ESPN Radio re: Cowboys relocating

[HTownCowboysFan]

I was on my way to the gym this AM, and I turned to the local Houston sports radio station. The local guys were off, so they were running the national ESPN feed, which was the "Mike & Mike Show."

Anyway, during the entire drive (about 15 min or so), these guys were talking about Jerry Jones and the possibility of the Cowboys moving. This got callers chiming in regarding the 'boys leaving Dallas--most of which said that there was no way the Cowboys would leave North Texas. They were STILL talking about it about an hour later when I left!

I believe that the talk originated from a discussion of whether or not cities/counties, etc. should help pay for a stadium, and whether teams have the right to leave.

Question, is there talk up there in DFW about the Cowboys leaving? I have season tickets, and have heard nothing about this. I can't imagine JJ would actually leave the metroplex because much of the value of the franchise is the brand name "THE DALLAS COWBOYS." On the otherhand, the Cowboys need and deserve a new stadium--or at least a totally renovated Texas Stadium.

I'll make the trips up to Irving for the games, but I sure as hell won't commute to LA. ;)

[Tuna Helper]

HTown,

Just my 2 cents on the matter, since I don't live in Dallas. Jerry could move the team to wherever he wants, but he may leave the "Dallas Cowboys" in Dallas. This is what Art Modell did with the Browns when he moved his team to Baltimore.

IMO, as stupid and ridiculous as it sounds, moving the team to LA and not having the Dallas Cowboys is a real possibility if JJ is considering the scenario I mentioned above.

This would all mean that another owner would come forward and reestablish the Dallas Cowboys and get a new stadium...like what happened in Houston and Cleveland. Eventually, the taxpayer had to pay something to get football back in their town. Why not just do it now and keep the Cowboys in Dallas?

[Yeagermeister]

I don't think Jerry would ever really move the boys. He might threaten it to get his new stadium.

[Hostile]

I do not buy for one minute that Jerry Jones would move the team. The lease with Irving runs through 2008. By that team the NFL will have a franchise in Los Angeles. Dallas is the #4 TV market in the US I believe behind NY, LA, and Chicago. Detroit might be close. The Cowboys are an institution in Dallas, I do not believe the other 31 owners would ratify them moving. The Cowboys are the #2 most valuable franchise in the NFL behind the Redskins. If they had a new state of the art stadium they would easily be the most valuable franchise. Jerry Jones has said he would not even consider moving the team. I take him at his word. I do think he is working the politics of this to get the best deal possible.

[Chocolate Lab]

I think this is all blown WAY out of proportion.

From what I can tell, the only reason this talk exists at all is because Jerry is looking for a new stadium and the league has said that LA would have a team in the next few years. That's it. There's never been any talk from Jerry or anyone else with the team that that franchise could move to LA. Although Jerry might like the buzz that is making the city think twice about helping fund the new stadium, he won't move this team.

I think out of towners get concerned when they read that Dallas is resistant to the stadium, but never fear -- some suburb will pick up the tab. Remember the Dallas Cowboys aren't even in Dallas now, and haven't been since Texas Stadium was built.

When Jerry first bought the team I actually was concerned that he might move the team to LA some day, because he has LA ties and at that time would do anything to make an extra dollar IMO. But I believe Jerry now sees the Dallas Cowboys as a part of him, not just as a tool to maximize profit. I think he's also very aware of his public perception, and doesn't want to foerver ruin the goodwill he's built up with the fans over the years -- especially the last couple of years.

[HTownCowboysFan]

HTown,

Just my 2 cents on the matter, since I don't live in Dallas. Jerry could move the team to wherever he wants, but he may leave the "Dallas Cowboys" in Dallas. This is what Art Modell did with the Browns when he moved his team to Baltimore.

IMO, as stupid and ridiculous as it sounds, moving the team to LA and not having the Dallas Cowboys is a real possibility if JJ is considering the scenario I mentioned above.

This would all mean that another owner would come forward and reestablish the Dallas Cowboys and get a new stadium...like what happened in Houston and Cleveland. Eventually, the taxpayer had to pay something to get football back in their town. Why not just do it now and keep the Cowboys in Dallas?


TH, can't see the above happening.

