Question: Why did Texas Stadium—the home of the Dallas Cowboys from 1971 to 2008—have a hole in the roof?
Answer: The iconic stadium was intended to be the first in the NFL with a retractable roof. During construction, however, engineers determined the roof would be unable to support the weight of the mechanism needed to operate the movable panel. The design caused difficulties for players and camera crews when only part of the field was in the shade. When it rained, the field would get wet while fans stayed dry. According to Cowboys linebacker D. D. Lewis, Texas Stadium had a hole in its roof “so God can watch His favorite team play.”
