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Stadium Doors Opening For First Concert
Posted by nickeatman at 6/6/2009 3:48 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com
After a long wait, the time has finally come for Cowboys Stadium to open up and hold its first event.
The doors are open here in Arlington, just hours away from the George Strait concert, featuring Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton.
There has been one lineup change already. The first act was supposed to be Julianne Huff, but an illness has caused her to pull out of the event. She has been replaced by Lee Ann Womack, an accomplished, award-winning artist in her own right.
Fans have jam-packed the streets around both the new stadium and the Ballpark in Arlington, the nearby home of the Texas Rangers. Even with the concert scheduled to start around 5 p.m. (CDT), the parking lots are already filling up and the fans are lining up just outside the doors.
As for me, I’ve made it in the building and have set up shop in one of the Radio booths on the almost behind the stage.No, not the greatest view in the world, but when you’ve got the largest TV screen in the world right in your face, it’s hard to say you can’t see anything. And also, it’s George Strait. As great as he is, he doesn’t really do much, but stand there with a guitar that he rarely plays. So it should be a good show.
But the real production is just getting the enormous stadium venue off the ground and in operation. You can tell it’s not 100 percent completed and it probably won’t be for a while. But it’s certainly seems ready to hold some 65,000 people for tonight’s event. Stay tuned for more updates.
- Nick Eatman
And We’re Underway . . .
Posted by nickeatman at 6/6/2009 5:55 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com
At approximately 5:25 p.m. (CDT), the first event at Cowboys Stadium officially began.
Lee Ann Womack, who told the still-filing-in crowd, that she was on the beach about 24 hours earlier when she got a call to fill in for an ill Julianne Huff, opened the show that will include Blake Shelton and Reba McEntire, and of course is headlined by George Strait.
Oh, the madness. When you get 60,000 people in one place, it’s crazy enough. But imagine that none of these people know where they’re going. And even the people that are supposed to know, really have no clue where everything is. And how could they know? That’s just part of it when you open a $1.1 billion stadium.
But man, is this thing impressive. Maybe the most impressive part is how fast the construction crews got this thing put together. No, it’s not completely finished, but up and running enough to get this event off the ground.
A few minor issues with some heat-exhausted fans and even some counterfeit parking passes . . . and of course the first introducer of the entire show called the place “Texas Stadium.”
But other than that, things are going rather smoothly here so far.
- Nick Eatman
Rolling Through The Concourse Area . . .
Posted by nickeatman at 6/6/2009 6:45 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com
It’s hard not to notice some of the new aspects of this Cowboys Stadium. For one, if the long lines at the Cowboys Pro Shop were overwhelming at the old Texas Stadium, it might not be an issue here. That’s because this place has 10, yes 10, different Pro Shops located on all different levels of the stadium. Right now, they have some George Strait and Reba McEntire T-Shirts and souvenirs. But don’t think the Cowboys aren’t selling some of their own stuff. If you’re here, Cowboy hat and all, and you just have to get a Marion Barber jersey, too, that can be accommodated.
Also, the prices at the concession stands are rather interesting. The most expensive items I saw on the main concourse level were the Inaugural Popcorn Tub and the Cowboys Cheesesteak, both at $10. Now, the club level suites are a different story. There, you can find a $14 Dry Aged Beef sandwich, Green Chile Kobe Burger for $13 and a $7.50 jumbo hot dog. Overall, there were about 30 different items on various menus. Still, regardless of the prices, the lines were still rather long, but moving rather fast. Actually, the longest lines were for single souvenir stands selling the country apparel.
Oh, and the cold beer was flowing like water. Even Blake Shelton opened the second act with a Miller Lite in his hand. Of course, Miller, the Cowboys’ official beer sponsor.
However, Shelton's comment to the crowd that the "Traffic sucks!" probably didn't go over too well the Cowboys. Oh well. Maybe he didn't go to the press conference Thursday to find out the best traffic routes to the stadium.
All in all, things are going well.