In the case of Cleveland, they were going to be the "Baltimore Browns," until Cleveland raised so much hell and the NFL "asked" Modell to relinquish the Browns name, history, stats, etc.

With Houston, they flat lucked into that team (the texans). The NFL awarded the franchise to LA, only to give it to Houston later because they were the only alternative. Houston shouldn't have let the Oilers go in the first place. Harris county ended up playing tremendously more for the Texans, than if they had just built a new stadium as Bud Adams wanted. When the Oilers left, Houston was promised NOTHING by the NFL, and the Oiler name went with them to TN. The only reason Bud changed the name was due to pressure from leaders in TN and the NFL to a certain extent. Plus, they still have all the records of the Oiler/Titan franchise.

I can't see JJ giving up "The Dallas Cowboys," just for a new stadium in LA. I think something is going to get done soon enough up in the Metroplex with a stadium.

[HTownCowboysFan]

I think this is all blown WAY out of proportion.

From what I can tell, the only reason this talk exists at all is because Jerry is looking for a new stadium and the league has said that LA would have a team in the next few years. That's it. There's never been any talk from Jerry or anyone else with the team that that franchise could move to LA. Although Jerry might like the buzz that is making the city think twice about helping fund the new stadium, he won't move this team.

I think out of towners get concerned when they read that Dallas is resistant to the stadium, but never fear -- some suburb will pick up the tab. Remember the Dallas Cowboys aren't even in Dallas now, and haven't been since Texas Stadium was built.

When Jerry first bought the team I actually was concerned that he might move the team to LA some day, because he has LA ties and at that time would do anything to make an extra dollar IMO. But I believe Jerry now sees the Dallas Cowboys as a part of him, not just as a tool to maximize profit. I think he's also very aware of his public perception, and doesn't want to foerver ruin the goodwill he's built up with the fans over the years -- especially the last couple of years.

I agree totally.

[Hostile]

Something else to consider, merchandise sales. Jerry went out of his way to broker deals with independant merchants apart fromt he NFL. Nike, Pepsi, etc. All of them wanted the Dallas Cowboys image for their products.

Does anyone really believe he would walk away from that?

The name Cowboys and the colors would remain in Dallas the same way the Browns did. Jerry's nto stupid. In no time at all he would go from the top of the merchandise sales heap to near the bottom.

Smart businessmen do not make stupid deals. Jerry is a mrilliant businessman. Whatever else he is, you can bet your bottom dollar he knows his bread is buttered by the Dallas Cowboys legacy and nothing is going to change that. Not even the number 2 television market in Los Angeles.

[Tuna Helper]

I do not buy for one minute that Jerry Jones would move the team. The lease with Irving runs through 2008. By that team the NFL will have a franchise in Los Angeles. Dallas is the #4 TV market in the US I believe behind NY, LA, and Chicago. Detroit might be close. The Cowboys are an institution in Dallas, I do not believe the other 31 owners would ratify them moving. The Cowboys are the #2 most valuable franchise in the NFL behind the Redskins. If they had a new state of the art stadium they would easily be the most valuable franchise. Jerry Jones has said he would not even consider moving the team. I take him at his word. I do think he is working the politics of this to get the best deal possible.

Hostile,

I agree with the lease issue, but the remainder of the lease could be bought out. I also agree that if JJ moved the team, the brand would not be the same.

The Cowboys are the only franchise that is ranked in the top 3 or 4 of NFL franchises that does not have an ownership stake in its own stadium. This determines the value of the team. The Redskins estimated $851 million in value includes all or part of the stadium. Dallas is just behind them, with no stadium value in the mix. If we had some new digs, and JJ spotted the $200 million that he's agreed to, this franchise would be worth nearly 1.1 to 1.2 billion...including the impact of future additional earnings.

What this means is that the Dallas Cowboys brand name on its own is worth more than some teams' brand names plus the ownership stake in their $400-$500 million stadium.

[HTownCowboysFan]

Did anyone hear this discussion on ESPN this AM? I know Dallas has a ESPN radio station, 103, isn't it?

[Hostile]

Hostile,

I agree with the lease issue, but the remainder of the lease could be bought out. I also agree that if JJ moved the team, the brand would not be the same.

