2009 Year in Review

Over 400 posts and 1.3 million page views later, TwistedSifter has completed an incredible inaugural year. To herald the year to come, let’s look back at the year that was, and reminisce about some of the most popular posts from 2009.

Before we delve deeper, I want to thank the readers of this site for all of their support, comments, and feedback. How the site began and how you see it today is shaped in large part by insights and input from our incredible community. THANK YOU x infinity, you are greatly appreciated.

5 SELECTIONS FROM ART AND DESIGN

Nature’s Revenge by Ludo

Gears of Bore: The World’s First Belt-Driven Watch

The Bladeless Fan</a

3D Insanity with Only Four Letters

Stormtrooper Inspired Art and Design

5 SELECTIONS FROM NATURE

The Most Popular Tourist Attraction in the World

– One of TwistedSifter’s most popular articles to date, it started with a link from NotCot and Reddit
– It then became popular on Twitter after some influential users (e.g., The Cool Hunter, ArchDaily and PetaPixel) ‘tweeted’ the article

The Highest Waterfall in the World

The Largest Animal Ever

10 Amazing Facts About Jellyfish

Living Art: Stunning Aqua Forest Aquariums

5 SELECTIONS FROM PROPERTIES, PLACES & STRUCTURES

The Most Expensive Place in Brooklyn, New York

Industrial Renovation: The Giant Gasometers of Vienna

Re-Imagining the Super-Yacht: Wally Hermès Yachts

Canopy Living: The Ultimate Tree House

An Elegant Solution to a Long and Narrow Space

5 SELECTIONS FROM TECH & GADGETS

Why Nerds Rule: Luis Von Ahn and reCAPTCHA

– Another one of TwistedSifter’s most popular articles, it all started with a Stumbleupon submission
– It then hit Twitter with a bang thanks to the highly influential and very lovely BuzzEdition
– This led to influential retweets from social media mavens like: Alyssa Milano, Virginia Madsen, Zaibatsu, Dudeman718 and Adamsconsulting
– The last three may not be household names like Alyssa Milano or Virginia Madsen, but they have great influence and authority in social media, and it gave this little site some incredible exposure, so thank you influencers!

Can Your Boat Dive 100 Feet Under Water?

Experience The Joy of Flight in the Icon A5 Light Sport Aircraft

A Brief Introduction to 3D Printing and Scanning

INSANE: yellowBird 3D Video Technology With Full 360 Viewing

3 SELECTIONS FROM MUSIC

TwistedSifter’s Amazing Animated Gifs Compilation

– Way back in April ’09 when we had about 12 readers, the Sifter released their first string of YouTube videos using the basic yet serviceable Windows Movie Maker
– While not receiving many views or any comments, it did mark a significant change from a link blog to a content producer
– It was early posts like this that influenced the decision to switch from simply posting links to ‘cool articles’ to writing some of our own

The Roots – What they do | Lyrics, Audio and Music Video

Soko – I’ll Kill Her | Brilliant Fan-Made Music Video

5 SELECTIONS FROM SPORTS

The Musings of Mike Tyson – Motivational Quotes

– This was another of TwistedSifter’s most popular posts to date
– It was the first article that made it to the Reddit front page, which promptly caused a major traffic spike and forced the site to be shut down by our [former] host providers
– After another site shutdown thanks to the awesome power of Reddit, TwistedSifter switched hosts in December ’09

What Costs $1.3 Billion, Holds 111,000 people and Has the World’s Biggest TV?

How to Lose $1.93 Million in 7 Hands of Poker

The Longest Par 3 in the World, 900 Yards | Legend Golf & Safari Resort – South Africa

Roger Williamson and the Dutch Grand Prix Tragedy of 1973

MOST COMMENTED STORY TO DATE

Picture of the Day – December 10, 2009



And last but certainly not least is our reader’s favourite weekly post, the FRIDAY SHIRK REPORT, which highlights 20 images, 10 articles and 5 videos from the previous week of sifting.

After 38 volumes of the weekly time-waster, our readers can expect to see the report published every Friday at 8:58 am EST from now til eternity.

2010 is going to be amazing! I hope you come back soon and continue to enjoy the content in this little place on the Internet.

Picture of the Day – December 23, 2009

I’M ON A BOAT

Photograph by Casper Moller

Pelorus is the world’s fourteenth largest luxury yacht at 377 feet 3 inches (115 metres) in length. It was briefly owned by a Saudi businessman who sold it to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich the following year (source: Wikipedia)


Every day at 5pm the Sifter will post the picture of the day

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL ‘PICTURES OF THE DAY’

Epic Car Chase Scene Puts Hollywood to Shame

With an estimated budget of $17, this miniature car chase scene puts Hollywood to shame. Bolstered by some incredible audio work and a little imagination from you, the viewer; this 5-minute chase scene will draw you in and hold your attention like any big-budget, multi-million, CGI-laden, summer blockbuster movie could…


*Turn Your Volume Up!

If you enjoyed this video, the Sifter highly recommends: The Complete Series of BMW Films: The Hire

The Man Behind the Fantasy

In countless films like The Bourne Identity, Mission Impossible 3 and Mr & Mrs Smith, where the characters have the coolest gadgets and most ridiculous technology, lies the imagination of one very creative person, Mark Coleran.

