redbuck
10-08-2006, 12:16 AM
Cowboys Stadium to look 'like a spaceship'Design has European flair
By ANDREA AHLES and SALLY CLAUNCH
Star-Telegram Staff Writers
ARLINGTON — The Dallas Cowboys are leaving Texas Stadium, but they're taking the hole with them.
It will likely be the one feature familiar to Cowboys fans waiting for word on what the new home for America's Team will look like. Several sources who have seen the plans told the Star-Telegram that the Cowboys will be moving into a contemporary stadium made of steel and glass that looks "like a spaceship."
Although the team has refused to release architectural drawings for public viewing, various sources have revealed details of the stadium's design as construction work progresses east of Collins Street and south of Randol Mill Road. Sources also say the stadium is likely to cost more than its $650 million budget, though the city's contribution is capped at $325 million and the county's portion is $25 million.
Cowboys spokesman Brett Daniels said that the designs are not final and that the team will reveal its plans when they are completed. He declined to comment on the specific details of the stadium's design.
"At this point in time, a number of things are still subject to change," Daniels said. "While the footprint has been finalized, a number of things on the interior are still being worked through."
Sources said Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wants the stadium to have an international look and that the design is reminiscent of sleek, steel buildings found in European countries, such as Germany. The Cowboys hired HKS Architects, the designers of Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie and the new Indianapolis Colts stadium, to design the project. As of July, the Dallas-based firm has been paid $10.6 million, according to city documents.
"It's going to be like no other stadium that's ever been," said Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck, who has seen the stadium plans. "The taxpayers are going to get more than their money's worth."
At a recent town hall meeting, some Arlington residents asked whether the new stadium would match Ameriquest Field's "Texas-deco" style.
It won't have red bricks, sources say. It will have a hole over the field so Cowboys fans can still joke that God is watching his favorite team.
According to construction bid packages, a retractable roof will cover the hole. But the Cowboys' retractable roof will open only above the playing field, unlike other sports facilities where retractable roofs unfold to reveal the sky above the entire stadium. Think of it like a sunroof, one source said.
The retractable roof, designed by Minnesota-based Uni-Systems, will have two large steel panels that will come together at the 50-yard line when the roof is closed, according to bid documents. When it is opened, the two panels will retract toward the end zones, sitting on top of the stadium's permanent roof, a source said. Uni-Systems also created the retractable roof at the Arizona Cardinals' new stadium and at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
With the field level 50 feet below ground, sources said end zone seating will stop at the ground level. This "unique" architectural feature makes it look like there is no end zone seating above ground and allows fans to immediately look down on the field upon entering the stadium from the parking lot, sources said.
If the new stadium were to host the Super Bowl or another large event, tiered sections of temporary seats could be placed in the empty end zones to increase the stadium's capacity up to 100,000 seats.
The stadium will also have huge digital screens on the exterior, similar to the multiple digital media screens mounted on two Victory Park buildings near the entrance of the American Airlines Center. Victory Park's screens include two fixed 20-by-20-foot displays and eight 15-by-26-foot screens that can be configured into various groups.
Sources say the Cowboys stadium screens will be fixed and not moveable.
The Star-Telegram has asked the city and the Cowboys to provide access or release copies of the stadium plans because taxpayers are paying for part of the stadium project. The Cowboys have argued that the documents should remain private because of security risks and competitive trade issues.
The team has asked the Texas attorney general to allow it to withhold the plans. A ruling is pending.
Arlington City Councilwoman Lana Wolff said she doesn't see any harm in telling Arlington residents what the outside of the stadium will look like.
"The citizen's curiosity is limited to the exterior view," Wolff said. "I understand there is some security and structural issues, but I don't think there is anything wrong with showing residents a concept of the exterior."
Stadim features
Some noticeable features on the new stadium revealed by sources and in construction bid documents include:
About 75,000 seats split between eight levels, called the Event Level, the Hall of Fame Level, Main Concourse, Mid-Concourse, Silver Level, Ring of Honor Level, Star Level and Upper Concourse.
Quarter-mile-long steel arches running end zone to end zone. nLarge outdoor digital video screens that are similar to the 96-by-27-foot south end zone scoreboard in the new Arizona Cardinals stadium.
No end zone seating above ground, allowing people to "see through" the stadium from the parking lot.
Editor's note: The information in this article was compiled by reviewing construction bid documents available to the public and by interviewing several sources who have seen the plans for the new Cowboys stadium.
