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Jerry Jones, the famous and omnipresent owner of the Dallas Cowboys, was not seen during a World Cup that included a tournament-high nine games at his NFL team’s stadium.
The billionaire businessman has kept pace and plans for the final World Cup match at “Jerry World” this year to be his first: the semi-final between France and Spain on Tuesday.
“I think first and foremost he’s just a big-events guy,” said Chad Estis, the Cowboys’ executive vice president of business operations. “He loves the NFL. He loves the Dallas Cowboys. But he has a passion for events as much as anyone I know. He really wanted to make sure the stadium worked well.”
Judging by the fans who eagerly wait to see themselves on the giant video board hanging above center field and under the retractable roof — and then jump up and wave with joy when they do — the venue temporarily renamed Dallas Stadium by FIFA has been a success.
Spain have already had plenty of reasons to celebrate at Dallas Stadium this World Cup, but can they continue against France with Jerry Jones in attendance? (Image credit: Getty)
The Jones family owns and uses a World Cup suite. But Jones and some of his family members often leave the country on his yacht this time of year — between the end of the Cowboys’ offseason workouts in June and the start of training camp in California in late July.
As a result, Jones was not there in person for two record-breaking performances from Argentine superstar Lionel Messi. Or Japanese fans leaving entire sections spotless and picking up after themselves – twice. Or the final World Cup match of Portuguese star and career men’s international leader, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Those types of milestone moments were what Jones had in mind with the design and construction of a stadium that opened in 2009 and, in just over five years, had hosted a Super Bowl and NCAA championship games in football and men’s basketball.
Jones was also thinking about the fan experience, having used his own lessons from his stadium tours in Europe to include large standing viewing areas on three levels at each end.
An extensive art collection is punctuated by Anish Kapoor’s stainless steel sculpture dubbed “Sky Mirror” outside on the East Plaza. Kapoor is the creator of a similar sculpture in Chicago, nicknamed “The Bean”.
To prepare for the World Cup, the Cowboys pumped an additional $350 million into a stadium that had an original price tag of $1.2 billion. The video board looks the same, but there have been improvements to the gut, as well as new carpets and furniture, mainly in the premium areas, and a revamp of the fan shop.
“I can’t tell you how many people come to our stadium and say, ‘I can’t believe that’s 17 years old,’” Estis said. “People think it’s new. It’s all been great, but I feel like it culminates with this phenomenal match tomorrow.”
FIFA in charge
Jones had to hand over the stadium to FIFA, meaning the governing body had to install curtains on the huge sliding glass doors at the west end for the only match where the setting sun could have shone into the players’ eyes.
NFL players, including the Cowboys, losing footballs in the sun is an occasional problem every fall. Every time the subject comes up, Jones flatly refuses to consider curtains. He prefers aesthetics and expects coaches and players to develop game plans based on the setting sun.
It will be too early in the day for the sun to be a problem when Spain and France play for a spot in the World Cup final on Sunday at the home of the New York Jets and Giants in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Jones wanted that final, but settled for the consolation prize of most games, including splitting the semifinals with the home of the Atlanta Falcons, where Argentina and England play on Wednesday.
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“It’s just another great moment in an incredible sports legacy,” said Dan Hunt, co-chairman of the local organizing committee and son of the late Lamar Hunt, who was one of Jones’ rivals as owner of the Kansas City Chiefs.
“He was a world champion,” Dan Hunt said. “He’s a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He’s hosted the Super Bowl, hosted almost everything you can…And this is just another moment.”
This place in the sequel
Oh, another thing Jones had to give up: his personal suite at the 50-yard line. Estis said FIFA thought it was perfect for a VIP area.
“We’re like, ‘Wait a minute. Are you serious?'” Estis said with a laugh. “I mean, I get it. That’s why Jerry’s suite is there. It’s the prime location.”
Jones is giving up his prime spot for arguably the world’s biggest sporting event to take place at his venue. He’ll just be in another sequel.
“I think I could imagine him being a little emotional about it,” Estis said. “Seeing him in the design meetings, his attention to detail and his care about how the stadium looked and felt to people, what it looked like from different angles as they approached. He was so involved in creating what it is.”
Jones is about to feel the football vibe – finally.
Associated Press reporting.
