Laura Miller: Arlington's best mayor ever! (cotton bowl aims for BCS)

[capitalcity]

Cotton pickin' a new home?
Bowl game may move to Arlington in a bid to earn BCS status.

By Randy Riggs
By Kirk Bohls
http://www.statesman.com/horns/conte...2/7cotton.html
Wednesday, December 07, 2005

The Cotton Bowl football game, for which the venerable stadium at the Texas state fairgrounds is named, is considering leaving Dallas and heading to the suburbs for a possible entry into the exclusive Bowl Championship Series club.

The bowl game isn't alone. Officials at the universities of Texas and Oklahoma expect to make a decision next month on whether to move their annual rivalry game from the Dallas stadium to their home campuses.

Dallas officials have unveiled a plan to expand and renovate the Cotton Bowl, but they say the plan hinges on the commitment of major college games, including the Cotton Bowl and the Texas-Oklahoma matchup, to stay there. Officials for both are considering moving.

Several people close to the situation, including three Cotton Bowl officials, told the Austin American-Statesman that the Cotton Bowl game probably will move to the Dallas Cowboys' new home in Arlington. Construction is expected to begin early next year, with completion in 2009.

The Cowboys' $650 million facility with a retractable roof might make the bowl game more appealing to the BCS because of current uncertainty about the Sugar Bowl. That BCS bowl was forced from its home at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans because of damage from Hurricane Katrina and has temporarily relocated in Atlanta's Georgia Dome.

"It's my assumption (the Cotton Bowl game) will pull out (of Dallas) to be indoors because they want to be a BCS bowl," said DeLoss Dodds, the University of Texas athletics director. "I think they have a shot in a new stadium, the Sugar Bowl being what it is."

A Cotton Bowl official who asked not to be identified because talks are ongoing added, "I think (moving to Arlington) is an 80-20 done deal. But anything is possible."

Rick Baker, president of the Cotton Bowl, said Tuesday that the bowl is in no rush to make a decision on the game's future site. But Baker did note that Stephen Jones, the Cowboys' executive vice president and son of team owner Jerry Jones, is on the Cotton Bowl's board of directors.

"I don't know if we have an open invitation (to move to Arlington), but Jerry and Stephen have been very supportive and positive toward the Cotton Bowl," Baker said.

Baker said the Cotton Bowl hopes the BCS might explore adding a fifth bowl site. Under its new contract with its four bowls, each stadium will have not only its own game but, once every four years, the national championship contest a week later. The arrangement begins when the Fiesta Bowl is host to two games next season.

"We are hopeful that they will re-examine the benefits of having five games in four cities vs. five games in five cities," Baker said.

BCS Coordinator Kevin Weiberg, commissioner of the Big 12 Conference, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Jeff Hundley, associate executive director of the Sugar Bowl, said it's unlikely that the BCS would add a fifth bowl site.

"That issue has already been addressed," he said. "It was considered, but in the end, given the concerns expressed by the title sponsors waiting five years for their opportunity to host the national championship, (BCS commissioners) saw the wisdom of keeping it as a four-game rotation."

Hundley added that the Sugar Bowl's BCS future "has never been in question, to our knowledge" and that the bowl hopes to return to Louisiana for next year's game, either in New Orleans or at Louisiana State University's stadium in Baton Rouge.

On Monday, representatives of the city-owned Cotton Bowl presented a proposal to the Dallas City Council for almost $50 million in renovations and expansion of the 75-year-old stadium. The plan calls for increasing the capacity by more than 16,000 seats, to 92,107.

Dallas Mayor Laura Miller has said the upgrades won't be made without long-term commitments from the college teams that annually play in the facility. In addition to the postseason bowl game and Texas-Oklahoma, the Cotton Bowl is host of Prairie View A&M -Grambling.

Texas-Oklahoma and the bowl game hold most of the cards. If one leaves, it would make it easier for the other to depart. People involved in the situation suggest that the two sides are waiting to see who makes the first move.

Baker discounts that.

"For us, there's no sense of urgency about making this decision," he said. "We've got some time to do really good research on what our future holds."

Dodds said he believes the University of Oklahoma wants to keep the game at the Cotton Bowl, while the Longhorns are studying their options. UT will send an engineering team to inspect the stadium on Dec. 20.

Talks "are ongoing," Dodds said. "We'll make a decision within 30 days. I think Oklahoma's commitment is to stay at the Cotton Bowl. (Dallas officials) are waiting on us."

Kenny Mossman, spokesman for the Oklahoma athletic department, said the Sooners have not made a decision.

