Jerry Jones has never been one to take "no" for an answer. Whether it was in his early days as a fledgling oil tycoon, or later on as the maverick winner-takes-all owner of America's Team - the Dallas Cowboys chieftan always seems to find a way to get what he wants.
Certainly, the 67 year old Jones must have been taken aback last Wednesday when representatives from HBO, Golden Boy, and Top Rank failed to show for a tour of the 100,000 seat Cowboys Stadium - one of the rumored frontrunners in the ongoing sweepstakes to host the Floyd Mayweather, Jr. - Manny Pacquiao Superfight on March 13 of next year. Word quickly spread that Team Mayweather and Golden Boy held no real interest in hosting the fight at the modern sports marvel.
In the days that were to follow, word surfaced that Los Angeles' Staples Center posted a $20 million guarantee in hopes of landing the much-anticipated fight. Never one to be outdone by others - and certainly not a quitter by any definition of the word - Mr. Jones is said to have re-emerged as a leading contender to host the bout by putting up an astounding $25 million offer.
Apparently, Jones' most recent effort has drawn renewed interest from at least one of the fight's major stakeholders.
Top Rank honco Bob Arum told ESPNDallas.com that he was "working really hard to bring the fight down to Dallas." Following last night's Bradley-Peterson contest, Arum urged the other parties to take another serious look at holding the fight in Dallas. Mark Cuban, owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, has also assumed a lobbying role - stating that he has already placed a call in to Floyd Mayweather to offer assistance in closing the deal.
It is believed that as many as 9,000 seats may be placed on the Dallas playing surface and the stadium's massive video screen will be lowered in order to allow as many as 100,000 spectators to witness the bout first-hand. While the MGM Grand may try to outbid Jones, in order to exceed the $25 million offer, Vegas will have to rely heavily on closed-circuit ticket sales rather than live spectators.
One major luxury that both Texas and Nevada share over California's Staples Center is the absence of any state tax liability. If the fight were to be held in LA, both fighters stand to lose as much as $5 million in taxes off of their massive purses - something Arum does not seem too keen on having Pacquiao do.
As the Dallas Cowboys' first regular season in Cowboys Stadium draws to a close, Jones seems to realize that the Mayweather-Pacquiao showdown could offer the new stadium its first real chapter of new history.
Amid these recent developments, little mention has been made over the possibilities of either New Orleans or Miami hosting the bout. Whatever happens over the following weeks, it appears that Jerry Jones remains committed to seeing the 21st century's first SuperFight held in Texas.
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(sam.rossi.1@gmail.com)
Comments
This is a big fight,and we do it big in Texas...I've already booked my room. I can't wait!!!
NO to Dallas! PLEASE! Vegas is the only way to go. Too much money in line for Vegas to not counter offer. If it was in Dallas, it's basically like watching it closed circuit TV. You will need to watch it in the large screen. They have closed circuit TV vebues like the Mandalay Bay, Hard Rock, Mirage, Wynn, etc... I've been to one of them and they had 8,000 people at Mandalay Bay when the fight was at MGM (18,000). Still was exciting.
JERRY JONES SHOULD BE GETTING DALLAS BOARD OF TOURISM TO SHOW WHAT OTHER ACTIVITIES THERE ARE IN DFW AREA. IF THIS FIGHT GOES THROUGH, A LOT PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO KNOW WHERE TO GO FOR FUN!
Oh,No,Mr.Rossi.Purpose wise,HBO and Arum already arrived in Texas that day.Though not physically.Intentionally and physically,Team GBP was not ready.I could see that as an insult to Mr.Jones.
If Jerry Jones does not take "no" for an answer,then this is the time for the Texans to prove that they can move and shake things. since it's back to square one.There is a rumble here.The "Giants" of Texas against the "Giants" of Vegas.Remember the old Rock Hudson movie?If the Dallas Cowboys is America's team,can they prove also that the 1.2 billion structure is America's sports venue? To much is at stake here,that's why there is a tug of war.Even billionaire Mark Cuban leaped into the fray.It's about credibility,business and power.And Texans must not retreat.Let's say if they can hold off the big,powerful Gen.Sta Ana army nothwest of El Paso.
Texas, NO!! Floyd, whatever you do, don't do this fight in TX; those rednecks will rob you if given the chance. Why have a fight iof this magnitude in TX--there's nothing to do. Country/Western bars, Billy Bobs TX, huh?
This is a global event, not redneck convention.
WOW. This fight is HUGE. Even the venue of the fight is fought with tremendous interest. Jones' a fighter Men. I'll go reserve a room for both places. I'll just cancel later the room from the losing city bidder
Texas. Let's give the ordinary Joe which has forgotten that boxing is a sport a chance to see the fight in person. If this fight is stage in Vegas, it will be the same old proud conceited sweet-scientists who think boxing can survive without us, the fans who don't know a left hook from a fish hook.
