A couple of days back, we broke the, ah, news that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had come up with the world's most unique timeshare out at Jerryworld: You and some friends could purchase a single ticket for a Cowboys game, then take turns going into the new Arlington stadium to see the contest whilst yer buds cool their heels in the parking lot. Words gotten around since then -- like, today there's a piece in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that refers to the item, with a no-comment from Cowboys spokesman Brett Daniels. And another local news outlet's looking into it too (did I really hear the words "Unfair Park" on WFAA-Channel 8 this morning?). "You're making me work," Daniels told Unfair Park today, after we finally connected.
Turns out, our item was pretty much on the mark. "It's probably about six percent accurate," Daniels says, before explaining that, yes, Jerry's considering all kinds of ways to sell tickets at the new stadium, and, well, that whole "timeshare" concept is just that at the moment. A concept. At the moment.
"Jerry gets on a roll when he's talking, and on Thursday he was talking to a group of 40 people out at the preview center," Daniels says. "He was talking about the plaza, the video boards -- just the whole big picture for the building. And the building does offer the component of flexibility, with the fixed seats and standing room and the additional seating in the end zone."
Daniels says that what Jones was likely referring to last week was the possibility of selling tickets that allow folks into the plaza surrounding the stadium, but not the actual game. As in: "You tailgate, hang out, but you don't go into the building. And I wasn't there [Thursday], but what he probably said was we'll have these tailgate tents for 25 people outside the stadium, and five of you can come and go into the standing-room only section." Again, though, that ain't even the game.
Which is why Daniels doesn't want anyone thinking this is a done deal just yet. It's just one of many concepts Jones is throwing around, once he sells off his club and reserve seats to the big-money customers.
"This is not a ticket package we're taking to market now," Daniels says. "It's one of a number of idea were taking about. It's more of the Detroit Auto Show concept car -- an idea that might be available sometime in the future. Because if we did do it, we're not sure whether the program would even be in place for all 10 home games. It might be something we'll do for college games or major regular-season games. We'll just have to see." --Robert Wilonsky