The Cowboys are the only franchise that is ranked in the top 3 or 4 of NFL franchises that does not have an ownership stake in its own stadium. This determines the value of the team. The Redskins estimated $851 million in value includes all or part of the stadium. Dallas is just behind them, with no stadium value in the mix. If we had some new digs, and JJ spotted the $200 million that he's agreed to, this franchise would be worth nearly 1.1 to 1.2 billion...including the impact of future additional earnings.

What this means is that the Dallas Cowboys brand name on its own is worth more than some teams' brand names plus the ownership stake in their $400-$500 million stadium.
I also mentioned the merchandise sales later. Dallas is still in the top 5 in merchandise sales for NFL properties and that doesn't even take into consideration the exclusive deals they have outside of NFL properties. Other teams may hate the Cowboys but they know that the Cowboys drive the revenue of the NFL. This is exactly why we have 3 MNF games in 2004, plus the Thanksgiving Day game, plus the Sunday Night season finale.

The other owners would never ratify this move and Jerry may be a maverick but he's not an idiot. He would lose money not make money on the deal.

He will get his stadium deal one way or another and the team value will go through the roof.

[TruBlueCowboy]

Bill Parcells joined up to coach the legendary Dallas Cowboys not the L.A. Express or whatever they would be called in a move. LOL I seriously doubt the Cowboys move anywhere. I'll wait until I hear more solid things.

[jobberone]

Bill Parcells joined up to coach the legendary Dallas Cowboys not the L.A. Express or whatever they would be called in a move. LOL I seriously doubt the Cowboys move anywhere. I'll wait until I hear more solid things.

LOL. JJ may try to use this tactic but I doubt he'll get much smoke from it. Don't know what it's like to have his kinds of leverage but I believe he has many tricks and favors up his sleeves and in his pants pocket, uhhh wallet.

He'll find a way to get his stadium and box seats and bigger revenue and domed staduim which will finally net him a SB to feed his ego. Also Dallas and it's fans deserve a SB in Dallas as does JJ. No SB in Dallas!!!!! It's not as big of the slap in the face as the HOF c*** but it's up there with total bull.

[Maikeru-sama]

As a Life long resident of Dallas, I dont see the team ever moving out of the Metroplex. There are too many cities like Grapevine, Frisco, Arlington, Irving (Las Colinas) and maybe Plano that would be more than willing to take a look at the Cowboys being in their backyards.

Again, negotiating with Dallas, and probably other big cities is very hard and tenuous. For one, he wanted the City to pay about 450 Mill of the 650 Mill cost. He also gave them a ridiculous timeline (30 days or so) to approve it because he wanted it on the November Elections Ballot. Also, the city was stupid for allowing the AAC to have "no compete" clause in their contract, when Dallas is and always will be a Football Town.

When I hear Channel 4, 5, 8, The Ticket and other LOCAL NEWS SOURCES talking about the Cowboys moving to L.A., then I will give it a little bit more credence.

I think Grapevine or Collin County will be hosting the Cowboys in the future. These types of issues arose when the AAC and The BallPark were being built, so nothing new under the sun I am afraid.

- Mike G.

[LaTunaNostra]

I was on my way to the gym this AM, and I turned to the local Houston sports radio station. The local guys were off, so they were running the national ESPN feed, which was the "Mike & Mike Show."

Anyway, during the entire drive (about 15 min or so), these guys were talking about Jerry Jones and the possibility of the Cowboys moving.

Oh oh.

Can the mods do something to prevent TheKey from reading this? :D

[TheKey]

:D Were NOT going to move!

Until Jerry even MENTIONS it, why should we listen to the media making stuff up?

And im sure ESPN would LOVE us to move.

[jcollins28]

Living in So-Cal and being a lifetime Cowboy fan I do not know how I would feel about this if it did happen. I have been to Texas Stadium many times and enjoy taking my trips to Dallas to spent the weekend and see a game. If JJ was to leave the Cowboy name and move the team to L.A. I would still follow and support the the name that was left in Dallas. If the whole team was to move out here it just would not feel right. There are no Cowboys in L.A it would be like living on planet Bizzaro. No way JJ does this I think it is all media fluff.

