Inside AT&T Stadium: The World Cup's Biggest Venue

追加: 2026-05-24

[00:00:00]Today, we're exploring the stadium that will host more 2026 FIFA World Cup [music] matches than any other venue in North America, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. With a tournament capacity of 94,000 fans, the largest of all 16 host stadiums, this architectural marvel will welcome nine World Cup matches, including a semi-final on July 14th, 2026. From its record-breaking $1.15 billion construction to its transformation into FIFA's flagship venue, this is the story of Jerry Jones' vision becoming football's grandest stage.

[00:00:35]History and context. For 38 seasons, the Dallas Cowboys called Texas Stadium home. The iconic venue in Irving, with its distinctive [music] partial roof and 65,675 seats, served as the Cowboys home from 1971 through 2008. But as the NFL evolved into a multi-billion dollar business, owner Jerry Jones recognized that even an iconic stadium could become a liability in the modern revenue landscape. As early as 1994, [music] Jones began exploring replacement options. Initial concepts called for adding 40,000 seats and a retractable roof to Texas Stadium. By 1997, those discussions shifted toward building an entirely new venue. After evaluating multiple sites across the Dallas-Fort Worth region, Jones selected Arlington, near what was then Globe Life Park, offering superior highway access and room for his ambitious [music] vision.

[00:01:30]In April 2004, Jones proposed a $650 million stadium at Fair Park in Dallas, requiring $425 million in public funding. Dallas County officials rejected the proposal as excessive. By June 2004, negotiations resumed with Arlington. The city agreed to contribute $325 million through voter-approved bonds, funded by a half-cent sales tax increase, a 2% hotel occupancy tax increase, and a 5% car rental tax increase. The NFL provided an additional $150 million loan, leaving Jones to cover the remaining costs and any overruns. What happened next tested Jones' commitment. The final construction cost soared to $1.15 billion, making it one of the most expensive sports venues ever built. Jones personally covered every dollar of the overrun, transforming an ambi- tious project into one of the most audacious investments in sports [music] infrastructure history. The stadium officially opened on May 27th, 2009.

[00:02:33]Country music stars George Strait, Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, and LeAnn Womack christened the venue with a concert before 60,000 fans on June 6th.

[00:02:42]The first sporting event followed on July 19th, when AT&T Stadium hosted CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals, with a Mexico-Haiti match drawing 82,252 spectators. On September 20th, 2009, the Cowboys played their first regular season home game. The stadium's flexible seating system, with seats mounted on aluminum rails rather than bolted to concrete, allowed capacity to expand to 105,121 fans, setting an NFL regular season attendance record that still stands.

[00:03:15]That game established AT&T Stadium's reputation as a destination capable of hosting the world's largest sporting events. Initially christened Cowboys Stadium, the facility operated without naming rights until July 25th, 2013, when Dallas-based AT&T secured a sponsorship deal reportedly worth $17 to $19 million annually. For the 2026 World Cup, FIFA's ban on commercial naming will see the venue temporarily rebranded [music] as Dallas Stadium.

[00:03:44]The structure. The architectural firm entrusted with creating this monumental venue was HKS Architects, a Dallas-based practice with deep roots in sports design. Lead architect Bryan Trubey approached the project with a bold vision that AT&T Stadium should function not merely as a sports facility, but as a civic structure on par with the great public buildings of American cities. The result spans 3 million square feet. Two massive arched box trusses, each 16.5 feet wide, 35 feet deep, and 1,225 feet long, are the longest of any building structure on Earth. These steel arches, weighing 14,100 tons combined, support a retractable roof system that can fully open or close in 12 minutes. The arches exert forces of up to 19 million pounds, channeled into massive thrust blocks positioned above deep slurry wall box foundations.

[00:04:40]The stadium's design places the playing field 50 feet below street level, creating a natural bowl that offers panoramic views from every angle. Five distinct levels house approximately 200 luxury suites and 15,000 premium club seats. The Hall of Fame level suites sit just 21 rows from the field, offering unparalleled proximity to the action.

[00:05:01]One feature immediately captures every visitor's attention. The center-hung video board, suspended 90 feet above midfield, this four-sided HD display measures 160 feet long by 72 feet high, stretching from the 25-yard line on one end to the 25-yard line on the other.

