Jerry Jones built his $1.2 billion dollar sports palace as a home for the Dallas Cowboys and as the ideal location for any sporting event he can get his hands on. The new Cowboys Stadium has already hosted a Jonas Brothers concert, a college basketball game, three soccer games, five college football games (including the Big 12 Championship and the Cotton Bowl) and the NBA All-Star game. Manny Pacquiao is set to fight Joshua Clottey March 13 at Jerryville and the stadium hosts Super Bowl XLV in February 2011.
There wouldn’t seem to be much room for any other events but never say never to Jerry Jones. He’s now trying to pull the National Finals Rodeo from Las Vegas to Cowboys Stadium.
So far Jones and chums are keeping their strategy for bringing the NFR back to Texas under their Stetsons. But Brett Daniels, director of corporate communications for the Cowboys, acknowledges that his team has “had a few initial conversations and invited people to see the venue.”
“We’re not actively pursuing it at this time,” he reassures, but, he adds, “We’re interested in finding out more about it.”
Translation: Las Vegas has the NFR locked up in a contract through 2014, but Cowboys Stadium is aiming to be its new home when that contract expires.
2014 is the same year the stadium hosts the NCAA men’s Final Four. The NFR began in Dallas in 1959 before moving to LA(?!?), Oklahoma City and then Las Vegas. I’m sure Jerry wants to return the NFR to its home.
Rodeo rustler? Tourism officials worry Dallas Cowboys owner could steal Vegas event [Las Vegas Sun]
