Speculative 🧵on AT&T Stadium (ATTS) FIFA WC bid pitch expansion options on display. #dallas2026
NFL fields are 53x120. ATTS has the surface area to allow for a full 120x80, but leaves zero room for benches, media, warm-up, corner kick, etc. A look at the suggested options:
First - ATTS, from the start, was designed and promoted as a facility with World Cup Final in mind. It was always assumed that if a WCF was to be played in it, modifications of the field level suites was required. Now to options:
*TALL OPTION* - most telling info in this pic as it sacrifices seating for space. Elevating the surface 12-15’ would allow for what has to be almost 100yd of WIDTH - more than enough for proper pitch and whatever desired for off field needs. Attendance impact later in thread.
*SHORT OPTION* - Elevating 4’ uses the natural full width without reducing seating capacity and utilizes the existing perimeter barrier - this seems to be the easier/smarter option, but what space needs to accommodate a WC Final are the wild card.
ATTENDANCE: ATTS is 80K seat facility, but Cowboy games are regularly 90K+ w/ standing room, & Super Bowl XLV was 103K as additional temp seating was installed & was also mentioned in yesterday’s presentation. FIFA would love 100K - assume even Tall Option keeps a 85K+ #
GREEN THUMB: ATTS roof retracts and massive end doors open & turf surface is 100% removable (& grow lights) - installing a grass surface will require weeks/months of lead time - and this is biggest ?? - Is Jerry willing to shut down ATTS to allow for install & growth of grass?
AMENITIES: ATTS sits 10 minutes from DFW airport, and in the middle of an entertainment district (2 MLB stadiums, 6Flags, concert venues, countless restaurants) w/ thousands of hotel rooms, & also about to get a 1100 room hotel next door!
WCF Alt Locations: DMN included this list. I wonder is official because it doesn’t list LA’s new SoFi or Vegas’ new Allegiant (wonder if pitch size are problems there too?). This venue list is for all games (group/knock out), but only a very few will be considered for Final.
BONUS: For prospective of those that don’t live here: DFW Airport’s footprint is actually about or slightly larger than the island of Manhattan. There are over 7M people living in the greater DFW/North Texas region. A full WC could easily be hosted alone in TX.
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