[00:05:19]When commissioned in 2008, it was the world's largest HD video screen, weighing 1.2 million pounds and requiring a complex cable support system. Though later surpassed in size, it remains one of the most recognizable features in global sports. The end zones are enclosed by five-panel glass retractable doors, each 180 feet wide and 120 feet high. Designed by Dallas-based [music] Haley Greer Glass Systems, these doors open in 18 minutes, seamlessly connecting the stadium's interior with expansive outdoor plazas.

[00:05:51]The combination of retractable roof and glass doors gives the venue remarkable flexibility. It can function as a fully enclosed climate-controlled arena, an open-air stadium, or anything in between. Walter P. Moore served as structural engineer, while Uni-Systems implemented the [music] retractable roof systems. The roof membrane was designed to evoke Texas Stadium's partial roof when viewed from inside. A deliberate homage to the Cowboys' former home, but can fully close to protect against unpredictable weather. The stadium's official capacity is 80,000, but the flexible seating configuration allows it to accommodate over 100,000 for marquee events. Party pass sections behind each end zone provide standing room areas that push total capacity to its maximum.

[00:06:35]This adaptability has made AT&T Stadium the go-to venue for massive crowds.

[00:06:41]Super Bowl 45 in 2011 drew 103, 219 fans, the 2010 NBA All-Star game set a basketball attendance record with 108,713 fans, and WrestleMania 38 in 2022 attracted 156,352 fans over two nights.

[00:07:02]World Cup transformation. FIFA's selection of AT&T Stadium as a 2026 host venue came as no [music] surprise. The facility had already demonstrated its capacity for international soccer, hosting multiple CONCACAF Gold Cup matches since 2009. The stadium's retractable roof and climate control systems address one of FIFA's primary concerns, managing Texas's summer heat during the tournament. For the World Cup, the venue will accommodate 94,000 fans, the largest capacity of all 16 host stadiums. The stadium is undergoing a reported $295 million renovation program focused on suite areas, hospitality spaces, and FIFA compliance.

[00:07:42]Most significantly, the playing surface must accommodate a natural grass measuring 105 m by 68 m, FIFA's standard dimensions. The current field turf artificial surface will be temporarily replaced with hybrid grass specifically cultivated for the tournament, and the field will be widened to meet FIFA specifications. The stadium's match schedule reveals its central role. AT&T Stadium will host five group stage matches.

[00:08:07]>> [music] >> The knockout stage brings two round of 32 on June 30th and July 3rd, followed by a round of 16 clash on July 6th. The pinnacle arrives July 14th, when the stadium hosts one of two semi-finals, a match that will determine one of the finalists for the championship game at MetLife Stadium. The economic impact of hosting nine World Cup matches is substantial. The Cowboys regularly generate among the highest match day revenues in the NFL, [music] with 2023 total revenues exceeding $1 billion and average home attendance of 93,594 fans. For the World Cup, with capacity expanded to 94,000 and international demand for premium seating, revenue projections for the nine matches could approach $100 million.

[00:08:55]Beyond direct stadium revenue, the tournament will generate significant economic activity across Arlington and the Dallas-Fort [music] Worth region. With FIFA estimating that the entire 2026 World Cup will generate over $5 billion in economic activity across the three host nations.

[00:09:12]The legacy. AT&T Stadium's selection as the World Cup's largest venue validates Jerry Jones' original vision. Since opening, the stadium has hosted Super Bowls, college football playoff championships, Final Fours, Wrestlemanias, and concerts by the world's biggest artists. The Cowboys rank as the most valuable sports franchise globally, worth [music] over $9.2 billion as of 2023, with AT&T Stadium serving as the cornerstone of that valuation. The city of Arlington, which contributed $325 million in public financing, has seen substantial returns. Tax revenues from stadium-related activities allowed the city to pay off the stadium debt 10 years early, saving over $150 million in interest and fees. Jones pays the city $2 million annually in rent plus $500,000 from the AT&T naming rights deal. The economic development around the stadium has transformed [music] Arlington into a regional sports and entertainment hub.