Cowboys' Texas Stadium Bites the Dust

Texas Stadium is nothing but a memory—and a huge mess. The longtime home of the Dallas Cowboys—known for the giant hole in its roof, "so God can watch his team," according to local lore—came tumbling down early today in a planned demolition. Fireworks shot off above the building for several minutes, then hundreds of fans counted down as 11-year-old Casey Rogers, the winner of an essay contest, pushed a button triggering the implosion.

More than a ton of dynamite dropped the west side of the building toward the north, the east side toward the south, and the roof right on top. After about six months of planning, it took less than a minute to turn the concrete and steel stadium into a twisted mess. Cleanup is expected to take until July. Fans arrived as early as last night for "final tailgate parties" in area parking lots. After that, Irving city leaders decided it needed the land more than the building. (More Texas Stadium demolition stories.)