"It's been our stance all along to allow the people in Dallas to present a plan," Mossman said. "Once they've done that and we've had a chance to review and discuss it, then we'll make a decision."

The Texas-OU game has been held at the Cotton Bowl since 1930. The teams have a contract to play at the stadium through 2008, but there is an escape clause that gives them an option to leave after the 2007 game.

The Longhorns and Sooners could switch to a home-and-home series on their campuses if they decide to leave Dallas.

If both Texas-Oklahoma and the bowl game elect to leave, it undoubtedly would signal the end of the stadium as a viable host for any significant game.

The collegiate Cotton Bowl game began in 1937. It long was regarded as one of the four pre-eminent New Year's Day bowls, along with the Sugar, Orange and Rose. But the Dallas bowl's prestige took a hit in 1994 when it was excluded from the ranks of the "first-string" bowls by the Tier I Bowl Alliance, which evolved into the BCS in 1998.

The Cotton Bowl's chances of regaining its elite status hinge in part on having an enclosed stadium because of the unpredictable Dallas weather in early January. The renovation proposals submitted to the Dallas City Council on Monday did not include a retractable roof.

"Until we get a covered stadium, we'll never get a BCS bowl," said one Cotton Bowl game official. "I think there's a real good chance with the new stadium. I believe the BCS would take a hard look at this. It'd be a good venue."

[MavKikiNYC]

Officials at the universities of Texas and Oklahoma expect to make a decision next month on whether to move their annual rivalry game from the Dallas stadium to their home campuses.

This don't make nothin' BUT sense.

[Murphy3]

Laura Miller will go down as one of the worst mayors in the history of Dallas in many people's eyes...

After botching the Cowboys deal, it'll be interesting to see what UT and OU say. The only reason they'll continue to play in Dallas is because of the history...Spending $50million to spruce up the Cotton Bowl is about like buying $100 dollars worth of lipstick to try and make Roseanne Barr attractive. It just isn't going to do much good.

[Drbio]

Originally Posted by Murphy3

Laura Miller will go down as one of the worst mayors in the history of Dallas in many people's eyes...

After botching the Cowboys deal, it'll be interesting to see what UT and OU say. The only reason they'll continue to play in Dallas is because of the history...Spending $50million to spruce up the Cotton Bowl is about like buying $100 dollars worth of lipstick to try and make Roseanne Barr attractive. It just isn't going to do much good.

OU and UT leave MILLLIONS of dollars in Dallas every year. If they go back to home-and-home (as it should be imho) they will increase their revenues and I think the rivalry will intensify. There is nothing like beating a rival in their home park.

[Murphy3]

Yep...the history..the intensity of the game at a neutral site... it's part of what makes that game one of the best rivalries in college football. But, I'd be surprised if it stayed in Dallas.

[Mavdog]

A couple of questions...

first, Dallas lost the Cowboys stadium when Miller and most of the council took the stance that they wouldn't increase taxes on the citizens of Dallas to build a stadium. Personally, I felt they should have taken it to a vote rather than being arbitrary, but nonetheless it was a simple fact the City had been tapped out, while Arlington had the 1% sales tax increase (which was used for the Ballpark and retired). So why is it that Miller "lost the Cowboys"?

second, why is it better for the game to go to the respective campuses? I agree Murphy, the neutral site is part of its glamour. Going to the home and home takes some of that somewhat uniqueness (there's only a couple of these, right?) away.

If OK wants Dallas, and they can actually replace the ridiculously bad seating/concessions/restrooms, UT may be fine with the cotton bowl and the game may stay. so the key is making the schools comfortable the facility will be adequately remodeled.

fair park, the state fair, its all part of the tradition.

[dude1394]

So she fought the Victory construction, she fought the new Texas Stadium, she's fighting some other guy.

She's the can't do mayor..

If she thinks anyone is going to guarantee anything to go play in that pig-sty of a cotton-bowl she's nuts.

Pretty typical liberal imo, evil,evil businesses and rich, greedy millionaires wanting the city to support them. Fix the potholes idiot.

Wake up...After seeing what the stadiums have done for downtown houston and she STILL fights this, she's dumb as a rock.

[Murphy3]

At the very least, it should have at least gone to the citizens for vote. All indicators show that it would have passed by the largest of margins in the history of such votes in the nation.

[Mavdog]

"can't do mayor"? no, there's a lot that's been done, and that is why she gets so much criticism.

the smoking ordinace?

the (promised) Trinity Park?

the (under construction) ridiculously expensive Trinity Bridges?

and best of all, the no increased taxes.

the recent Ray Hunt episode wasn't one of her better moments. there's some baggage there she needs to deal with.