[Hostile]

Oh oh.

Can the mods do something to prevent TheKey from reading this? :D
I was thinking the same thing. Banning is a little extreme though. Don't ya think? :D

[big dog cowboy]

The Cowboys are an institution in Dallas, I do not believe the other 31 owners would ratify them moving.

That is probably the truth, and therefore, the end of the discussion.

[TheKey]

Yes, were not moving, end of discussion.

[Hostile]

Yes, were not moving, end of discussion.
Who are you and what have you done with TheKey?

[TheKey]

Who are you and what have you done with TheKey?


The new and improved TheKey..

[big dog cowboy]

The new and improved TheKey..

I'm not sure I should go there......but.....what is new and/or improved???

[TheKey]

The new worry-free knowledgeable TheKey.


People, just think about.

The more I think about the clearer it becomes, WERE NOT MOVING!

Stop worrying about it.

[speedkilz88]

I listened to this discussion in the 7:00-8:00 slot and they were speaking in generalaties about whether a team has the right to expect a city to finance most of the stadium or leave for another and they were just using the Cowboys as an example. Not that there were any real chance of Jerry doing this.

[jterrell]

Jerry can pick his subarb, he doesnt have to leave Dallas. Arllington, Frisco, Grapevine, Southlake, Prosper, Irving, Rockwall and Dallas itself are all interested. He has zero need to leave Dallas.

[LaTunaNostra]

The new worry-free knowledgeable TheKey.


People, just think about.

The more I think about the clearer it becomes, WERE NOT MOVING!

Stop worrying about it.
I kinda liked the old TheKey myself - the paranoid one running around like Chicken Little "the team is leaving, the team is leaving". ;)

Very amusing is how the enemy camps are spinning the new stadium negotiations. All of a sudden Jones is the first owner on earth to try to milk a city for a deal. The spin in NE is pretty much that Jerry is both greedy and arrogant. And not that wonderful humanitarian Bob Kraft.

Here's one from the Washington Times (Tuna has "apparently turned the team around".

http://washingtontimes.com/sports/20040704-125708-7238r.htm

Barf.

[Tio]

Something else to consider, merchandise sales. Jerry went out of his way to broker deals with independant merchants apart fromt he NFL. Nike, Pepsi, etc. All of them wanted the Dallas Cowboys image for their products.

Does anyone really believe he would walk away from that?

The name Cowboys and the colors would remain in Dallas the same way the Browns did. Jerry's nto stupid. In no time at all he would go from the top of the merchandise sales heap to near the bottom.

Smart businessmen do not make stupid deals. Jerry is a mrilliant businessman. Whatever else he is, you can bet your bottom dollar he knows his bread is buttered by the Dallas Cowboys legacy and nothing is going to change that. Not even the number 2 television market in Los Angeles.Is this the reason why Washington was ranked above us in merchandise sales? Its hard to imagine anyone topping the cowboys in merchandise over all...

[LaTunaNostra]

Is this the reason why Washington was ranked above us in merchandise sales? Its hard to imagine anyone topping the cowboys in merchandise over all...

RW, I believe the Skinz are ranked #1 in overall revenues, with the Pats second.
Those teams have new stadiums with more seats, more luxury suites, etc.

That's why Snyder has the cash flow to pay the big signing bonuses.

But I'm pretty sure the merchandising leader is still the Cowboys.

JJ keeps those numbers confidential tho, doesn't he?

[SALADIN]

Jerry would sell the team before being know as the person who moved the Dallas Cowboys.

[TheKey]

JTerrel, where did u hear that?

[Tuna Helper]

Is this the reason why Washington was ranked above us in merchandise sales? Its hard to imagine anyone topping the cowboys in merchandise over all...

LaTunaNostra is right. Washington and the Pats have a greater revenue base...the reason why the Cowboys need a new stadium. However, the Pats and the Redskins franchise own all or part of their stadiums, and this is factored into their "value". The Cowboys own exactly zero dollars worth of Texas Stadium. Besides, the darn thing was built for under $20 million anyway.

If you strip away the stadium values, the Cowboys have the strongest, most valuable brand in the NFL, and arguably the strongest brand in sports (NY Yankees may have issue with that).