If boxing is to become a mainstream sport again, give us the fans the voting power to say we want the venue to hold as many number of fans as possible, and not as many sweet-scientists and gamblers as absurdly possible.
To M.Smith:
Indeed,this will be a big fight.Jones and Cuban got to aggressively court this event.People from San Antonio,Houston,Corpus,Laredo,El Paso,won't mind converging in D-FW area for this gargantuan fight.Those guys in Texas are boxing fanatics(reminiscent of the Tony Ayala days).And Department of Tourism needs to get into the fray also.I bat for you guys,down there having spent some of my life in the Beeville,Sinton,Goliad,Victoria quadrant in the 80's.Go get it.
You all are plumb loco if you all put this here fight in DallASS. What's there to do in DallASS! Cowtipping is fun for them locals but it's an acquired taste like road kill armadillo.
Just do the fans a favor and do it in Vegas. Live fight please. Real fans know it's an event like the Superbowl, so the best experience is in Vegas where the fans have the entire Sin City to enjoy it before, during, and long after the fight.
Dem cowboys down dar are jus tryin to sell you some snake oil. DallASS isn't even the best city in its state. Austin is.
By Richard Schaeffer & others not even bothering to step foot into the Dallas Cowboys stadium for the tour, I really don't think they're interested even with the $25 million guarantee. There's so much collusion going on behind the scenes in Las Vegas that I don't see the fight being held anywhere else. I personally would rather watch it in Dallas but who am I? Just the ordinary Joe who the promoters don't really care about. Whatever will pay them the most money is what matters most for them, not the fans' desire.
Jones and Cuban are into the fray now to get this fight in Texas.Common,Mr's.Perot,Hunt,Dell,Bass,McCombs,Pickens.Get in there!!Texas need it.Losing this venue from the barons of Vegas is tantamount to the debacle at the ALAMO!! That will prove that Vegas has the big guns ,prestige and "COJONES".Ante it up!!
Chuck- You are obviously dont know what your talking about, Texas has turned into an international state, There is plenty to do here. Ive done vegas,it gets old after 2 days, gamble,gamble thats all it has.Every place in texas is not redneck haven,Dallas is a cool place to be, the women are nice,and so are the majority of the people who live here.I hope jj can pull it off and bring pbf to texas so we can all enjoy his new stadium and watch manny win!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now we all know why Pac's promoter is Mr. Bob Arum. Bob wants the most money for his fighter (Pac). Every penny that Mr. Arum gets in this fight, he earns it. Way to go Mr. Arum....
WADAPACMAN says:
You all are plumb loco if you all put this here fight in DallASS. What's there to do in DallASS! Cowtipping is fun for them locals but it's an acquired taste like road kill armadillo.
Just do the fans a favor and do it in Vegas. Live fight please. Real fans know it's an event like the Superbowl, so the best experience is in Vegas where the fans have the entire Sin City to enjoy it before, during, and long after the fight.
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What an idiot u sound like. Have you ever been to Dallas? The days of cowtipping and horse riding are long gone in this city brother. 100,000 seat stadium, nice club/bar scene. Vegas gets old. All the fights are there, but this isn't just another fight. This is a super fight, and deserves to stand out. A billion dollar stadium can help convey that.
Dallas Baby. Can't blow this opportunity to put boxing on same stage as NBA All-Star Game, Super Bowl and NCAA Final-Four, all of which will be at Cowboys Stadium in near future. The stadium will blow everyone away once they see it. Those who have never been there can't conceive how great the fight would be there. The first 16,000 seats would be the same as the MGM. with the difference being-- real boxing fans (not sponsors, casino comps and rich paying scalper prices) would be able to attend, with thousands of seats for $100 or less. Additionally, all fans would be in the arena and watch the fight in the ring and on the world's biggest HD video wall, 60 yards wide. Talk about in your face. This isn't closed-circuit like they have in Vegas, not even close. Much, much better and you are in stadium, live and part of history. Gamble in Vegas any weekend or go to Vegas to watch the fight on closed circuit. That's the only way you will get a ticket anyway, unles you pay crazy scalper prices
I'm with you Raymond. Cowboys Stadium. Let everyone on the west coast go to Vegas and watch on closed circuit, like they do for the Super Bowl. We'll go to the Super Brawl in Dallas and see it live, where we have a real chance to buy a ticket to see it live. Texans will support the fight. Heck, Jerry Jones has over 70,000 season ticket holders. Let Vegas take all the Texas haters. Gamble your butt off, blow the house payment at the strip bars and craps tables. I'm a boxing fan, I'm interested in being there and being part of history in a Super Bowl atmosphere.
