JONES: Cowboys stadium complex to cost at least $1 billion

<br>(Dallas-AP) -- Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones estimate of the cost of a new stadium complex as at least doubled. <br><br>He tells The Dallas Morning News that the proposed stadium and entertainment

Friday, August 10th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Dallas-AP) -- Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones estimate of the cost of a new stadium complex as at least doubled.

He tells The Dallas Morning News that the proposed stadium and entertainment complex will cost at least one (B) billion dollars -- and perhaps as much as one-and-a-half (B) billion dollars.

Irving, Arlington and other North Texas cities considering bidding for the venue had been saying the project would cost about 500 (M) million dollars. Jones says that might cover the stadium itself, but the surrounding development would double or triple the cost of the project.

Civic leaders tell the newspaper say Jones' vision and cost estimate doesn't reduce their interest -- so long as cost of the stadium itself remains in the half (B) billion-dollar range.

Jones envisions a 100-thousand-seat stadium with a retracable roof as the centerpiece for his entertainment development. He says he hopes the stadium will be ready for play between 2006 and 2008.