If you have a moment or two this Tuesday, around 7:07 a.m. (CDT), you might want to pause for a second. Lift your mug of coffee — or Dr. Pepper if you’re so inclined — in tribute to Texas Stadium.
The former home of the Dallas Cowboys was imploded at 7:07 a.m. on April 11, 2010.
It had taken years to construct the stadium. But from the moment the switch was thrown, triggering the first explosion, to the structure lying flat on the ground took all of 25 seconds.
By that July, nothing of the stadium remained on the site.
In the 13 years since, the Texas Department of Transportation has used the site as a staging area.
The Cowboys iconic second home
The Cowboys had played their home games from 1960 through their first two home games of the 1971 season at the Cotton Bowl. But then-owner Clint Murchison Jr. wanted to build a new stadium.
Almost from the beginning, Texas Stadium was an iconic stadium. Especially with the hole in the roof.
Cowboys Linebacker D. D. Lewis is credited with saying that “Texas Stadium has a hole in its roof, so God can watch His favorite team play.”
The real reason, of course, was an abandoned plan for a retractable roof. Still, the stadium was like nothing ever seen before.
It officially opened on Sunday, October 24, 1971 with a 44-21 victory by the Cowboys over the New England Patriots. Dallas began that season as the defending NFC Champions and ended it as Super Bowl champions.
“Everyone was geared up for that first season at Texas Stadium,” Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach recalled in an interview with me back in 2007. “There was a lot of excitement and we started our turnaround after moving there. We didn’t lose a game in Texas Stadium that first season.”
Staubach threw the first touchdown pass in Texas Stadium, the first of two scoring strikes to Bob Hayes.
Duane Thomas’ 56-yard, first-quarter rush was the first touchdown ever scored in the Cowboys’ new home.
That first year set the tone.
Over the following 37 seasons there would be six more NFC Championships and four more Super Bowls won. America’s Team was born.
Out with the old
The 2008 season was the last for the Cowboys at Texas Stadium.
Unfortunately, their last game was a 33-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Tony Romo’s 21-yard pass to Jason Witten was the final touchdown pass ever thrown in the stadium.
Just 18 seconds later, Le’Ron McClain’s 82-yard run and Matt Stover’s extra point proved to be the final NFL points scored at Texas Stadium.
The team moved to the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington for the 2009 season.
Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones was excited about the move at the time.
“What a great sense of pride that all Dallas Cowboys fans should feel when they have the opportunity to share in the experience of calling the very biggest and the very best sports venue in the country their home,” Jones said in an email interview in 2007.
Unlike their previous change of venue, the championships did not follow.
There was a Super Bowl played in the new stadium of course, but the Cowboys are still waiting to hang a new banner in their new home.
Waxing nostalgic
While Staubach appreciated Texas Stadium and all he achieved while playing there, he wasn’t that nostalgic about it being demolished.
He has something more to remember the old stadium by than driving by and seeing it.
“I’m into memories, not places and things. You can always take memories with you,” Staubach said in 2007. “I’m not that nostalgic about it, but I think the fans are more so. But the fans are probably looking forward to the new stadium too.”
For myself, Texas Stadium had an aura about it, even toward the end, that the new stadium is lacking. The first time I walked into Texas Stadium in 1983 — a preseason game against Miami and a rookie quarterback named Dan Marino — I felt it.
I felt it the next three times I walked into the place for a Cowboys game — Kansas City (1983), Green Bay (1984 pre-season), and Indianapolis (2007 pre-season). The place oozed NFL history and Cowboys’ lore.
I’ve been to the new stadium for a game, Atlanta (2009), and a couple of times for other events and that aura just isn’t there.
Given a few more years, and a Super Bowl victory or two, maybe that aura will be there.
But for now, on this day, I’ll lift my mug of Dr. Pepper in the direction of the old Texas Stadium. Gone, but never forgotten.
By the numbers
Regular Season
- Cotton Bowl (1960-1971): 80-71-6 .519
- Texas Stadium (1971-2008): 343-238-0 .590
- AT&T Stadium (2009-Current): 127-99-0 .562
Playoffs
- Cotton Bowl: 3-5 .375, 1 NFC championship
- Texas Stadium: 29-19 .604, 7 NFC championships, 5 Super Bowls
- AT&T Stadium: 4-6 .400
And it’s been downhill ever since.
Dak is a Bum
I used to get goosebumps just walking into that stadium thinking of all of the great players that gave the Cowboys such a great history. The goosebumps ended right there. New stadium is awesome…but the old stadium was a true working man’s stadium where fans did a stadium wide wave instead of staring at their phones.
great memories!
Augustina Ramos
Miss that place!
Saddest story ever told. A place where history was made,records broken,NFC championships fought for and Super Bowls cherished. I don’t think this is anything to celebrate nor to remember the demise of transfer of stadium. Almost 30 years since the Cowboys have been in a Superbowl. I remember being present the day it happened. Hundreds of people protested the demolition, for some it was a sad day in America as if it was a funeral. Tears of disbelief ran down people’s faces. I know and met fans that stopped watching the Cowboys when Tom Landry was fired and I also know fans that did the same when Texas Stadium was blown up. It was that special. It should have been made the headquarters and practice facility at least. As for me, it will always be a special place in my heart, not just as a fan but a place of remembrance of those who no longer are with us who we laughed,struggled, cried and enjoyed the victorious moments when we could say “We are the best now”. All that is left is a construction site and dirt that reminds you of the coldness of the business & the greed of the Jones family to capitalize on the mighty dollar. What good is a new stadium where we haven’t even made an NFC Championship appearance? I’d take Texas Stadium back any day, a place that I can walk into and say this is where it all started, this is where it was all done & this is where it was invented. This place deserves more than a cup to lift up to.
OJ Amparan Puro Pinche Cowboys ALV
Miss Texas stadium. So many memories spending Thanksgiving there.
A legendary stadium for a legendary team. I miss Texas stadium and the nostalgia from walking in there for all the games I got to see there. Randy Miss rookie year was probably the most iconic game but many cowboys wins in big games as well.
I went to Texas Stadium on December 10, 2000. to see the then Washington Redskins vs my Dallas Cowboys, traveled from Toledo Ohio my hometown to Dallas/Irving Texas to see Boys beat Washington, but sadly it would be the great Troy Aikman’s last game as a Dallas Cowboy, Washington’s LB LaVar Arrington knocked Troy out the game with a concussion he missed Dallas’s last 2 final games that yr and would retire the following spring.
I was at the last game and when they blew it up
All three of my children had there high school graduation there also Irving high band performed for Liz Taylor there !! So many memories including my Dallas Cowboys!!!!
Been there 5 times
At least I went and can cherish the memories.
Ryan Rominger
No loss, I’m a Packer fan. With Jerry Jones the Cowboys are nothing.
You’re in for some tough times in the future if Aaron Rodgers leaves town. Personally I hope he goes elsewhere so that arrogant Packers fans can start their DOWNWARD SPIRAL STRAIGHT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL!!!!
Worked there as a kid in a concession stand for 3 years. Got to see many amazing games.
They should never demolish it.
My sons and I all have seats from the demolition. Cowboys treasure.
Great memories
What a disgusting looking piece of crap it always was.No upkeep ever.Jerrys home in highland park is nice though.