mikemcguff.com: Reader review of new Cowboys Stadium in DFW

Michael Penix sent out this email blast about his experience at the new Cowboys Stadium for the OU game and gave me permission to repost here:

Went to the OU/BYU game in Arlington at the new Cowboy's stadium...here's my two cents, notice there's more pros than cons. We sat in the 4th level, 4th row on the 35 yd. line.

Pros:
-The video screen was very impressive...kudos. It was overwhelming at first, but I got used to it. 40 million well spent...
-You're able to go up and down the escalators at will before the game, which was nice...Every stadium I've been to, you can only go 'up' before the game and 'down' after the game.
-All the seats were padded and had ample leg room/cup holders. I never felt cramped.

Cons:
-Bathrooms...my wife didn't stand in line...I stood in a line that was 20 yds. long. Awful (We did go at halftime)
-Instead of ramps to access the upper sections, they had stairs? Dude, stairs are cool for an NBA arena but NEVER at a football stadium. This isn't high school.
-All of those HD screens Jerry claims to have? Not one of them were showing the game when standing in the concessions line, instead they had the food/drink prices posted. Also, the Cowboys pro shop in the upper level was closed...I thought that was odd. I didn't go in the one downstairs.
-You can't walk around the perimeter of the stadium on the lower level once you're inside...that's because of the field level suites. How dare the peasants walk by and look inside!! It's definitely catered to the "upper class" fan.
-Sound System: Fail! I could hardly hear anything the referee said over the loud speaker. The PA announcer sounded muffled. OU might as well not even brought their band, you couldn't hear them in the 4th level.
-The parking situation was terrible. I parked in LOT 14...it was also the RV/Bus lot. The parking staff allowed the bigger vehicles to take up several parking spaces, while we parked in the grass. I had no idea we were going to need "Off! with Deet" to tailgate. $30 for a piece of lawn...

Overall Grade: C-

I've been to Reliant Stadium probably 15 times...and Houstonians should be proud. Plus, it cost less than half the price tag of Jerry's World. If he really did pay 1.4 billion, he got ripped off...