Cooler but still well above normal this week

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support


      ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Jerry Jones may have tried a little too
hard to break the Super Bowl attendance record.


      About 1,250 fans were displaced Sunday because their temporary
seats were deemed unsafe - 400 who were not allowed inside, and 850
who were relocated elsewhere in the stadium.


      "Jerry sold tickets he didn't own," said Glen Long, a Steelers
fan from Baltimore. "They call that fraud anywhere in the world."


      The NFL said the people relocated were put in "similar or
better seats." Those turned away will be given a refund of triple
the face value, which ranged from $600 to $1,200, but that might
not be enough for folks who paid much more to scalpers, not to
mention travel and hotel costs.


      "We don't want (a refund)," said Odett Karam, a Packers fan
from California. "We just want to get into the game. We just want
to see the game."


      Gerry Grillo, from New Jersey, said he paid $3,000 for a ticket
with a face value of $600, so he's among those who lost money.

      "Now they're saying it's (in an) invalid section ... saying
give us three times the face value and go pound salt," Grillo
said.


      While most fans were allowed into the stadium, fans in the
affected areas were put into a fenced off area, where they became
increasingly unruly. There were chants of "Jerry Sucks!" and
"NFL Sucks!"


      One man shouted: "They're treating us like prisoners." Another
said, "We came a long way for this."

      Seating woes are the latest frustration for the first Super Bowl
at Jerry Jones' $1.2 billion showplace.


      A rare, severe winter storm moved into the area Tuesday, ripping
holes in tents on the property and hampering travel and
celebrations across the region. On Friday, six people at the
stadium were injured by melting snow falling from the roof.


      Organizers were hoping flawless game-day logistics would wipe
out some of the complaints, but this seating problem could be an
issue in the area's plans to bid for the 50th Super Bowl in 2016.


      The affected areas were four entryways and two portions of the
upper deck on the west end. All were above empty spaces, so the
stability of those structures apparently was the issue.

      In the upper deck, there were off-limits seats in the same rows
as seats that were deemed safe. Yellow police tape was used as a
dividing line, with uniformed personnel also keeping folks away.


      "The safety of fans attending the Super Bowl was paramount in
making the decision and the NFL, Dallas Cowboys and City of
Arlington officials are in agreement with the resolution," the NFL
said in a statement. "We regret the situation and inconvenience
that it may have caused. We will conduct a full review of this
matter."

      About 15,000 temporary seats were added to the stadium in a bid
to set the record for the largest crowd in Super Bowl history.
Jones was aiming for more than 105,000, including stadium workers
and media, and fans who bought standing room tickets for plazas
outside the stadium.


      The temporary seats filled open platforms that are usually
standing-room only "party pass" areas for Cowboys games. The
entryways were on the third level, while the upper deck is on the
fifth level.


      AP National Writer Paul Newberry and AP Sports Writer Stephen
Hawkins contributed.
      

Gallery

Green Bay ready for giant Super Bowl party

Sports

About 1,250 fans were displaced Sunday because their temporary
seats were deemed unsafe - 400 who were not allowed inside, and 850
who were relocated elsewhere in the stadium.

Super Bowl fans miss out because seats unsafe

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox