On-Site at the New Cowboys Stadium

Q: What is your department’s role in the construction of the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington?

S. QUIRK: “Our department handles building code issues and landscaping for the site. I work in the capacity of permitting and dealing with any building code issues. I also work on civil site issues such as paving, drainage and landscaping.

“We have a standing meeting every Friday morning at 8 o’clock at Blue Star Development’s office. We have a set agenda and we’ll talk about all the civil needs that are required for this project. When I talk about ‘civil needs’, I’m talking about paving, drainage, underground utilities, water, sewer, etc.

“Next on our agenda, we go through items associated with the building such as building code issues. We talk about any police or fire issues. We have traffic management issues, too, with the construction entrance on Division and around the site. When the site changes, fire needs to know the entrances and where to come in. We also talk with Jack Hill, the construction manager for Blue Star, about road construction for Barrett Farm and Rogers. We talk about everything and get it ironed-out so that we don’t have to back-track.”

Q: What are some of the most recent issues you’ve discussed with Blue Star?

S. QUIRK: “Recently we’ve been talking about landscaping. Blue Star has a landscape architect and we’ve talked with them about our concerns from the city’s standpoint. For example, there are trees near Manhattan offices that were saved from this site during demolition of the homes that were here. They’ve been on-site here near the construction for the last 2 ½ years or 3 years. They’re going to use them on-site here as part of the landscaping package.

“There is so much to talk about. We’ve just begun talking about concessions. We have a concession stand that’s being built on the main concourse. We’re starting to look at the health code issues relating to concessions, such as “Where is the three-compartment sink?” or “Where is the mop sink?” There are sanitary issues regarding health and food preparation. And bathrooms. Lots and lots of bathrooms.”

Q: What do you say to local Arlington residents, as well as visitors to Arlington, about what is being done in regards to traffic issues related to the new stadium?

S. QUIRK: “The traffic issue is addressed frequently. The Cowboys hired a traffic consultant, Bob Brooks, and we have meetings to talk about ingress and egress and traffic patterns. We sit down with the traffic consultant and talk about patterns and particular intersections.

That’s ongoing: the traffic management. We have the local day-to-day traveling public who uses these roads and intersections every day. Then you have the Cowboy venue, the Ranger venue, the Six Flags venue, and the Arlington Convention Center venue. We’ve got to manage and meld all those things together in a traffic management plan. There could be many situations going on depending on which venues are being used, and we have to be prepared for each of those situations.”

Q: Glory Park is the exciting new mixed-development which will be located between Rangers Ballpark and the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium. Is your department also focusing on Glory Park?

S. QUIRK: “Yes, and not just roads. They’re working on a connection for The Road to Six Flags. That’s to be open by opening day (April 1st) of baseball season. We have plans in for construction of buildings for Glory Park, but no vertical construction has happened yet.”

Q: What’s it like working with the Dallas Cowboys and Blue Star Development on the new Cowboys stadium?

S. QUIRK: “It’s very interesting and it’s very exciting. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’ve met Jack Hill and gotten to meet Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones. It’s interesting to work with Manhattan Construction, too, because they’re a world-class company. They get the job done.”

Please finish this sentence. In regards to the new Cowboys stadium, Arlington citizens and Cowboys fans would be surprised to know....

QUIRK: “People would be surprised to know how much work and effort goes into construction. I’m constantly amazed. I’ve gone through this project from the beginning, but I still have those ‘awe’ moments. I’ll be in awe of the design and the planning, in awe of the engineering and construction. Getting this project from paper to the ground is amazing. It’s just fascinating.”

Q: Has the experience of working on the new stadium been rewarding professionally for you and others in your department? Has it been a challenge?

S. QUIRK: “Very much so, rewarding and challenging. From the standpoint of our department, it’s a challenge because this is one of our highest visible projects. It’s a high-priority project. When we have an issue with the stadium, we’re going to take care of it immediately.”

Q:  The project is highly visible not only locally, but has received national and international attention. Have you gotten phone calls from other city officials around the country regarding the stadium project? And did you consult with other cities that have recently completed stadium construction projects?

S. QUIRK: “We’ve had phone calls and requests for the RFP (Request for Proposals) to do the building code and planned review inspections. We’ve had phone calls from other cities asking for our RFP. And when we got started on this project, I called Glendale, Arizona (home of the new Arizona Cardinals football stadium) and a couple of other cities and said, “Hey, you’ve got a new stadium being built, what did you look at?” We asked for insight from other cities and did our own bit of research.”

Q: What do you want visitors to Arlington to know about your department’s role in the project?

S. QUIRK: “We’re doing everything we can to inform not only our citizens, but also visitors to Arlington, to help get them around the city and let them know what transportation is going to be like. There are a lot of construction activities taking place outside this stadium, and we want our citizens and guests to be aware of those and let them know the traffic patterns and how to get around.”   

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