Mark is an extremely gifted visual designer responsible for creating the fantastical user interfaces (i.e., cool looking computer systems, or windows XP + 10 levels of awesome) used in big-budget films. His goal is to create visually stunning interfaces that feel futuristic and intuitive. His demo reel speaks for itself so check out some of his work! Terrific imagination:

First spotted on Gizmodo
Mark’s blog – http://blog.coleran.com/
Mark’s twitter account – http://twitter.com/coleran

And of course, no article about ridiculous technology in film and television would be complete without this image

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS ARTICLE, THE SIFTER HIGHLY RECOMMENDS: yellowBird’s Fully Interactive 3D Video Technology

Concealed Enemy Got You Down? There’s a Weapon for that

What do you do when your target is hidden behind a wall or dug into a foxhole? Until now, you would have to resort to a rocket, mortar or grenade, with a definite chance for collateral damage. That was before the development of the XM25 ‘Individual Airburst Weapon System’, an effective airburst grenade launcher rifle designed to fire 25 mm grenades. These grenades can be set to explode right in mid-air after they have traveled a particular distance.

The mini-grenades are a nice touch but what really separates this weapon is the aiming system. The weapon com­bines a ther­mal optic, day-sight, laser range finder, com­pass and infrared illu­mi­na­tor with a fire-control sys­tem that wire­lessly trans­mits the exact range of the tar­get into the 25mm round’s fuse before fir­ing. Thus, a soldier can aim the XM25 at a wall con­ceal­ing a sniper, for exam­ple, but “dial in” or adjust the dis­tance by (+/-) 3 meters above the tar­get. When fired, the round will explode above the enemy’s posi­tion, essen­tially going around the obstruc­tion.

The system is under development by Heckler & Koch and Alliant Techsystems (ATK). The target acquisition/fire control is developed by L-3 IOS Brashear. The weapon costs about $25,000 each, but experts are quick to point out that a fully-loaded M4 for optics and point­ers costs pretty close to $30,000. Each ATK-made 25mm round costs about $25.

SPECIFICATIONS

– Caliber: Low-velocity 25 x 40 mm grenade
– Range: 500 meters (1,640 ft) point, 700 meters (2,296 ft) area
– Operation: Gas operated semi-automatic
– System weight: 14 lbs (6.35 kg)
– 4x thermal sight with zoom
– 2x direct view optical sight
– Ballistic computer
– Digital compass
– Laser rangefinder
– Ammunition fuze setter
– Lightweight material composites

Awwww cute-overload! Colour-coded ammunition

Sources
– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM25_Individual_Airburst_Weapon_System
– http://defensetech.org/2008/09/26/starship-troopers-meets-g-i-joe/
– http://www.atk.com/Customer_Solutions_MissionSystems/cs_ms_w_fp_IAWS.asp
– http://peosoldier.army.mil/factsheets/SW_IW_XM25.pdf

That camo does not match his surroundings

pew-pew-pew

Chargin’ mah lazer

If you enjoyed this article, the Sifter highly recommends: Robotic Hand Dribbles, Catches and Spins Objects with Ease

Gears of Bore: The World’s First Belt-Driven Watch

Love it or hate it, Tag Heuer’s Monaco V4, listed at $100,000 Swiss Francs ($97.5K usd), bucks all conventional wisdom; replacing the traditional time-honoured gears approach first pioneered in the 18th century for belt-driven technology most common in car engines. The Sifter explores this disruptive watch design:


HISTORY

– The original Tag Heuer Monaco featured an audacious, squared-off case that signalled a complete break with conventional watch making aesthetics. It was first seen on Steve McQueen’s wrist in the 1970 classic race film Le Mans

– The original Monaco was the world’s first automatic chronograph with a micro-rotor (launched in 1969 by Jack Heuer, today TAG Heuer’s Honorary Chairman). The powerful new movement housed in the Monaco V4 is a tribute to the high-tech, high-performance world of motor racing

– In 2004, TAG Heuer unveiled the Monaco V4 Concept Watch, the world’s first watch with belt drives, linear mass and ball bearings. It hass taken 5 long years, but on the eve of its 150th anniversary, TAG Heuer has unveiled to the world the double-patented Monaco V4

REVOLUTIONARY DESIGN

– The watch movement uses a series of transmission belts instead of pinions. The belts are the smallest in the world and still have a thin steel wire in them for strength

– Instead of smaller gears connecting some of the larger gears, there are the belts that do it. The V4 uses a linear weight that moves up and down to power the watch’s movement, resembling a piston in an engine

– Power is stored in four barrels that are seen in the rear of the watch (hence the V4 name). The power reserve is 52 hours and the watch is very accurate at about plus or minus 4 seconds a day, well within the chronometer range.

– The watch also uses mini ball bearings instead of ‘rubies’ that are commonly used in watches for low friction between gears and palettes. Tag Heuer says that the ball bearings provide even less friction than the commonly used synthetic rubies

– The watch does not have much for functions though. Just the time with a subsidiary seconds dial

– The Monaco V4 is the world’s first wristwatch with a linear mass, which is mounted on the world’s smallest ball bearings (2.2 to 4 mm diameter and a thickness of 0.6 to 1 mm)

LABOUR OF LOVE

– According to Tag Heuer, the Monaco V4 watch took them 14,200 [combined] days of research and development to make. TAG Heuer’s best engineers and watchmakers worked with inventor Jean-François Ruchonnet to craft this revolutionary design

– The techniques used in the design, prototyping and production of the V4 are the same as those used to develop complex aerospace systems. