Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy?

January 4, 2015 4:35 PM

At the start of tonight's Detroit/Dallas NFL football game, there was a short clip of Dallas Cowboy fans running into the stadium like they were being chased by bulls. What's that all about? Does that happen at every football stadium or is it just a Dallas thing?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (8 answers total)

Thanks for asking this question as I was wondering the same thing.
Do they not have assigned seats? Are good seats offered on a first come basis?
posted by WizKid at 5:00 PM on January 4, 2015

Best answer: Definitely does not happen at every football game. Seats are generally assigned (the better seats - the ones closer to the field - are more expensive).

Apparently, AT&T Stadium offers standing room only areas: "Party Passes give you access to six party decks for either the east or west end zone overlooking the field at Cowboys Stadium. There will be no chairs for these tickets." So maybe the people running had Party Passes for the party decks, which would be general admission (first come, best seats; or rather, first come, best standing area).
posted by cooker girl at 5:11 PM on January 4, 2015

Best answer: Oh, Wikipedia also says there's standing room only as well as reserved seating.
posted by cooker girl at 5:13 PM on January 4, 2015

Best answer: yeah, they basically have standing sports bars with a view of the field. the running is weird, even as a life long cowboy's fan.
posted by nadawi at 5:47 PM on January 4, 2015

There is a logic behind the standing party area.

NFL rules state that if a game does not sell out at least 72 hours beforehand, then the game cannot be broadcast in the local market (more info here). Having a standing room only area allows the Cowboys in bad (losing) times to not completely sell out the game but still get the local broadcast revenue, and in good (winning) times to sell more tickets than they officially have seats.
posted by I am the Walrus at 10:22 AM on January 5, 2015

fwiw, this did not occur at the old texas stadium. party pass tickets are the most likely culprit. caveat: i haven't attended a game at the new stadium yet.
posted by lescour at 11:33 AM on January 5, 2015

beyond the fact that blackout rules are going away mostly, the cowboys never really had to worry about them even as they stood a few years ago. the stadium holds 80,000 seats, which makes it the 4th largest nfl stadium - and that's before the standing room seats that bring the capacity number up to 105,121. they've also had the highest average and total attendance since at least 2010. the reason for the standing seats is actually the opposite of trying to hide bad attendance - it's to squeeze a few more bucks out of spaces that are largely hallways and shops in other stadiums.
posted by nadawi at 11:34 AM on January 5, 2015

Best answer: It is most definitely party pass holders trying to get to the front rail of the party pass area for the best view of the field. I have been to many Cowboys home games and seen this in person.
posted by Uncle Jimmy at 8:33 AM on January 6, 2015 [1 favorite]