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Dec 18, 2008 6:01 pm US/Central
Mayors Reflect On Fight To Build Texas Stadium
IRVING (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
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Irving Achieve In The Irving Library
Thirty years ago there was a fight to get Texas Stadium in Irving built. The unique financial deal required the City of Irving not pay for any of it.
Two men instrumental in getting the Cowboys to Irving are now sad to see it go.
Robert Power and Dan Matkin joined the Irving City Council together in 1963. They were back to back mayors. They say they will never forget that first meeting with Clint Murchison, the owner of the Cowboys at the time.
It was 1966 and the Cowboys were playing at the Cotton Bowl.
"He said he was going to talk to our selves, Arlington and I think Richardson," said Matkin. "I said, 'Well we don't want to get into a shin-kicking contest with Dallas or other cities.'"
"We would only proceed on the basis that it could be done, that the City of Irving not having any expense," said Power.
"It was almost overwhelming to build," said Matkin. "At that time, $30 million was a pretty good size chunk of change."
There was also a lot of opposition from Irving citizens who opposed building the stadium and the sale of beer. Even more vocal was the opposition that came from political activists and city leaders in Dallas.
"All of them were trying to do anything they could to impede our efforts to acquire the stadium," said Power.
There were lawsuits, including one that challenged the city's ability to issue bonds to help pay for the stadium. The sale of the bonds came with the option that gave the fans the right to buy a seat in the stadium.
Irving voters were asked to settle it. Opponents won with 65 percent of the vote.
"That was tremendous exhilaration to know that the people supported what you were doing," said Power.
The day voters approved building the stadium, they immediately called a special meeting of the Irving City Council.
"We approved all the documents at that special meeting and that sealed the deal," said Power. "Remember we were doing that to settle a lawsuit. Anybody could have filed a lawsuit the next day," said Power.
"I recall that Merchison came to us one time and said, 'I think I'm going to put some stars around there.' I said, 'Well?' He said, 'I'm going to put some white stars all around,' and I see all those things and I say he was a pretty brilliant guy," said Matkin.
The two former mayors wonder if the stadium is coming down too soon. They would rather that it have been phased out and used by college teams. But they admit this is something they can't control.
"I've wondered about the deal to tear it down is kinda premature, a rushed deal," said Matkin.
"Well, it's out of our hands," said Power.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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