The Dallas Cowboys abandoned their plans to open the roof of AT&T Stadium after a piece of metal fell from the structure just two hours before their game against the Houston Texans. The incident forced the Cowboys to quickly adjust their preparations for the Monday night matchup, which ultimately ended in a 34-10 loss—their fifth consecutive defeat of the season.
The Cowboys had initially hoped to have the stadium roof open for the highly anticipated rivalry game, creating an open-air atmosphere for fans and players alike.
However, those plans were abruptly canceled when a piece of scrap metal fell onto the field as the roof was being retracted. Fortunately, no one was injured by the falling debris, and safety measures were immediately put in place to prevent any further incidents.
According to the Cowboys, high winds in the area were to blame for the unexpected incident. The team later released an official statement to provide more details about what had happened. “We can confirm a piece of metal came loose and fell to the field, along with some additional small debris, while the roof was in the process of opening,” the statement read. “There were no injuries. It is being reviewed further, and a decision regarding the ability to reopen the roof safely will be made when possible.”
Team owner and general manager Jerry Jones also addressed the incident, emphasizing that player and fan safety remained a top priority. “Certainly, there was no risk at all to anybody on the field playing once we shut the roof again,” Jones said. “We had a lot of wind gusts in this area this afternoon, and apparently that created some looseness up there. When we tried to open the roof, the wind got in and exacerbated the looseness.”
Jones continued, “They wouldn’t have started this game if there had been any risk at all. Not only would the NFL have stopped it, but I also wouldn’t have allowed it if there was any risk whatsoever. There was absolutely no risk once the game began. The reason they conduct these checks is to ensure everything is working properly to avoid any risks to fans or anyone in the stadium.”
Prior to the start of the game, stadium staff bolted a piece of metal to the frame to ensure that no additional material would come loose during the match. Despite the incident, the game proceeded without further issues related to the roof.
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Interestingly, the Cowboys have not had the stadium roof open for a game in the past two years. AT&T Stadium, which opened in 2009, features a retractable roof designed to provide flexibility for a range of weather conditions and enhance the fan experience.
However, safety concerns and the challenges of operating the roof in unpredictable weather have led the team to keep it closed for most recent games.
The Cowboys’ decision to abandon their roof-opening plans highlighted the unpredictability of outdoor elements, even in a partially enclosed venue like AT&T Stadium.
While the high winds played a significant role in the incident, the team’s quick response and commitment to safety ensured that there were no injuries or further complications.
Despite the disappointing result on the field, the Cowboys managed to avoid a potentially dangerous situation before the game even began.
The incident serves as a reminder of the complexity involved in maintaining large stadium structures, particularly those with moving parts like retractable roofs.
As the Cowboys continue their season, questions remain about whether the stadium roof will be safely reopened for future games.
For now, the team is focused on getting back on track after a string of tough losses and making sure that both players and fans can enjoy a safe game-day experience moving forward.
