Looks like Kentucky, UConn and George Strait will do something Jerry Jones hasn’t been able to do: Win a championship in Arlington.
With Sunday’s news that the American Country Music Awards are coming to AT&T Stadium next season and Monday night’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Game between the Wildcats and Huskies, the billion-dollar shed that Jerry built continues to be a hub for glitz and glory. For, um, everyone except the home team.
Since Strait officially christened the joint with a concert on June 6, 2009, the stadium has hosted everything from the Jonas Brothers to Monster Trucks to international soccer friendlies to Professional Bull Riding to Professional Bowling to even high-school proms.
Championships won inside the stadium range from Texas beating Nebraska in a Big 12 Conference Championship Game, high-school football titles at every classification, four Cotton Bowls, Manny Pacquiao whipping Antonio Margarito and, of course, the Packers over Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.
The Cowboys are only 22-18 in regular-season games in Arlington since moving from Texas Stadium in 2009. They have, however, technically won a championship there.
On Jan. 3, 2010 Wade Phillips’ team shut out the Eagles, 24-0, to clinch the NFC East. The Cowboys won a playoff game in Arlington the next weekend and … haven’t been to the postseason since.
It’s not the stadium’s fault. AT&T Stadium set an NCAA Final Four record on Saturday with almost 80,000 fans, college football will crown its first Championship Game winner on Jan. 12 and next April 19, Strait and his country music stars will hold the 50th ACM in Arlington.
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Shame that most of the highlights from inside the Cowboys’ stadium don’t actually feature the Cowboys.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
