Dallas Cowboys from WFAA Sports
Cowboys Stadium still missing vital document 
07:42 AM CDT on Saturday, June 13, 2009
>ARLINGTON — As tens of thousands of people witnessed the Cowboys Stadium debut concert, one thing was missing: The permanent document that guarantees the building is 100 percent complete.
The stadium did have a temporary certificate of occupancy but there was some unfinished business inside.
But does "unfinished" mean "unsafe"?
The unfinished business is laid out in a three-page report obtained by News 8. Nearly 40 items are keeping the Cowboys organization from getting a permanent certificate of occupancy.
On the list: Nine fire-related items, including final acceptance testings for the 911, fire alarm, and smoke control systems.
Fire and building inspectors signed off on the temporary certificate of occupancy a day before the George Strait concert. They told News 8 that concert-goers were never in danger.
"Yes they were safe. We would not have allowed the building to be occupied if we had any concerns with the safety of the public," said the city's assistant fire marshal, Stephen Lea.
According to the list, several areas in the stadium are banned from the public because they are still under construction, from the locker rooms to several bars on the main, silver, star and upper levels.
On opening day, some concession areas were overwhelmed with long lines and delays in service.
"Things like that that weren't really critical for these first couple of concerts. Obviously, the locker rooms will be needed for... matches in July, they should be ready to go by then," said Cowboys spokesman Bret Daniels.
Some 13 special inspection reports also need to be turned in, such as inspection of structural steel, bolting and welding material.
Construction crews have been working all week to check off items from the list.
Event staff has also been training to improve operations.
The city's inspection team told News 8 that as far as code requirements and procedures, the Cowboys didn't get a free pass.
The city's inspection team will be meeting with the Cowboys before every concert to check on their progress and every tweak needs to get the green light from city inspectors.
The stadium's temporary occupancy certificate expires in August.
E-mail mdiaz@wfaa.com
