Dallas Cowboys' new stadium has a glitch

opinion

By tvnz.co.nz's John Whiting

Published: 10:23AM Friday September 11, 2009 Source: ONE Sport

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It's the largest domed venue in the world but the Dallas Cowboys' brand new stadium has one glaring problem.

Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas is the brainchild of billionaire NFL owner Jerry Jones.

With a price tag of $US1.15 billion, it seats 80,000 people but is expandable up to 100,000.

It's even bigger than the 'Bird's Nest' stadium which played host to the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

But seems there is one major issue.

Smack-bang in the middle of the field is a brand new high definition screen - the biggest in the world at 49 metres by 22 metres in size.

While it's an incredible sight to see, it looks set to raise eyebrows during the NFL season.

During warm-ups earlier this year, several punters managed to hit the big screen.

Then in the pre-season, Tennessee Titans punter A.J. Trapasso struck the screen with a booming kick during a game.

The punt bounced backwards and the down had to be replayed.

At 90 feet above the ground, the screen exceeds the NFL's minimum height regulations by five feet. But because of its sheer size, the odds of hitting it are high.

Owner Jones has played down concerns that it has the potential to make a farce of games.

Jones believes Trapasso tried to hit it on purpose just to prove a point.

"If you look at how you punt the football, unless you're trying to hit the scoreboard, you punt the ball to get downfield.

"You certainly want to get some hangtime, but you punt the ball to get downfield, and you sure don't punt the ball down the middle. You punt it off to the side," he said.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has clarified that the 85-foot rule with stand for this season, but hasn't ruled out forcing the Cowboys to raise their screen next year.

Check out video of Trapasso hitting the big screen below.

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