Friday, January 23, 1998

Report: Cowboys, Arlington leaders discussed new stadium

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - The Dallas Cowboys and Arlington city leaders have discussed the possibility of the city building a new home for the NFL team, according to a published report.

The Arlington Morning News reported today that a state representative organized an summer meeting between the Cowboys and Arlington officials.

The team now plays at Texas Stadium in Irving.

The August meeting with Mayor Elzie Odom and other Arlington leaders included discussions of other commercial developments, a team representative told the newspaper Thursday.

Irving Mayor Morris Parrish questioned the aggressiveness of Arlington, which has tried to attract the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars, in luring sports franchises from other cities.

"Looking at what Arlington did with the Stars and the Mavericks, it would fit into that pattern," Parrish said. "I certainly hope that it doesn't work."

He said he hoped that the Cowboys' discussions with Arlington meet a similar fate as those with the Stars and Mavericks. Dallas voters have since approved building a new multimillion-dollar arena for the teams.

Jud Heflin, director of stadium and community development for team owner Jerry Jones, said Rep. Kim Brimer, R-Arlington, organized the session.

Heflin said he outlined during the meeting ways to use a bill sponsored by Brimer to build a new stadium for the Cowboys near The Ballpark in Arlington.

But Heflin said that, despite the meeting with Arlington leaders, that he believes the Cowboys and Irving will work out an agreement.

"Irving has been a good host city for 26 years, and we have a continuing obligation with Irving," said Heflin.

The Cowboys' meeting with Arlington leaders occurred as city officials were attempting to use the Brimer bill to court the Mavericks and the Stars.

The Cowboys played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas from their first season in 1960 until Texas Stadium was finished in 1971. In 1985, the stadium added 118 Crown Suites to give the stadium a total of 296 private suites.