Let's see if she can pull off a long term committment by the schools, and a remodeled Cotton Bowl out of the deal. I see it at 50/50..

[u2sarajevo]

I see it at 5/95 myself. You can patch up a pile of crap all you want, but when you are done it will still stink.

I really hate it being so, but I will be Savovic shocked if the schools agree to keep the game in Dallas.

If they do, it's for traditions sake.... not because of anything Laura Miller did.

I was in favor of her, and I do enjoy being able to eat in Dallas without coughing up my lungs. But she had an opportunity to seize and she decided to sleep instead with the Cowboy Stadium.

[Mavdog]

Originally Posted by u2sarajevo

I see it at 5/95 myself. You can patch up a pile of crap all you want, but when you are done it will still stink.

Soldiers Field in Chicago?

[u2sarajevo]

Originally Posted by Mavdog

Soldiers Field in Chicago?

I would hardly equate the two.

And the renovation of Soldiers Field cost alot more than 50 million.

[Drbio]

The schools will go home and home for a couple of years until the Cowboys park is ready. It's all about money.

[dude1394]

If the Laura Miller and the City of dallas doesn't think that the Texas-OU game is worth a new stadium for the next 20-40 years or so why the heck wouldn't they plan on moving out.

It's flat out ridiculous, Miller thinks they are going to go against their financial interests out of some sort of alturism to Dallas.

It's so naive to be laughable. I can't see them coming back to dallas once the tradition is broken, what's the point? Fair Park will just continue it's steady/slow decline as will the inner-city. Thank goodness Perot and Victory was able to get going before Miller could sink it.

[u2sarajevo]

But dude.. that's the catch-22 the city of Dallas is in. The Texas/OU game alone is NOT worth the cost of a new stadium.

That's why building the Cowboy stadium in Dallas (preferrably close to Fair Park) would have been ideal.

That ship has sailed though.

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by u2sarajevo

But dude.. that's the catch-22 the city of Dallas is in. The Texas/OU game alone is NOT worth the cost of a new stadium.

That's why building the Cowboy stadium in Dallas (preferrably close to Fair Park) would have been ideal.

That ship has sailed though.

Oh I understand completely, it was just a great deal for the city.. They make sure they keep the cowboys, get a new stadium for Texas/OU, superbowls, BCS etc. and continue to have fair park and downtown with a chance of revitalization.

The mistake I see was not building Texas Stadium, UT/OU was a fringe benefit.

[dude1394]

The new stadium I'm referring to was Texas Stadium for the cowboys, but Miller is too myopic to see that.

[capitalcity]

Texas' AD DeLoss Dodge is trying to raise the money/support to expand DKR - Like Doc I'm betting Texas/OU goes home & home till after the superbowl (tags promised).

By 2012 the infastracture around the stadium site will be 80% complete. Long term plans will revitalize Arlington's 'downtown' and create an entertainment district/corridor to the stadium/conv center/six flags. Everything the schools should want will be in place.

[Mavdog]

Originally Posted by capitalcity

By 2012 the infastracture around the stadium site will be 80% complete. Long term plans will revitalize Arlington's 'downtown' and create an entertainment district/corridor to the stadium/conv center/six flags. Everything the schools should want will be in place.

yeah, right, but only if you define "entertainment district" as a bunch of tatoo parlors and car lots, with the occasional greasy diner thrown in. collins, randol mill and abrams are full of those.

the city of arlington will never experience a redevelopment boom out of the cowboys stadium. didn't happen in irving, and it didn't happen with the ballpark that's just around the corner. there's more days the ballpark is used than the stadium...

[capitalcity]

Why you hatin' on FUN CENTRAL mavdog?

The Cowboys museum will be a year-round draw. Will people drive for miles and miles just to see some 40 year old jockstraps - probably not. Will people drive for miles and miles to see some 40 year old jockstraps if they can also go to Wet'n'Wild and Six Flags in the same weekend - yes.

I said long term MD. Yes that part of Arlington need sprucing up - but to say it'll turn out like Texas Stadium is ridiculous. That stadium was designed to get people in and out fast without consideration for aesthetics or community. The Jerrydome is being strategically placed to enhance the area around it - taking into account the attractions already there and the ones yet to be concieved.

High density residential projects should be the only questionable venture. Retail? Restaurants? Light Commercial? I'd jump at the right opportunity. My father and I have looked at two properties on division west of the site. They would need to be re-zoned, but I think a Sportsbar/shopping center would be high risk, higher reward.

