It's the SuperBowl tonight and as I said before, one Richard Prew is the acknowledged expert in this sport. Having a lazy day so I searched for the stadium it's being played in. Some very interesting facts.
Originally estimated to cost $650 million, the stadium"s current construction cost was $1.15 billion, making it one of the most expensive sports venues ever built. To aid Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones in paying the construction costs of the new stadium, Arlington voters approved the increase of the city"s sales tax by 0.5 percent, the hotel occupancy tax by 2 percent, and car rental tax by 5 percent. The City of Arlington provided over $325 million (including interest) in bonds as funding, and Jones covered any cost overruns. Also, the NFL provided the Cowboys with an additional $150 million loan, as per their policy for facilitating financing for the construction of new stadiums.
Now could you see the residents of any of the UK cities actually voting for a tax increase to get a new stadium. Different circumstances (i.e. Only one team in the city) but interesting all the same.
The new stadium also includes "more than 3,000 Sony LCD displays throughout the luxury suites, concourses, concession areas and more, offering fans viewing options that extend beyond the action on the field," and a centre-hung video display board that is the largest high-definition television screen in the world. It's 160 feet wide and 72 feet tall (11,520 sq feet)
This screen is alleged to cause problems with punts, i.e. hang time high ones. It has been hit and the down was replayed.
It has a capacity of 80,000 seated and 111,000 with standing room. Largest crowd so far has been 105,121 v NY Giants (They even got 108,713 for a Basketball game FFS, how did the ones at the back see the game).
Looking forward to this..
