Touring Cowboys Stadium - A Photo Essay

As I pop into Dallas, Texas from time to time, I have pretty much been treated to all the pertinent sights and sounds by my good friend Bill.  Regular readers may recall last fall's excursion took me to Southfork and the home of TV's Ewings.  Well, in 2011, the focal point was the new Dallas Cowboys' stadium.

Last year, I got to enjoy a New York Giants game from a suite in the new Met Life Stadium used by both the Giants and the Jets.  Well, after getting a private tour of Cowboys Stadium, there is no comparison.  This is football's Taj Mahal and no others come close.  Met Life is a slum compared to the new football mecca in Arlington, Texas.

Join me please...

From the outside, this place looks more like the Crystal Cathedral in California.  In a way, I suppose this is a house of worship.

Of course, it's not God's house.  But it does belong to the memory of legendary coach Tom Landry.  I guess when we hear that he covered up a child molestation, this statue will have to come down, too.

Our private tour was arranged by Bill's friends who work for the Cotton Bowl, which is also housed here as well. This is the Cotton Bowl trophy that is supposedly made by the same people who make the Oscar.  I really doubt that Sandra Bullock could lift this sucker.

Our wonderful tour guide was Kylene, who, if we were about fifteen to twenty years younger, might provoke a pistol duel between Bill and myself as we battle for her hand in marriage.

My view from the press box.  I noted that, appropriately, the New York Times' spot was at the far left of the booth.

There is a section of exclusive luxury suites where the richest of the rich sit.  And their view outside the stadium is a place usually inhabited by the poorest of the poor.

Either the video control room or the stock room at Best Buy on Black Friday.

Here's your trusty field reporter in the end zone.

My view sitting on the Cowboys bench.  If you stare at this video screen long enough, you can actually undergo Lasix surgery.

You cannot go anywhere in this place without seeing the screen.  There is no excuse not knowing the score.

On the very famous fifty-yard line.  Let me tell you.  When you stand on the forty and look at the goalposts, you realize how freakin' difficult it must be to kick a field goal.  That is quite the distance.

We headed into the Cowboy locker room where yours truly got to try on Tony Romo's jersey.  Note to all:  shoulder pads don't go over your head with ease.

This was very curious to me.  In the Cowboys locker room, where athletes no doubt make millions and millions of dollars, all the lockers have locks.  Is petty theft that big of a problem in the NFL?

This Scrabble point bonanza plays for the Cowboys.  Pity the Dallas play-by-play guy who has to say this name five or six times a game.

 And, speaking of names...  

The day we were touring, there was a high school playoff game that night.  The stadium is very classy by putting the kids' names above their lockers.  Even if some of the names are jokes that write themselves.

 Yes, they get their own place.

I noticed that there were no locks in here.  Apparently, cheerleaders don't commit nearly as much larceny.

 The girls don't wear much, so I'm guessing the dry cleaning bills are not astronomical.  And, exactly how does one keep a pom pom clean?

This is before I saw the sign that was behind me.

A major cap tip to my buddy Bill and tour guide extraordinaire Kylene for a terrific afternoon.   Now that the Jets have sucked it up big time for the year,  I'm officially rooting for the Dallas Cowboys the rest of the season. 

Dinner last night:   Spaghetti and meatballs.