Dallas Cowboys Prepare for World Cup Games at AT&T Stadium

For 17 seasons, the Dallas Cowboys have called AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, their home. This venue is especially recognized for its massive videoboard positioned at the 50-yard line. Recently, it underwent a temporary name change to Dallas Stadium while hosting various World Cup matches.

As part of the soccer events, all indicators of American football, including end zones and yard markers, were removed from the stadium, which features a retractable roof. A notable addition was a curtain intended to shield the natural grass field from the bright sunlight that often casts glare on the players. This caught the eye of Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer.

“I’m a huge fan of the World Cup; I watch a lot of games,” Schottenheimer mentioned at a press conference. “I spent some time near the Star during the viewing parties, and it was like I was in the dark…shaded,” he added, in reference to his experience while observing the events.

He reflected on the contrast between the beautiful game day ambiance and the problematic sunlight affecting the actual field conditions. “As impressive as it looks during the game, the grass and shade situation isn’t exactly ideal. They’re going to lose out on this experience,” Schottenheimer expressed.

Indeed, sunlight has been a persistent issue since the Cowboys moved to their extravagant stadium in 2009. Players have complained in the past. For instance, during a 2017 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, both Dez Bryant and Bryce Butler attributed missed catches to glare. The issue continued into later seasons, including a 2021 playoff match where wide receiver Cedric Wilson couldn’t see a pass directed his way, and the following year, Michael Gallup missed a touchdown opportunity due to similar visual interference.

In a somewhat sarcastic tone, Schottenheimer addressed the sunlight problem earlier in his tenure, referring to it as “majestic.” He acknowledged its impact, stating, “I’ve heard about this for a while. We have a plan that includes satellite imagery and strategies for dealing with it. Historical data shows it doesn’t always create major problems. We’re aware of it, and so is the other team. At the end of the day, it’s a beautiful sight.”

On June 14, the stadium kicked off the World Cup with the Netherlands facing Japan, which ended in a draw. Known as “Jerry World” after the Cowboys’ longtime owner Jerry Jones, the venue also hosted a match on Wednesday where England triumphed over Croatia.

The curtain was utilized for both games and is set to make a return on June 22 for a match featuring Lionel Messi and Argentina against Austria.