Don't people know that Dallas-Fort Worth area is the 4th largest metropolitan market in the United States? I guarantee you, there is a lot of crap to get into in Dallas. Lots of great bars, restaurants. WinStar Casino, one of largest in the world, only 50 minutes away if you have to mix in gambling. And yes, they have hookers and strippers, same as Vegas, as I understand it. Big D is a jumping city with hot chicks everywhere, if that is important to you. This is would be epic in Dallas. That's what boxing needs. I'm in for at least 20 tickets with friends if in Dallas. No chance of getting tickets in Vegas, I know.
I've said it before and I still say it now, The fight should be in Vegas. I'm not a casino stockholder but as a fan I would like to see Pacquiao fights Mayweather in Vegas. If the fight could get to the 12th I want to hear a decision from the Nevada judges rather than from the Texas judges. Remember the Rocky Juarez-Chris John fight? or Diaz-Maglinaggi 1 ? What a shame, and now they have the nerve to lure the best fight be held in the State where the judges are obviously blind? Get the f**k out of here. Besides, Pacquiao, Mayweather and the fans are all comfortable in Vegas not mentioning that Vegas could afford how much money they need. It is all about fairness. Fairness to fighters, fans and Vegas excluding the unfairness of all retard judges in Texas.
Texas? I've never heard of Texas when Pacquiao was still struggling to establish his greatness. Vegas? yes i did. As a boxing fan, I'd like to have fun in Vegas. Yes I do.
Jerry Jones who? Is he the boss of those blind judges?
Please don't bring the fight to Texas
If the fight happens in dallas please dont tap the ref in pacquiao-barera 1. Please don't tap also the judge who made terrible scoring in diaz-malinagago I. Is it possible to bring vegas officials in texas? I love bayless.
Venue-Anywhere except in Vegas. Mayweather has a huge fan base there.
Ref-Bayless or Steele
Judges-Anyone except Gale Van Hoye
we believe that it will be most beneficial to boxing sports as a whole to stage the great championship ,{pacman-mayweather, in dallas,texas. no more state taxes,wider mass exposure,u.s.a. global coverage,etc. they can also have mr.bayless as referee,and mixed judges from texas and grand mgm.to ensure fair,credible officiating of the great event.mr. arum thank you for pacman-cotto world title championship as history.again ,your name will be written in boxing history as the man who made boxing sport great again in our generation.may you have more years to serve boxing sport. mabuhay ka.
cant believe people are saying dallas is a boring redneck town where theres nothing to do but cow tipping. Dallas is city with over three million people. I live in a city in Australia called melbourne with 3.4 million and theres obviously loads to do and a massive bar and party scene as im sure there is in dallas. Vegas is just a strip, Dallas im sure would have more bars and nightclubs overall by miles, so theres no reason to have it in vegas just for the party scene. Also payin for closed circuit is a joke, my oldman forked out 100 in vegas recently to watch pac v cotto , over here in oz the pub hires it and we all go there and watch it for free, they make there money by a packed pub drinking. If your going to fork out 100 wouldnt you prefer to actually be in the stadium soaking up the atmosphere of 100000 rabid fans and be a part of history rather than paying that much to just watch it in a bar?
floyd and GBP, stop the gayness and step up...
pacquiao agreed in all your nonsense terms...
pacquiao dont mind where and when...
pacquiao is ready to fight whatever happens...
and PBF says "i can beat mp" "im unbeatable" "im the best in the world" "bark! bark bark"
just pick over texas or nevada! and thats it...
P.G. Yes I lived in Texas for 3 years and thank goodness it was Austin. I went to Dallas numerous of times. And I will rephrase this for you, Dallas is not really boring there are things to do there. But compared to Las Vegas there is no comparison, I guess from your response you have not been to Vegas. Anyway the main drivers of this fight are Manny's fans and Floyd's fans. They are the ones that are going to drive the ticket sales and at least the promoters will do them the favor an put it in Vegas where most of them really want it to be.
I have live and visited many places in U.S. and Dallas is no different from any metropolitan state. Clubs/bars please give me a break. I've enjoyed better clubs/bars in Houston/Austin/or San Antonio.
The only people that seems to be driving this are people from Dallas. By the way, both fighters don't want to have it in Dallas, they want to fight in VEGAS BABY!
dsp. That is the point. Dallas has bars stretched miles all around that city of so millions of people/residents. Vegas is a centralized strip where most of the people are there for the fight and can walk to bars/clubs. In Dallas, you have to find the clubs you want to go then drive there agaisnt city traffic which can be just as bad as Houston(and Houston is pretty damn bad). Of course you have to know where the best clubs are but since most the people going to the fight are at of towners then well you are down on your luck city slicker. Get it? Dallas is a fine city, just don't pander it as somekind of mecca for boxing. Vegas will be the mecca for boxing. Compared to Vegas or even NY, LA, Toronto, or other cities I have visited, Dallas is BORING!
Again, I will repeat it to you all. Pacquiao and Mayweather do not want to fight in Dallas. They want to fight in VEGAS BABY!
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