The Dallas Cowboys have only utilized the retractable roof of AT&T Stadium, which was constructed at over $1 billion, on 30 occasions out of 126 regular season home games, with the last usage occurring in October 2022.
When the team attempted to open the roof for the Monday night match against the Houston Texans, a mechanical issue led to a significant piece of metal falling hundreds of feet onto the field. Fortunately, this incident took place several hours prior to kickoff and did not result in any injuries or game delay.
“We can confirm a piece of metal came loose and fell to the field while the roof was in the process of opening,” the Cowboys stated regarding the debris incident on Monday. “There were no injuries. It is being reviewed further, and a decision regarding the ability to re-open the roof safely will be made when possible.”
This marked the second incident at AT&T Stadium within a month. Just last week, owner Jerry Jones defended the stadium’s design allowing afternoon sun glare, which had led to a dropped touchdown by Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb during the game on November 10.
Lamb expressed his desire for the team to implement curtains to block the sunlight, while Jones stated such measures were unnecessary.
Last Friday, Jones had the opportunity to enjoy his hosting duties during the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight at AT&T Stadium, which attracted over 70,000 spectators. Netflix reported that the event reached an additional 60 million viewers at home.
Jones featured on Netflix’s broadcast, emphasizing the occasion. “This arguably is one of the great events in sports,” he remarked, indicating he had envisioned global showcases when designing the venue.
Despite recent challenges on the field and mechanical malfunctions at AT&T Stadium, the Cowboys remain the most valuable sports franchise worldwide, according to Sportico‘s NFL valuations. They continue to attract a devoted fan base across the country, with broadcasts anticipated to draw impressive TV ratings, even amidst the absence of starting quarterback Dak Prescott.
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