Before we can establish where we currently our in regards to the history of the Dallas Cowboys we must first take a look back at where we've been. The Dallas Cowboys have played in 3 separate stadiums over the course of the past 50+ years. These stadiums are as follows:

Cotton Bowl: 1960 - 1971
Texas Stadium: 1971 - 2008
Cowboys Stadium: 2009 - Present

Let's take an inside look at each of these stadiums and discuss why these locations will forever hold a significant purpose in the history of the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.

Cotton Bowl
The Dallas Cowboys were housed inside of the legendary Cotton Bowl from 1960 to 1971. However the Cotton Bowl was originally built in 1921 as a wooden stadium seating structure that could only support 15,000 spectators. The stadium was located in Fair Park. The capacity was soon found to be inadequate and in 1929 the State Fair leaders started to plan a 80,000 seat stadium that would cost at least $750,000. It was determined that bonds would be sold to help finance the stadium. In 1930 the stadium was upgraded to hold a maximum of 46,200 spectators. 6 years later the stadium was renamed to the "Cotton Bowl". In 1946 $100 bonds were sold to support yet another renovation which would again renovate the stadium.

An Upper Level was then constructed on the west side of the stadium. The following year the State Fair Board voted to construct an Upper Level on the east side of the bowl as well as implement much needed upgrades such as new team dressing rooms, a 3-story press box, and a sprinkler system. To help with finances, a 20-year ticket option was sold for $50 each ticket.

In 1960 the expansion NFL team Dallas Cowboys began sharing the staidum with the AFL's Dallas Texans. The Cotton Bowl would be the home for the Cowboys for the next 10 and a half seasons.

Cotton Bowl Stadium Facts
Date Opened:	1932
Ownership:	City of Dallas
Surface:	Grass
Capacity:	46,200 (original) 92,200 (current)
Renovation Costs:	$57 Million

Texas Stadium
Texas Stadium was built specifically to house the NFL's Dallas Cowboys football team. The stadium opened on October 24, 1971. The stadium was originally planned to be a domed structure however the stadium was found to not be able to support the weight of the entire dome and public funding ran out before the roof support structure could be modified. Thus the "hole in the roof" was created. The iconic structure was coined by D.D. Lewis when he stated "Texas Stadium has a hole in its roof so God can watch His favorite team play."

Texas Stadium has a seating capacity of 65,675 and housed the Dallas Cowboys football team until 2009. Initial construction of the stadium cost $35 million. The stadium included 379 suites and was funded by city bonds. Texas Stadium was replaced by the newly built Cowboys Stadium in 2009. The stadium is scheduled for demolition on April 11, 2010.

Once Texas Stadium was decided to be "replaced" and not "renovated" by now owner Jerry Jones in the early 2000's, actual stadium memoribilia was sold to fans everywhere. Items such as actual stadium seating, the playing surface, and stadium signage were a hot commodity. Even items such as shower heads, mirrors, and men's urinals were being sold via auctions. Some items in Texas Stadium were transferred directly to the new Cowboys. The Ring of Honor was implemented into the new stadium and items such as the Tom Landry statue and the actual mid-field star logo were also transferred.

Texas Stadium Facts
Date Opened:	October 24, 1971
Demolition Date:	April 11, 2010
Ownership:	City of Irvin
Surface:	Texas Turf 1971-1996 RealGrass 1996-2002 FieldTurf 2002-2008
Capacity:	65,675
Original Costs:	$35 Million

Cowboys Stadium
Construction of Cowboys Stadium began in April 2006 and was completed on May 27, 2009. The stadium held it's first event on June 6, 2009 with a country music concert. The stadium is the largest domed structure in the world, has the world's largest column free interior, and the largest high definition video screen which hangs above the playing field and stretches 60 yards long.

The stadium was originally estimated to cost $650 Million. However, the stadiums current construction cost exceeds $1.3 Billion making it one of the most expensive sports venues ever built. In order to pay for the stadium Arlington voters approved the increase in city sales tax, hotel occupancy tax, and car rental tax. The City of Arlington funded over $325 Million while the Dallas Cowboys Football Club would fund the remaining amount.

To help finance the stadium, the Dallas Cowboys sold Personal Seat Options to fans world wide. Personal Seat Options allow the owner to purchase reserved priced tickets for all Cowboys home games and nearly all other events housed in Cowboys Stadium.

Multiple events other than football games have been held in the stadium. Motocross, Professional Rodeo, concert's, college football, professional and college basketball have all had events in the new stadium. The Stadium capacity is well over 100,000. The actual sitting bowl consists of over 85,000 seats. The plaza's in the east and west endzones can hold an additional 20,000. Cowboys Stadium was selected to host Super Bowl 45 in February 2011.

Cowboys Stadium Facts
Date Opened:	June 6, 2009
Ownership:	City of Arlington
Surface:	Matrix Artificial Turf
Capacity:	85,000 Seating 100,000+ Total
Costs:	$1.3 Billion