Is everything bigger in Texas? According to some die-hard Texas fans, the answer might be a resounding, “Yes!”. But in reality of course, not everything is the biggest in Texas, but there is something, that when compared to its rivals, IS the biggest and, perhaps, even the best of its kind—the Dallas Cowboys Football Stadium.
At a construction cost of $1.15 billion, this behemoth is one of the most expensive sports venues ever built. It boasts of having the largest enclosed, column-free interior in the world; and the structure is visible from 5 miles into the atmosphere. And though the stadium seats 85,000 fans, it can comfortably accommodate 105,000 thanks to fan-friendly, standing-room-only spaces among the ten levels of the facility.
So, How Big Is It?
To begin with, the Cowboys’ Stadium is taller than the Statue of Liberty, with Lady Liberty reaching more than 305 feet into the sky. The length of the stadium is equally impressive since it is longer than the Empire State Building is tall; and the Empire State Building is more than 1,200 feet high. Additionally, the stadium’s two massive arches, that support much of the stadium’s structure, are each twice as long as the St. LouisGateway Arch.
The stadium, itself, fills up 73 acres or 3 million square feet; and 30 million light bulbs light up the field, which by the way, is situated 50 feet below ground level. Don’t ask me why…
A Football Fan’s Paradise:
Let’s take a quick peek at some of the other impressive structural elements that make the Dallas Cowboy Stadium a one-of-a-kind oasis for those Dallas Cowboy fans who just can’t get enough.
1: The Retractable Roof:
This domed monstrosity is the world’s largest roof ever constructed and covers a grand total of 660,800 square feet! But regardless of its immense size, it takes only 12 minutes for the roof to open or close. Once the roof is fully opened, sunlight can stream through its aperture that measures 256 feet wide by 410 feet in length.
The arches that reinforce the retractable roof rise to 292 feet and each one is ¼ of a mile in length.
2: The End Zone:
Instead of fixed seats, the end zones feature stairwells and plazas capable of catering to thousands of fans. The end-zone glass door panels are each 120 feet high and 180 feet in length and are the tallest moveable glass walls in the world. Once open, they reveal a two-acre and three-acre patio.
3: The Video Board:
This mind-boggling structure hangs 90 feet above the center of the field. It spans 60 yards—from 20-yard line to 20-yard line. Taking into account all four screens, 25,000 square feet of video are displayed for all to relish. Each huge side-line monitor is 160 feet by 72 feet high; and the end zone video boards are each 50 feet wide by 28 feet tall.
Most fans may not realize there are more than 3,000 Sony LCD video displays strategically situated throughout the facility’s many suites, concourses and concession areas, not to mention 1,600 toilets, 286 concession stands, 30,000 parking spaces and only one pro-shop!
It appears we have come a long way from finger football as seen on ActionMatFootball.com… whether you are a Dallas Cowboys fan or not, just taking a guided tour of this magnificent facility would be an experience you would not soon forget!
Go Cowboys!
Following her retiring as a teacher in Iowa, Karen continues to educate through her writing. To learn about finger football games visit www.actionmatfootball.com.