[Mavdog]

cap, if it's "fun central" to you than that's what it is. I will never again disparage the fine community of Arlington, and will hereafter cease applying the moniker of "seedy" to its exciting and varied assortment of entertainment destinations.

OTOH, I will also take the position that the City will NEVER get a return on the big ole pile of money that they so willingly threw at the Joneses, as the Cowboys went through the motions and acted like the proverbial hooker, going from city to city seeking the best "trick" they could get. The best thing about the deal struck for the citizens of Arlington is that about 25% of the cost will be borne by non-Arlington residents who come to Arlington and spend their dollars at the Parks Mall and adjacent retailers, the many chain eateries that line the interstates, and good ole Six Plags and its sister Hurricane Harbor.

I'm not aware of any sports stadium that on its own was the catalyst for a resurgence of a market. As a part of a redevelopment initiative yes, as was done in Baltimore, Denver and Houston, where othericomponents (such as high density residential, retail and office providing daytime population) were underway in conjunction with the stadium's development.

I don't expect Arlington to be any different.

[capitalcity]

http://www.arlington.org/ - a.k.a. "fun central TM" to the chamber of commerce. To me arlington is the place I spent my first 20 years...

Speaking to whether or not the city recoups their investment - whatever. I'm sure they'll make substantial sums through taxes, licences, fees, etc. Couple that with the hits on tourists and possible special event windfalls and I think partnering with the devil (jones) was a smart move. In general, those investors/entreprenuers good at making money will find ways to make money and, in turn, show arlington visitors a good time. Does that mean Johnson Creek will become the long discussed arlington riverwalk - I dunno.

If nothing else, Hotel la Capitalcity's Parents House will be renting rooms to superbowl visitors at $149.00 a night.

Breakfast is complimentary.

[jayC]

Move it to the Jerry Dome.

[capitalcity]

Cotton picking Arlington in future?

05:03 PM CDT on Tuesday, July 25, 2006

By BRIAN DAVIS / DMN

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – AT&T Cotton Bowl officials have quietly taken the first step toward potentially moving their annual game from Dallas to the new Cowboys stadium in Arlington.

The Cotton Bowl has hired Colvin Sports Network, a sports consulting group, to survey corporate sponsors and other college football officials to determine their feelings about a variety of issues. Chief among them: Whether the game should stay in the 76-year-old facility at Fair Park.

Cotton Bowl president Rick Baker said the consulting firm hopes to interview about 100 people. The information will be compiled and presented to the game's board of directors, who will then vote on the game's future location.

"It's going to be one of the hardest decisions that our association will ever make," Baker said while attending Big 12 media days. "The city of Dallas has been a great partner of ours for 70 years, and we're going to obviously do our due diligence and take our time doing it."

The new Cowboys stadium is scheduled to open before the 2009 season, so the first Cotton Bowl game couldn't be played in Arlington until Jan. 1, 2010.

The Cotton Bowl has been played in Dallas every year since 1937. State Fair officials have already begun $20 million worth of improvements to the facility. A bond package could provide another $30 million in improvements, if voters approve the measure in November.

Baker said there was no timetable on a decision by the board of directors.

It's long been rumored the Cotton Bowl would leave Dallas for Arlington. Cotton Bowl officials want to join the lucrative Bowl Championship Series if it ever expands. But unpredictable January weather has been considered a point of contention. The Cowboys' retractable roof would eliminate weather problems.

Baker has refused to talk about the potential move publicly. However, he was at ease with the topic Tuesday in a banquet room inside the Marriott Country Club Plaza.

He said Cotton Bowl officials will soon meet with members of the Cowboys organization, probably after the team returns from training camp in Oxnard, Calif., to learn more about stadium capacity and other specifics.

"We would not be doing our job if we did not at least study what our options were as a new option was coming on the horizon," Baker said. "Obviously, the new Cowboys stadium is a new option."

The Cotton Bowl could be in the position of leaving the aging stadium, its host city and rich history behind before the end of the current Texas-Oklahoma contract.

Texas-OU officials recently signed an extension that keeps their game at the Cotton Bowl through the game in October 2010. But if the Cotton Bowl game left Dallas, it could put the long-term future of the Texas-OU game in jeopardy as well.

"When we have enough information and we're ready … the board will vote, and that's where it will be," Baker said. "I don't think in any way shape or form, the Texas-Oklahoma situation enters into that. When we're ready to move forward, we'll move forward."