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AT&T Stadium facts for kids
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Exterior of the stadium in June 2020
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 AT&T Stadium
Location in Texas
AT&T Stadium
Location in the United States
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| Former names | Cowboys Stadium (2009–2013) |
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| Address | 1 AT&T Way |
| Location | Arlington, Texas, United States |
| Coordinates | 32°44′52″N 97°5′34″W / 32.74778°N 97.09278°W |
| Operator | Dallas Cowboys |
| Executive suites | 380 |
| Capacity | 80,000 (expandable to over 100,000 with standing room) |
| Record attendance |
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| Surface | Hellas Matrix Turf with Helix Soft Top artificial turf |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | September 20, 2005 |
| Built | 2006–2009 |
| Opened | May 27, 2009 |
| Construction cost | $1.3 billion ($1.77 billion in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | HKS, Inc. |
| Project manager | Blue Star Development/Jack Hill |
| Structural engineer | Walter P Moore Engineers and Consultants Campbell & Associates Consulting Engineers, Inc. |
| Services engineer | M-E Engineers, Inc. |
| General contractor | Manhattan/Rayco/3i |
| Tenants | |
| Dallas Cowboys (NFL) 2009–present Cotton Bowl Classic (NCAA) 2010–present |
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AT&T Stadium is a huge sports and entertainment venue in Arlington, Texas, United States. It is famous for being the home of the Dallas Cowboys, a professional American football team. The stadium opened on May 27, 2009. It has a special roof that can open and close, letting in fresh air or keeping out bad weather.
Besides Cowboys games, the stadium hosts many other events. These include the Cotton Bowl Classic college football game and matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It has also been used for concerts, basketball games, soccer, rodeos, and professional wrestling. The stadium replaced Texas Stadium, which was the Cowboys' home from 1971 to 2008.
Many people call the stadium "Jerry World." This nickname comes from Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys. He imagined the stadium as a massive place for all kinds of entertainment. The stadium can seat 80,000 people. However, it can hold over 100,000 with standing room areas. This makes it one of the largest stadiums in the National Football League (NFL). It also has giant video boards, which were once the biggest in the world.
Contents
- Building the Stadium: Design and Features
- Key Moments: Stadium History
- Stadium Name: AT&T Stadium
- Giant Video Boards
- Big Events at AT&T Stadium
- Art Collection
- Getting There: Transportation
- Things People Talk About: Criticisms
- See also
Building the Stadium: Design and Features
The stadium cost about $1.15 billion to build. This made it one of the most expensive sports venues ever. To help pay for it, voters in Arlington approved a small increase in local taxes. The city provided over $325 million, and Jerry Jones covered extra costs. The NFL also gave the Cowboys a $150 million loan.
The main architect, Bryan Trubey, wanted the stadium to feel like a "civic structure." This means it was designed to be an important public building. Two huge arches, almost 300 feet tall, stretch across the stadium's roof. These arches are a key part of its design.
Inside, there are over 3,000 Sony LCD screens. These screens are in luxury suites, hallways, and food areas. They let fans watch the action from anywhere. The stadium also has a massive center-hung video board. It was the largest high-definition screen in the world when it was installed.
The retractable roof was designed to open and close quickly. This allows the stadium to host many different events. The football field itself is also special. It's made of 26 interchangeable panels. This "SoftTop Convertible Turf" system lets the stadium switch easily from football to concerts or monster truck rallies.
Key Moments: Stadium History
The idea for a new stadium began in the 1990s. Jerry Jones wanted to expand the old Texas Stadium. By 2004, Arlington voters approved tax increases to help fund the new stadium. Construction started in 2006.
- 2006: Construction began.
- 2009: The stadium was completed and officially opened on May 27.
- June 6, 2009: Country music star George Strait headlined the first event.
- July 19, 2009: The first sporting event was a soccer game.
- August 21, 2009: The Cowboys played their first preseason football game.
- September 20, 2009: The Cowboys played their first regular-season NFL game. Former President George W. Bush did the coin toss.
- 2011: The stadium hosted Super Bowl XLV. The Green Bay Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- 2013: The stadium's name officially changed from Cowboys Stadium to AT&T Stadium.
- 2014: The stadium hosted the Final Four of the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
- 2015: The first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship was held here.
- 2016: WWE's WrestleMania 32 took place, setting a new attendance record for the event.
- 2022: WrestleMania 38 was hosted over two nights.
Stadium Name: AT&T Stadium
Before the stadium had a sponsor, fans gave it many nicknames. These included "Jerry World," "The Death Star," and "Cowboys Cathedral." Some fans even wanted it named after former Cowboys coach Tom Landry.
On May 13, 2009, Jerry Jones announced the official name as Cowboys Stadium.
However, on July 25, 2013, the Dallas Cowboys made a deal with AT&T. The stadium's name changed to AT&T Stadium right away. This sponsorship deal is reportedly worth a lot of money each year. Huge letters, 43 feet tall, spell out "AT&T Stadium" on top of the building. These letters are designed to melt ice and snow.
Giant Video Boards
The stadium's video boards were once recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest HD video displays in the world. For basketball games, the twin video screens are actually longer than the basketball court itself! While other stadiums now have bigger screens, AT&T Stadium's still rank among the largest globally.
Big Events at AT&T Stadium
Basketball: NBA All-Star Game
On February 14, 2010, the stadium hosted the 2010 NBA All-Star Game. It set a new Guinness World Record for the highest attendance at a basketball game, with 108,713 fans.
Football: NFL Games
- January 3, 2010: The Cowboys won the NFC East division title.
- January 9, 2010: The stadium hosted its first playoff game. The Cowboys won, ending a 13-year playoff win drought.
