If FC Dallas played there – with the roof and air conditioning – your club would more than double the attendance.

Buzz,
You’re talking about the space between the corner flag and the boards, right?
Isn’t the Gold Cup subject to the same standard?

Media man, No it wouldn’t.

Steve, no I’m not. I’m talking about the space between the penalty box and the little mark behind the end line that shows where ten yards is from the corner arch.

Yes, the Gold Cup has that standard, but the Gold Cup is not the World Cup.

I wouldn’t count out the Cotton Bowl as a venue. I know FIFA will want to maximize the number of tickets, but it served well last time and the city of Dallas is spending money on renovations. That said, I think Reliant Stadium in Houston might just end up being the venue in Texas since it was specifically built to meet the “preferred” FIFA dimensions .

I think that’s a pretty bad angle to make that assessment. That would be amazing to have a world cup game here in the metroplex….but I’ll travel anywhere in the country to see a game. I was even trying to convince the Mrs to let me go to South Africa.

Wow. That is a tiny pitch for such a large stadium. I am very surprised, especially since the Cowboys organization claim that they intentionally planned the stadium to be used for big soccer matches. Even if a world cup game is played there someday, a field this tiny would noticably impact the ability to “open up” the field for teams who rely on a possession oriented style of play.

Is that a permanent structure between the front of the seating area and the bench? If not, it could be removed to provide width. Otherwise, based on the way the sides curve, they could shorten the field to increase the width.

I think those are the structures from the ground level luxury suites, and it is stupid that they would make it too small to meet FIFA standards, but I am also sure Jerry Jones will find a way to make it happen since he is all about the money….

And I would go to more FC Dallas games if they were there because it would be easier for me to get to… As it is I have to drive from West Ft. Worth to Frisco to get to a match and that is just too far to make the trip for every home game…

“Yes, the Gold Cup has that standard, but the Gold Cup is not the World Cup.”

But doesn’t the Gold Cup comply with FIFA standards as well or just CONCACAF?

Charles, in theory it’s the same rules. But some tournaments are more flexible than others.

[...] 3rdDegree posted this picture and he wonders if the width of the field is the FIFA minimum of 70 yards and if there are 2 yards of space on the corners between the flag and the boards.  If not, no potential World Cup games are coming to town. [...]

Buzz, That field is exactly 70 yards if my tapemeasure and the angles are correct. by measuring the corner arc and doubling that. The distance is exactly double the corner arc. So take the 10 yard mark which is 11 from the corner flag making 13 from penalty area to the corner flag. that makes 31 from each post plus the 8 between the post and you have a 70 yard wide field. Hope that helps everybody but probably tow much information. Oh yeah the distance from the conerflag to the corner arc is one yard for those that do not know.

buzz,

I follow what you’re saying. Although the field may meet the “minimum” width…that may only be good enough for Gold Cup or Qualifiers, but not for the World Cup Finals. I think it’s a good point, because it makes a huge difference playing a game on a field with “extra” width. It makes for an attractive wide-open match with lots of attacking, rather than a bunched up defensive struggle.

Look at the difference between the Home Depot Center or some of the narrow fields like San Jose’s stadium. Big difference.

Another downfall is the artificial turf…but I expect Jerry would roll out the real stuff for the World Cup.

MS

It may be that since that is artificial turf that the lines are permanent and the template isn’t meant to measure up to the 75 yard mark, since WC games won’t be played on plastic. It will be more interesting to compare this set up with the game on grass next week between Chelsea and Club America. It may be that they can squeeze a few more yards out of the corners.

I’m shocked that Chelsea agreed to play on that turf.

the Gold Cup game is being played on artificial turf, but they are bringing in natural grass for the CHelsea v. America game, per the contract with SUM for all these teams, i believe.

FWIW, that space looks like more than 2 yards to me.

“but they are bringing in natural grass for the CHelsea v. America game, per the contract with SUM”

SUM has nothing to do with the Chelsea game.

Why is it so important that the stadium be part of the World Cup? Its a football stadium, not a soccer stadium. Jerry’s simply trying to make money. It doesn’t make a stadium inferior if its not made for soccer.

[...] In the pic I posted before, you can see the field level luxury boxes surrounding the surface.  Apparently they have a [...]

Whichever marketing company is bringing these teams to the USA for their pre-season then. I thought it was SUM, but maybe its someone else. Its just a different contract for the CONCACAF event and the World tour event

It extends to over 100,000 seats. I would know. I live in dallas

Rantanamo – it’s no so important that the stadium be a part of the world cup. But from the start, Jerry Jones has said he wants the world cup FINAL in his stadium. But as long as the field is 70 yards wide, it won’t be likely. No one would be speaking of the stadium hosting a world cup had Jerry Jones not brought it up.

It extends to 100,000 seats if they modify by adding bleacher seating. Currently, it does not. I would know, I live in Arlington.

Nice stadium

If you notice what it is keeping the witdth short, its not the field suites themselves, but the vast standing room beyond each. Couldn’t they simply fill in those areas and remove move the rails back thus allowing the extra yardage? We’re talking mere yards. Based on the measurement here, the necessary space exists between the stands. There simply needs to be modifications Same goes for any stadium considered narrow. It would be very simple to do what the Cotton bowl has and replace the first few rows of seats with retractable risers. I think we are complicating simple problems.

Also some corrections. The grass field right now sitting on top of a drainage pad. The 3 artificial surfaces are actually made to be exchanged in less than 24 hours and never have anything on top of them.

Also, the stadium seats ~82,000 with seats set with a personal space of 21-inches which is super generous. The seats are attached to rails instead of being bolted to the concrete risers so they can slide closer together to as little as 18-inches of space(fire code requirement) Reduced the personal space by 1 inch adds 6,000 seats. Apparently they can get between 93,000 in the existing bowl. They can also add risers to the 3 plazas on each end, which would easily put them over 100,000.

Look, don’t worry about whether OR not you think there is enough space in COWBOYS stadium for a 21 inch this, OR a 44 yard that, OR how many fans it accommodates… You probably need to be against toughened borders in order to make seating capacity a relevancy because I don’t know the last time American Soccer filled up a Cotton Bowl sized stadium without the aid of a WORLD CUP. Soccer stinks, 1 to nothing in favor of American Football…