- Nick Eatman
Posted by nickeatman at 6/6/2009 3:48 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com
After a long wait, the time has finally come for Cowboys Stadium to open up and hold its first event.
The doors are open here in Arlington, just hours away from the George Strait concert, featuring Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton.
There has been one lineup change already. The first act was supposed to be Julianne Huff, but an illness has caused her to pull out of the event. She has been replaced by Lee Ann Womack, an accomplished, award-winning artist in her own right.
Fans have jam-packed the streets around both the new stadium and the Ballpark in Arlington, the nearby home of the Texas Rangers. Even with the concert scheduled to start around 5 p.m. (CDT), the parking lots are already filling up and the fans are lining up just outside the doors.
As for me, I’ve made it in the building and have set up shop in one of the Radio booths on the almost behind the stage.No, not the greatest view in the world, but when you’ve got the largest TV screen in the world right in your face, it’s hard to say you can’t see anything. And also, it’s George Strait. As great as he is, he doesn’t really do much, but stand there with a guitar that he rarely plays. So it should be a good show.
But the real production is just getting the enormous stadium venue off the ground and in operation. You can tell it’s not 100 percent completed and it probably won’t be for a while. But it’s certainly seems ready to hold some 65,000 people for tonight’s event. Stay tuned for more updates.
- Nick Eatman
And We’re Underway . . .
Posted by nickeatman at 6/6/2009 5:55 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com
At approximately 5:25 p.m. (CDT), the first event at Cowboys Stadium officially began.
Lee Ann Womack, who told the still-filing-in crowd, that she was on the beach about 24 hours earlier when she got a call to fill in for an ill Julianne Huff, opened the show that will include Blake Shelton and Reba McEntire, and of course is headlined by George Strait.
Oh, the madness. When you get 60,000 people in one place, it’s crazy enough. But imagine that none of these people know where they’re going. And even the people that are supposed to know, really have no clue where everything is. And how could they know? That’s just part of it when you open a $1.1 billion stadium.
But man, is this thing impressive. Maybe the most impressive part is how fast the construction crews got this thing put together. No, it’s not completely finished, but up and running enough to get this event off the ground.
A few minor issues with some heat-exhausted fans and even some counterfeit parking passes . . . and of course the first introducer of the entire show called the place “Texas Stadium.”
But other than that, things are going rather smoothly here so far.
- Nick Eatman
Rolling Through The Concourse Area . . .
Posted by nickeatman at 6/6/2009 6:45 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com
It’s hard not to notice some of the new aspects of this Cowboys Stadium. For one, if the long lines at the Cowboys Pro Shop were overwhelming at the old Texas Stadium, it might not be an issue here. That’s because this place has 10, yes 10, different Pro Shops located on all different levels of the stadium. Right now, they have some George Strait and Reba McEntire T-Shirts and souvenirs. But don’t think the Cowboys aren’t selling some of their own stuff. If you’re here, Cowboy hat and all, and you just have to get a Marion Barber jersey, too, that can be accommodated.
Also, the prices at the concession stands are rather interesting. The most expensive items I saw on the main concourse level were the Inaugural Popcorn Tub and the Cowboys Cheesesteak, both at $10. Now, the club level suites are a different story. There, you can find a $14 Dry Aged Beef sandwich, Green Chile Kobe Burger for $13 and a $7.50 jumbo hot dog. Overall, there were about 30 different items on various menus. Still, regardless of the prices, the lines were still rather long, but moving rather fast. Actually, the longest lines were for single souvenir stands selling the country apparel.
Oh, and the cold beer was flowing like water. Even Blake Shelton opened the second act with a Miller Lite in his hand. Of course, Miller, the Cowboys’ official beer sponsor.
However, Shelton's comment to the crowd that the "Traffic sucks!" probably didn't go over too well the Cowboys. Oh well. Maybe he didn't go to the press conference Thursday to find out the best traffic routes to the stadium.
All in all, things are going well.
- Nick Eatman