount of time, thought and effort."

The Ballpark in Arlington has been open for almost 10 years, and developers have still not started the mixed-use development proposed to accompany it.[/i]

And it never will come. If it was going to come based on the Ballpark, it would've either come by now or would've been there before since the old ballpark was already on the site.

And both the retail and office components of the Victory project have been repeatedly delayed.

Repeatedly delayed while the developers ask for more money to do less than what they originally promised.[b]

'Coming home'

Despite the challenges, leasing agents and developers say it's worth almost any effort to bring the Cowboys from Irving back to Dallas.

"Conceptually, I like the idea of the Cowboys coming home," said Robert Bagwell, one of the developers of the successful West Village retail and apartment complex in Uptown. "It would be great for the neighborhood.

"I would give it more of a theme-park orientation myself than specialty retail," he said. "If you want to attract people, you need an urban theme park."

That jibes with the Cowboys' early plans, said Rob Allyn, who has been hired as spokesman for the development.

"The key difference with Victory is it will all be sports-themed," he said. "It will be a totally different deal.

[b]I hope it will be different because Victory is just a parking lot.

"The Cowboys have had the luxury of looking at all of these developments around the country and being able to pick and choose what they want to do," he said.

The Jones family is committed to the idea of doing the project in one phase, Mr. Allyn said. "The idea is to build the entire doughnut, not just the hole," he said.

Without multiple venues, the new Cowboys stadium would be more challenged than American Airlines Center to provide year-round, regular events that would attract visitors, retail leasing experts say.

"What most prospective tenants will ask me as an agent is how often that stadium will be used," Ms. Tiernan said. "There are only a certain number of home games.

"American Airlines Center has two professional sports teams plus dozens of other events," she said. "Also, Victory is already closely linked to the West End and Uptown."

And yet they still can't lure a single tenant. Even Tom Hicks' company pulled out and Tom Hicks is one of the developers of the Victory project. He isn't interested in being a tenant is his own "development."

[mrpaige]

Originally posted by tigereye
That would almost kill tourism in your city. You already have those taxes levied on hotel and car rentals from the AAC deal and AAC was the most expensive arena built to date.

Just for the record, though, the city's contribution to the AAC deal were still limited even though the cost of the arena skyrocketed. They were capped at $125 million. That's nothing to sneeze at, but it's not as if the city spent all $425 million that the arena cost (or whatever it did cost).

I assume the AAC is the reason Jones wants a regional sports commission/taxing authority. I assume there would be the ability to potentially raise taxes in cities within the district that are not in Dallas, or even just directing some of those city's or county's taxes toward the development without necessarily raising them (just as the Houston arena did not require the raising of taxes).

I assume that's how it will be sold to the public, though I'm not sure of that. And, as the Victory development has turned out to be a lie, there's no reason to believe the funding mechanism won't also be a lie.

[mrpaige]

Originally posted by mrpaige
An article about the Cowboys stadium deal. For what it's worth, the State passed the legislation necessary to get that Sports Authority district formed.

I should've said the "Senate" passed the required legislation.

[mrpaige]

Originally posted by mrpaige
I assume the AAC is the reason Jones wants a regional sports commission/taxing authority. I assume there would be the ability to potentially raise taxes in cities within the district that are not in Dallas, or even just directing some of those city's or county's taxes toward the development without necessarily raising them (just as the Houston arena did not require the raising of taxes).

And apparently, this is not the case, either, as it's expected the voters will be asked to raise the hotel tax by as much as 3% (to 18%, 1% higher than Houston's) and add as much as 6% to the car rental tax (making it 11%).

I guess just wanting to take from a bigger pie (Dallas County, which would include the airport business from D/FW in Irving, etc) is why they want the sports authority.

[BanginScrew]

I think there are a couple of factors you have to take into mind when comparing what Jones wants and what the Victory Project has become.

The first thing ... Jones is a marketing genius. Being a GM may not be his strong point but marketing his team certainly is. Even though the Mavs and Stars are doing well lately they are no where near as marketable as the Cowboys. Companies would be much more willing to assiciate themselves with the Cowboys before they would associate themselves with either the Mavs or Stars. Jones will find a way to bring people and companies to his facility.

Second ... the economy. The complettion of the AAC coincided with the downward spiral of our economy. It's not logical for companies to pour millions of millions of dollars in building new facilities, resturants, and apartment buildings when the economy is what it is at the moment. As it was stated in that article, it will take time but those things will come.

As for Arlington being a possible site ... I'm not sure if this has changed or not but I remember hearing that the city of Arlington had taken their name out of any running for the new stadium. They gave a couple of different reasons. First, they are still paying for the Ballpark in Arlington. Second, they have a very good relationship with the city of Irving and their dealings with the City of Irving are more profitable to them than the stadium would be.

[mrpaige]

Hey, Ross Perot, Jr. is a real-estate guy, I expect him to be able to put together a real estate deal.

The point is, though, that the development always gets promised, but the follow-through is often lacking because the city hasn't required the development. The Hunts promised all sorts of development around Reunion Arena. It never happened, and is unlikely to happen at this point.

Whether Victory happens or not is still up in the air. Anyone can come up with reasons why it isn't happening (and we can always find a reason. For the record, the economy was not bad in 1998 when this project was passed, and still Ross, Jr. could not get anyone to build anything, even knowing the arena was approved and coming), and there will always be reasonable reasons as to why it isn't happening at any given moment.

Past history with sports stadiums in this metro area have shown us that the promised development never ends up happening. It's a promise made to get the project passed and make it look good to the voters, but it doesn't end up showing up.

Maybe Jones deal will be different (and I'd probably vote for it if it were going to be in my district), but I don't expect any of the promises about development to ever come true... just like I don't expect the sailboats and swimming on the Trinity River that was sold with the Trinity River Plan are ever going to happen (and really, they can't happen. That's just what they use to sell the plan, not what they really expect to deliver). BUt if development actually happens, then great. My low expectations should be easy to meet. Perhaps the Cowboys stadium project will be the first to actually exceed my incredibly low expectations.

It would really only take ONE business to do it. That would make it the most successful stadium development project in the Metroplex.

[tigereye]

its time to dust this puppy off...........................Here is a rendering of the Jets new stadium planned for Manhattan's upper west side. The stadium would also house the 2012 opening and closing Olympic ceremonies if the Games are awarded to New York. It would be the most expensive stadium built in world history topping off at 1.5 billion dollars. That would be enough money to build THREE Reliant Stadiums and still have a little change left over (like a few million). Interestingly though, it looks almost exactly like Reliant on the outside.

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/images/articles/SBD2003051222-01.jpg

[JayZ750]

Originally posted by tigereye


It's gotta do/have something else. It does look eerily like Reliant.