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Dec 4, 2008 5:56 pm US/Central
Final Beam Tops Off New Dallas Cowboys Stadium
ARLINGTON (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
There was a major milestone this afternoon at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. The last beam was placed at the top of the new stadium. The final vertical building piece tops off a hugely expensive project.
The new stadium has grown from a two million square foot project to a three million square foot project.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones put his signature on the final beam before it was hoisted up and put in place. He commented about the new stadium and ever-increasing cost to build it. "I signed it and I put on there, 'Well, you rascal, I'm down to my last nickel because of you. This better be good'."
As dignitaries signed the final vertical building piece, they topped off a hugely expensive building. The budget ballooned along with the size of the stadium to much more than the nearly $700 million original budget.
"But as we got into the project we knew what we wanted and knew it was gonna be meaningful for a long time, so we're over one billion two hundred million in on our budget," Jones said.
While the City of Arlington's cost of the project hasn't changed, the city has had to juggle interest rates on some investments. "We had a little trouble with the bonds," explained Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck. "We got most of those refinanced and we'll get the rest of those refinanced soon."
The final top beam crowns a stadium that has ring of honor players jealous. Former Dallas Cowboy Tony Dorsett was at the event and said, "I've been having thoughts of trying to make a comeback. I wonder if I can make 99 yards one more time."
There's still a lot of work to be done at the new stadium. Workers are busy fitting out the inside of the stadium, but Jones says he plans to finish construction on time.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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