Cowboys won't release stadium drawings

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) _ The Dallas Cowboys, citing security and business concerns, have not released drawings of their publicly funded stadium under construction. <br/><br/>Black tarp covers the chain-link

Friday, September 8th 2006, 12:44 pm

By: News On 6

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) _ The Dallas Cowboys, citing security and business concerns, have not released drawings of their publicly funded stadium under construction.

Black tarp covers the chain-link fence surrounding the site, preventing members of the public from looking at the 50-foot deep stadium bowl.

The plans should remain confidential under the Texas Homeland Security Act, Cowboys attorneys argue, because releasing them would disclose the stadium's vulnerability to terrorist attacks.

Citing the Public Information Act, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram requested the plans from the city of Arlington. After the Cowboys declined to release them, the city sent the request to Attorney General Greg Abbott.

``At this time, we believe it's premature to release the documents because of proprietary business practice information as well as issues with security,'' Cowboys spokesman Brett Daniels said.

The stadium is expected to cost $650 million. Arlington taxpayers will pay for $325 million through a half-cent sales tax. The city has also issued bonds to raise money for the project.

The city used its power of eminent domain to force landowners to sell property for the stadium. That, along with the sales tax, gave taxpayers the right to see the plans, said Bruce Deramus, chairman of Concerned Taxpayers of Arlington.

``The whole thing has been shrouded in mystery, and they try to keep the taxpayers out of everything,'' Deramus said. ``It bothers me greatly.''