Dallas Cowboys' video screen is too low
Sep 11, 2009 9:12 AM, By Michael Grotticelli
One of the largest video screens in sports — the 1.2-million pound, four-sided, $40 million display hanging from the rafters 90ft above the field in the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX — has turned into a logistical nightmare for stadium owner Jerry Jones.
After Tennessee Titans punter A.J. Trapasso kicked a ball into the Mitsubishi Diamond Vision video screen in a preseason game — the first game played in the $1.15 billion stadium — it became apparent that the huge display was suspended too low. Estimates are a repair will cost more than $2 million. The computer systems that feed the sideline boards have about 10.5 million LEDs.
For now, the NFL has ruled that the screen can stay in place, at least for this football season. Commissioner Roger Goodell also clarified rules, for this season only, on punts that ricochet off the HD screen.
Downs, Goodell said, will be replayed “if a ball in play strikes a video board, guide wire, sky cam or any other object.” The game clock will be reset to the time when the play was snapped. Any penalties during the wiped-out play won’t count, except for personal fouls.
Also, if officials on the field don’t see the ball hitting the board, the replay assistant can now initiate a booth review at any time. If the replay assistant doesn’t ask for a review, coaches can challenge the play under normal rules.
Because the NFL announcement was only for this season, it was implied that the league may force Jones to raise the height of the screen before the 2010 season, which ends after the next Super Bowl is played in the stadium.
“We will continue to address the particular circumstances in Dallas, giving full consideration to the competitive, safety and fan experience issues involved,” Goodell said in a statement. “The Cowboys have been fully cooperative as we have addressed this subject, and we will continue to work closely with the club on a longer term resolution.”
Long-term changes can be made only at the annual NFL rules meeting; however, Goodell noted that Rule 3 Section 1 of the league rule book allows for changes to be enacted for the current season only.
The video screen is the signature item of the stadium due to its clarity and size: 60yds long, stretching from 20-yard line to 20-yard line. The problem is it was mounted only 90ft above the field. While that is 5ft above the league’s mandated rules, the ease that punters have had kicking balls into the screen indicated that the rule needs to be revised.
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