By ANDREA AHLES and SALLY CLAUNCH
Star-Telegram Staff Writers
ARLINGTON — The Dallas Cowboys are leaving Texas Stadium, but they're taking the hole with them.
It will likely be the one feature familiar to Cowboys fans waiting for word on what the new home for America's Team will look like. Several sources who have seen the plans told the Star-Telegram that the Cowboys will be moving into a contemporary stadium made of steel and glass that looks "like a spaceship."
Although the team has refused to release architectural drawings for public viewing, various sources have revealed details of the stadium's design as construction work progresses east of Collins Street and south of Randol Mill Road. Sources also say the stadium is likely to cost more than its $650 million budget, though the city's contribution is capped at $325 million and the county's portion is $25 million.
Cowboys spokesman Brett Daniels said that the designs are not final and that the team will reveal its plans when they are completed. He declined to comment on the specific details of the stadium's design.
"At this point in time, a number of things are still subject to change," Daniels said. "While the footprint has been finalized, a number of things on the interior are still being worked through."
Sources said Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wants the stadium to have an international look and that the design is reminiscent of sleek, steel buildings found in European countries, such as Germany. The Cowboys hired HKS Architects, the designers of Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie and the new Indianapolis Colts stadium, to design the project. As of July, the Dallas-based firm has been paid $10.6 million, according to city documents.
"It's going to be like no other stadium that's ever been," said Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck, who has seen the stadium plans. "The taxpayers are going to get more than their money's worth."
At a recent town hall meeting, some Arlington residents asked whether the new stadium would match Ameriquest Field's "Texas-deco" style.
It won't have red bricks, sources say. It will have a hole over the field so Cowboys fans can still joke that God is watching his favorite team.
According to construction bid packages, a retractable roof will cover the hole. But the Cowboys' retractable roof will open only above the playing field, unlike other sports facilities where retractable roofs unfold to reveal the sky above the entire stadium. Think of it like a sunroof, one source said.
The retractable roof, designed by Minnesota-based Uni-Systems, will have two large steel panels that will come together at the 50-yard line when the roof is closed, according to bid documents. When it is opened, the two panels will retract toward the end zones, sitting on top of the stadium's permanent roof, a source said. Uni-Systems also created the retractable roof at the Arizona Cardinals' new stadium and at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
With the field level 50 feet below ground, sources said end zone seating will stop at the ground level. This "unique" architectural feature makes it look like there is no end zone seating above ground and allows fans to immediately look down on the field upon entering the stadium from the parking lot, sources said.
If the new stadium were to host the Super Bowl or another large event, tiered sections of temporary seats could be placed in the empty end zones to increase the stadium's capacity up to 100,000 seats.
The stadium will also have huge digital screens on the exterior, similar to the multiple digital media screens mounted on two Victory Park buildings near the entrance of the American Airlines Center. Victory Park's screens include two fixed 20-by-20-foot displays and eight 15-by-26-foot screens that can be configured into various groups.
Sources say the Cowboys stadium screens will be fixed and not moveable.
The Star-Telegram has asked the city and the Cowboys to provide access or release copies of the stadium plans because taxpayers are paying for part of the stadium project. The Cowboys have argued that the documents should remain private because of security risks and competitive trade issues.
The team has asked the Texas attorney general to allow it to withhold the plans. A ruling is pending.
Arlington City Councilwoman Lana Wolff said she doesn't see any harm in telling Arlington residents what the outside of the stadium will look like.
"The citizen's curiosity is limited to the exterior view," Wolff said. "I understand there is some security and structural issues, but I don't think there is anything wrong with showing residents a concept of the exterior."
Stadim features
Some noticeable features on the new stadium revealed by sources and in construction bid documents include:
About 75,000 seats split between eight levels, called the Event Level, the Hall of Fame Level, Main Concourse, Mid-Concourse, Silver Level, Ring of Honor Level, Star Level and Upper Concourse.
Quarter-mile-long steel arches running end zone to end zone. nLarge outdoor digital video screens that are similar to the 96-by-27-foot south end zone scoreboard in the new Arizona Cardinals stadium.
No end zone seating above ground, allowing people to "see through" the stadium from the parking lot.
Editor's note: The information in this article was compiled by reviewing construction bid documents available to the public and by interviewing several sources who have seen the plans for the new Cowboys stadium.