- February 6, 2011: Super Bowl XLV was held here. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- 2018: The stadium hosted the 2018 NFL draft.
College Football
AT&T Stadium is a popular spot for major college football games.
College Football Playoff National Championship
- January 12, 2015: The first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship was played here. The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Oregon Ducks.
Big 12 Championship Game
The stadium hosted the Big 12 Championship Game in 2009 and 2010. The Texas Longhorns won in 2009, and the Oklahoma Sooners won in 2010.
Cotton Bowl Classic
The Cotton Bowl Classic college bowl game has been held at AT&T Stadium since 2010. Many exciting games have taken place, often with very high attendance. For example, in 2013, Johnny Manziel set records for a quarterback in the Cotton Bowl.
Rose Bowl
- January 1, 2021: The Rose Bowl Game was played here. This was unusual because the Rose Bowl is almost always played in Pasadena, California. It was moved due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Advocare Classic
This series of early-season college football games has featured many top teams.
- September 5, 2009: BYU upset Oklahoma in the first college game at the stadium.
- September 3, 2011: LSU defeated Oregon in front of 87,711 fans.
- September 1, 2012: Alabama defeated Michigan.
Southwest Classic
The rivalry game between the Arkansas Razorbacks and Texas A&M Aggies is called the Southwest Classic. It has been played at AT&T Stadium many times since 2009.
Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Shootout
The game between the Baylor Bears and Texas Tech Red Raiders has also been played at the stadium. In 2009, it had the highest attendance in the series' history.
Soccer
AT&T Stadium has hosted many important soccer matches.
- July 19, 2009: It hosted two quarterfinal matches for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
- June 3, 2012: Mexico played against five-time World Cup champions Brazil.
- July 29, 2023: Barcelona defeated Real Madrid in a friendly match with over 82,000 fans.
- March 21–24, 2024: The 2024 CONCACAF Nations League Finals were held here.
2026 FIFA World Cup
AT&T Stadium will host several matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This major international tournament will be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The stadium will temporarily be called "Dallas Stadium" for the event. It is set to host nine matches, including five group stage games, two Round of 32 matches, one Round of 16 match, and one semifinal match.
Boxing
The stadium has hosted many world championship boxing fights. Its large size and retractable roof make it a great place for these events. Famous boxers like Manny Pacquiao and Canelo Álvarez have fought here.
- March 13, 2010: Manny Pacquiao defeated Joshua Clottey.
- November 13, 2010: Manny Pacquiao made history by winning world titles in eight different weight classes.
- May 8, 2021: Canelo Álvarez won a major fight in front of 73,126 people. This broke the record for boxing attendance at an indoor venue in the U.S.
- November 5, 2024: Jake Paul defeated Mike Tyson in a boxing match.
WrestleMania
AT&T Stadium has hosted WWE's biggest event, WrestleMania, twice.
- April 3, 2016: WrestleMania 32 had over 101,000 attendees, setting a new record for the event.
- April 2 and 3, 2022: WrestleMania 38 was held over two nights.
Concerts
Many famous musicians have performed at AT&T Stadium.
- June 6, 2009: George Strait, Reba McEntire, and Blake Shelton performed the very first concert.
- October 12, 2009: U2 played to a sold-out crowd.
- June 7, 2014: George Strait's "last show ever" had over 104,000 people.
- October 5-6, 2018: Taylor Swift performed two shows for her Reputation Stadium Tour.
- March 31-April 2, 2023: Taylor Swift became the first artist to sell out three straight days at the stadium for her Eras Tour.
Other Events
- September 7, 2009: The first high school football game was played.
- February 2010: The Professional Bull Riders began hosting events here.
- February 27, 2010: The stadium hosted its first Monster Jam event.
- December 2011: All Texas 11-man high school football state championships were held in one location for the first time.
- February 11, 2013: A memorial ceremony for American Sniper Chris Kyle took place.
- March 2014: The first The American Rodeo was held.
- June 20, 2015: A Spartan Race was held inside the stadium.
- March 6, 2016: Greg Laurie's Harvest America, a large evangelical event, took place.
- November 2, 2024: Major League Wiffle Ball hosted its World Series.
Art Collection
The Jones family, who own the Cowboys, asked 18 modern artists to create special artworks for the stadium. You can see paintings, sculptures, and installations by artists like Olafur Eliasson and Lawrence Weiner. In 2013, a sculpture called Sky Mirror by Anish Kapoor was added outside the stadium.
Getting There: Transportation
Parking at the stadium can be expensive, especially for big events. For Dallas Cowboys games, premium parking can cost around $75. For other major events, it might be about $40. There used to be a bus shuttle service that connected to a train station, but it was replaced by a ride-sharing service. This new service does not run on Sundays.
Things People Talk About: Criticisms
Video Board Issues
Since the stadium opened, some people have talked about the large video boards. They are positioned above the field, and sometimes punts (kicks in football) have hit them. If a punt hits the scoreboard, the play is replayed. Some players and experts have debated if the boards affect how teams punt. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has said punters should aim away from the middle. However, physicists have shown that a well-kicked punt could hit the screen no matter where it's aimed.
Sunlight Glare
The stadium's field runs east-west, which means the sun can shine directly through the large glass windows behind the end zones during late afternoon games. Most NFL stadiums are built north-south to avoid this. Even though AT&T Stadium has curtains for other events, they are not used during Cowboys games. This can cause a bright glare that makes it hard for players to see the ball. Wide receivers and kick returners have complained about this.
In a 2024 game, Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb said he missed a pass because of the sun. He strongly suggested using the curtains. Jerry Jones, however, has said that all teams face the same conditions and that closing the curtains is not an option.
See also
In Spanish: AT&T Stadium para niños