Fans at Cowboys Stadium's first basketball game wowed by size of venue, but they say arena lacks intimacy

09:43 PM CST on Saturday, December 19, 2009
By ERIC AASEN / The Dallas Morning News
eaasen@dallasnews.com

ARLINGTON – Pigskin was kicked to the curb at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, replaced by the sounds of squeaking tennis shoes, the thud of a bouncing basketball and a blaring basketball buzzer.

A gleaming maple hardwood court took center stage as the University of Texas defeated the University of North Carolina, 103-90, in the stadium's first basketball game.

The weekend battle was a dress rehearsal for February's NBA All-Star Game, and NBA and stadium officials were on hand to study the scene.

From the stands, basketball fans said a wide seating bowl designed for football can't replicate the intimacy of a basketball arena. Some thought the size of the stadium drowned out their cheering and screaming.

But the $1.15 billion stadium's grandeur is impressive, and the huge video screens make up for any bad seats in the house, fans said.

"I feel like we're in a big arena, it's so spread out," said Jesse Allen of Duncanville. He left his lower-level seats to stand at a table to get a better view. "I don't feel like the sixth man."



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