RIP Texas Stadium

I mentioned this on another thread, but my first memory of Texas Stadium was a guy dressed up as Santa catching fire in the stands. They showed it - it was a nationally televised game, perhaps a playoff game. Freaked the hell out of me as a kid, it happened in the 1970s, but I haven't been able to find any mention of it on the Internet. I'm not imagining it am I. It was big news when it happened. Anybody else remember this?

 

The mediocre teams have far more to do with that than the fans do, believe me.

 

Horrible tailgating at Texas Stadium. Worst I've seen in the NFL (NOLA gets a pass because Bourbon Street is close by).

 

As an Eagles fan, I have absolutely no love for the Cowboys. If they went the way of the Lions and actively tried to go 0-16 I'd thoroughly enjoy it.

That said, losing this stadium is a damn shame. As much as I hate the Cowboys, Texas Stadium is one of those places that just feel like big games and playoff games should be played there. Kind of like Candlestick in the 80s.
It's also one of a dwindling number of stadiums that you can take one five-second glance at on TV and tell immediately where they're playing just by the lighting and the turf -- no matter whether it's the Cowboys or two random high school teams. That faded green astroturf (which, gleefully, returned as the newer turf aged) is almost as iconic to me as the hole in the roof and the star at midfield.

 

I won't miss the long walks to the locker room either. In high school games we'd used to just go down the the stands and walk through the stands...so much easier.

By today's standards the place is kinda dumpy, but it has a nice charm to it. Thanksgiving Day won't be the same.
And on ething I'll give them credit for is getting out of there. Yeah after a game you do have to wait some time. But I found it much easier to leave Texas Stadium than the AstroDome/Reliant, AlamoDome, even The Ballpark In Arlington. Of course, sometimes I'd end up in Denton before I could get back heading my way, but Hey, I was out of the stadium.

 

I grew up in New Mexico where the Cowboys were always on TV and so I was a fan for years. Not much of a fan anymore, but I can remember thinking of Texas Stadium as hallowed ground.

When I was still in sports I got a chance to cover a Cowboys game and can't recall being so excited for work. As I first caught view of the stadium from the highway I couldn't help but think what a dump it appeared to be. Inside wasn't so bad, and the press box was nice enough. The trek to the locker room was something. After I got all my quotes and before I went back up to work on my story I had to take a detour to the field.

I walked out onto the turf and took it in for a minute. It was surreal. I had seen so many games played there on TV and I thought back to all the players, like Staubach and Dorsett and Randy White. It was one of those moments I will never forget.

If only Jerry Jones wasn't running the team.

 

"Mork and Mindy" - Folsom Field - Boulder, Colorado

 

How do you explain the playoff losses?

 

Is God looking through the hole in the roof at his team?

 

Friend of mine's a cab driver (and lifetime resident) there in Big D and texted me earlier that he was "part of history" tonight with a ticket to the game.
Good for him.
He loves the Cowboys and has been witness to all the highs and lows there at the venue in Irving.
From U2 in concert to the Rolling Stones to Clint Longley to high school matchups to mid-week Cotton Bowl practices to the Cowboys.
The place has hosted lots of pop culture.

 

One of my personal favorite moments from the stadium. Helluva show.