Texas Stadium

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The stadium's history began with owner Clint Murchison, Jr., who sought to move the Cowboys away from the Fair Park area of Dallas after deeming it unsafe. Denied a downtown request by Mayor Erik Jonsson, Murchison and General Manager Tex Schramm announced plans for a new facility in Irving during the 1967 season. It opened with plain concrete gray walls, which were painted blue with white stars for the 1972 season and again in 1975, replicating an iconic design later seen at AT&T Stadium. The field alignment ran southwest-to-northeast, perpendicular to the old Cotton Bowl. Texas Stadium was part of a wave of football-only stadiums built after the AFL–NFL merger, featuring a proliferation of luxury boxes that generated income exempt from league revenue sharing. Its most famous moment came when linebacker D. D. Lewis declared, "Texas Stadium has a hole in its roof, so God can watch His favorite team play." The open roof created unique challenges for television broadcasts, as sunlight would cover parts of the field, making it difficult for cameras to adjust.

In Their Own Story

The elements played a starring role at Texas Stadium, most notably during the Thanksgiving Day game against the Miami Dolphins in 1993, when snow covered the field through the open roof. The venue was not just a football stadium but a multi-sport hub; it hosted five NFC Championship Games and served as home for the SMU Mustangs from 1979 to 1986 after they moved there from Ownby Stadium. High school football found its peak here, hosting tripleheaders in November and December. In 1977, Plano defeated Port Neches-Groves before a record crowd of 49,953. In 2006, Trinity High School faced Carroll Senior High School before 46,339 fans. The stadium also welcomed the Dallas Tornado of the NASL from 1972 to 1975 and again in 1980-1981. On May 25, 2008, it hosted the first professional lacrosse game in Texas between the Philadelphia Barrage and Long Island Lizards. Professional wrestling fans flocked there for the World Class Championship Wrestling "Memorial Parade of Champions" from 1984 to 1988, with the 1984 event drawing over 40,000 fans.

Reader's Guide

For visitors and fans, Texas Stadium offered a unique experience defined by its architecture and diverse event history. The roof was repainted in the summer of 2006 by the city of Irving, marking the first time this had been done since the stadium opened. Before football took center stage, the venue hosted religious gatherings; evangelist Billy Graham held the Metroplex Mission crusade there from October 17 to October 20, 2002, with former President George H. W. Bush giving an introduction on the first night. The stadium also played host to the PBR's "Battle of the Bulls" in 1994 and 1995, where Adriano Morães won both events, though the 1995 contest was marred by rain that turned the dirt into mud. Pop culture enthusiasts might recognize the site from its appearances in "Walker, Texas Ranger," the 1999 film "Any Given Sunday" (as the home of the Dallas Knights), and the season one finale of "Friday Night Lights." In early 1994, MTV's Headbangers Ball filmed a segment on the field with Pantera members Dimebag Darrell, Vinnie Paul, and Rex Brown. The first game played at the stadium was actually a college matchup on October 15, 1971, where Texas Southern defeated Bishop 34–21.

Did You Know?

• Linebacker D. D. Lewis famously said the roof had a hole so 'God can watch His favorite team play.'
• The field was originally surrounded by plain concrete gray walls in 1971; they were painted blue with white stars starting in 1972.
• Snow covered the playing field during the Thanksgiving Day game against the Miami Dolphins in 1993 due to the open roof.
• The first football game at Texas Stadium was a college match on October 15, 1971, where Texas Southern defeated Bishop 34–21.
• In 2006, Trinity High School faced Carroll Senior High School before an announced crowd of 46,339 for a high school playoff game.