Cowboys Stadium

This past Sunday, I was lucky enough to be invited to the inaugural game at Cowboys Stadium between the Dallas Cowboys and my New York Giants. All I can say is that it was an epic event. The stadium itself is beyond compare -- costing an estimated $1.2 Billion! No expense was spared and it shows. Everything is as nice as I've ever experienced at a sporting event.

Upon arrival, my first shock came when I discovered that mid-level parking was $60!! I was told that VIP parking was $150. After a 5 minute walk to the stadium for my $60 lot, I was ushered into a beautiful atrium which leads to the premium sections. I couldn't help but notice how well trained and friendly everyone was that I encountered. Mr. Jones has really worked hard on every aspect of the spectators experience. My seats were in a luxury box on the Hall of Fame level. That's the same level as the owners box and it's as good as it gets. There are a total of 6 levels with luxury boxes at Cowboys Stadium with one at field level (actually slightly below field level) and then 4 more higher than the Hall of Fame level. It's unbelievable.

The food and booze were fantastic. There were shrimp as big as your ear and a barbecued beef tenderloin to die for! I ate and drank like I was going to the chair! Once my belly was full, I took time to take in my surroundings. In a display of it's unparalleled technology, the stadium opened it's roof. Fireworks flared, music blared and the ever present Dallas City Dancers danced. What a spectacle. I remember saying to my friend, "This has to be what it was like when the opened the Roman Colessium." Game attendance was just over 105,000 which is an NFL record. What makes this number so amazing is that the stadium sells 25,000 tickets at $30 each for people to stand just outside the stadium in a courtyard with huge screens and watch the game standing up! There is a band and beer and food and mayhem, but the fans love it because they are "at the game."

Since our seats were in the endzone, I would watch the game on the field when it was inside the 50 yard line, but when it went to the other end of the field, I would watch on the largest high-def screen in the world. The only word to describe this thing is "gynormous" -- huge just doesn't get it done. The screen replays every single down and does it in a four-panel display! This thing has no equal.

The coin toss is done by the most famous Texans, George W. Bush & Laura, and the game begins. The Giants scored the first official points in the stadium, something that will bug Jerry Jones forever and they scored the last points of the evening -- a winning field goal with 4 seconds left on the clock! Yeah, Giants! It was a great game with an even better outcome and an experience I will never forget. If you get a chance to go to Cowboys Stadium, go! Run, don't walk! Go, as it's an adventure like no other.