Cowboys will train in San Antonio in 2007
By TIM PRICE
SPECIAL TO THE STAR-TELEGRAM
SAN ANTONIO – When the Cowboys’ new stadium in Arlington opens in 2009, it’ll be ready for football. But, unlike a growing number of NFL facilities, it won’t include a training camp site.
Those duties will be handled by the Alamodome in San Antonio – even if the growing interest among sports fans in South Texas to land a NFL franchise is realized. The Cowboys and San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger confirmed Thursday that there is a five-year contract for training camp to start in the city in 2007.
Hardberger spent last season boasting that he would negotiate with the Saints to move for hurricane-displaced team from New Orleans to San Antonio. The Saints played three regular-season games in the Alamodome and trained in the city the entire regular season.
The Saints, under pressure from Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, have returned to New Orleans. But Tagliabue said San Antonio would be on a "short list" for expansion. He did not say when that might happen.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said his team is coming, regardless.
"I would support, and always said, I’d support a third team in Texas and in particular in San Antonio," Jones said. "Having another NFL team here would not preclude conducting training camp here."
Jones alluded to the 19 years the team spent training in Thousand Oaks, Calif., while the Rams were based in Los Angeles.
"We still had a high profile and a lot of national interest with the Rams right there," he said.
Jones said there are two reasons to bring the training camp back to San Antonio. The Cowboys trained in San Antonio in 2002 and '03. The Cowboys have become fond of training indoors at their practice facility at Valley Ranch. All practices in San Antonio would be conducted in the Alamodome.
"You have the finest facility we know of to get a team ready," Jones said.
And despite the Saints' presence, Jones said San Antonio remains Cowboy country. He said all measures of support have shown no decrease for the Cowboys in San Antonio.
"We don’t have a higher percentage of Dallas Cowboys fans in any part of the country," Jones said. "It’s the same in San Antonio that it is in Dallas.
"That’s what driving us here. That and the facility. It allows us to have a period of time to expand and be a part of our fan base."
Hardberger realizes the Saints, or any other NFL team, likely isn’t becoming a full-time resident anytime soon.
"To get the Dallas Cowboys here is great for us," Hardberger said, wearing a white Cowboys uniform with the numeral 07 printed on it. "This is a town that’s full of Dallas Cowboys fans."
SPECIAL TO THE STAR-TELEGRAM
SAN ANTONIO – When the Cowboys’ new stadium in Arlington opens in 2009, it’ll be ready for football. But, unlike a growing number of NFL facilities, it won’t include a training camp site.
Those duties will be handled by the Alamodome in San Antonio – even if the growing interest among sports fans in South Texas to land a NFL franchise is realized. The Cowboys and San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger confirmed Thursday that there is a five-year contract for training camp to start in the city in 2007.
Hardberger spent last season boasting that he would negotiate with the Saints to move for hurricane-displaced team from New Orleans to San Antonio. The Saints played three regular-season games in the Alamodome and trained in the city the entire regular season.
The Saints, under pressure from Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, have returned to New Orleans. But Tagliabue said San Antonio would be on a "short list" for expansion. He did not say when that might happen.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said his team is coming, regardless.
"I would support, and always said, I’d support a third team in Texas and in particular in San Antonio," Jones said. "Having another NFL team here would not preclude conducting training camp here."
Jones alluded to the 19 years the team spent training in Thousand Oaks, Calif., while the Rams were based in Los Angeles.
"We still had a high profile and a lot of national interest with the Rams right there," he said.
Jones said there are two reasons to bring the training camp back to San Antonio. The Cowboys trained in San Antonio in 2002 and '03. The Cowboys have become fond of training indoors at their practice facility at Valley Ranch. All practices in San Antonio would be conducted in the Alamodome.
"You have the finest facility we know of to get a team ready," Jones said.
And despite the Saints' presence, Jones said San Antonio remains Cowboy country. He said all measures of support have shown no decrease for the Cowboys in San Antonio.
"We don’t have a higher percentage of Dallas Cowboys fans in any part of the country," Jones said. "It’s the same in San Antonio that it is in Dallas.
"That’s what driving us here. That and the facility. It allows us to have a period of time to expand and be a part of our fan base."
Hardberger realizes the Saints, or any other NFL team, likely isn’t becoming a full-time resident anytime soon.
"To get the Dallas Cowboys here is great for us," Hardberger said, wearing a white Cowboys uniform with the numeral 07 printed on it. "This is a town that’s full of Dallas Cowboys fans."
posted by The Gryphon at 7:40 PM
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