2011 Super Bowl Headed for Texas

The 2011 Super Bowl is headed for North Texas, Arlington to be exact. Dallas Cowboys' owner, Jimmy Jones, has said that the Cowboys' new stadium is nothing more than glass, iron and mortar until it is brought to life. He has also stated, as reported by the Associated Press on Tuesday, that the Super Bowl will do just that.

The new Arlington Texas stadium will be a 100,000-seat retractable-roof facility that will be halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth. The Arlington stadium will have over 27,000 more seats than its rival bidders. According to the Associated Press, Mr. Jones was quoted as saying that the stadium could hold as many as 120,000, with fans being able to watch video screens at each end zone. The $1 billion stadium will also be ready for the 2009 season.

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and Hall of Famer, Roger Staubach, led the charge to secure the Super Bowl and pledged to live up to the 'responsibilities' of the North Texas bid. Staubach had made a 15-minute presentation in Nashville to the league owners.

Referring to Staubach, the Associated Press confirmed that he had remarked that he was more nervous than he was at the birth of his latest grandchild. "We're going to work real hard to live up to the responsibility we have of winning this bid to make it the best Super Bowl that's taken place in 45 years," said the former Dallas Cowboy quarterback, chairman of the bid committee. "We're thrilled about it."

Other states that were also bidding were Indianapolis and Glendale, Arizona.

The Associated Press also acknowledged that the Indianapolis bid featured the Colts' domed stadium opening in 2008. David Letterman backed it with a presentation by the Colts coach, Tony Dungy.

The Cowboys' owner, Jimmy Jones, said that the vote went to a fourth ballot. The winner needs a majority to win.

Even though the Dallas Cowboys hold the record for being to the most Super Bowls, it is the first time that they will host it. The Super Bowl has been held twice in Texas; in 1974 by Rice Stadium and in 2004 at the Texans' new stadium in Houston. Arizona hosts the 2008 Super Bowl on February 3 and back in 1996 in Tempe. Florida will host the 2009 Super Bowl in Tampa and again in 2010 in South Florida.

This will bring a great boost to the North Texas city of Arlington and surrounding areas. It is estimated that the Super Bowl will bring millions in revenue to North Texas.