In anticipation of its $295 million renovation in hopes of securing the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final, AT&T Stadium is getting some assistance from the NFL.
The Cowboys will be paying for the upgrades but they are getting some help from the NFL to do so. The NFL approved a proposal at the winter meetings at the Four Seasons Resort in Irving, allowing the Cowboys to withhold their normal contributions of shared ticket revenue to finance their planned stadium upgrades, according to Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The Cowboys also got a waiver to the NFL’s $600 million team debt limit.
The intended renovations will not change the look of the stadium. Still, they will upgrade premium spaces and technology, including the pixels and clarity on the world’s largest scoreboard, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Jerry Jones said the goal is to maintain the stadium better than new.
“That’s what we’re trying to do. Principally, it’s to take some of the areas that we can really do more efficiency – some of the locations of the concession stands. Also, we intend to upgrade and replace anything that looks like it’s had a foot on it. We want it to look like it did the first day you walked in there and could eat off it.”
The goal is to keep the stadium top of mind moving forward for some of the nation’s most significant events. It will be the most extensive renovation of AT&T stadium since it opened in 2009. Six new NFL stadiums have been built since AT&T was opened for play.
Vice president Stephen Jones said the stadium doesn’t look old, but areas need refreshing.
“Well, believe it or not, it doesn’t feel like it when you walk in there that we’ve been in that stadium, we’re in our 14th season,” Stephen Jones said.
“To me and most people, it feels brand new. But certainly, there are some areas. You start with our big scoreboard, so proud of it. But over time you get to where you can’t find parts for equipment and it’s time to upgrade that scoreboard, which I think our fans love. Audio and video in general around the stadium needs upgrading. And in general just freshening up all our suites, our club areas, things of that nature.
“It will be something that, for the most part, all fans will benefit from, and certainly, we’ll take the next step to have AT&T being hopefully one of the best stadiums in the world for the next 14-15 years.”
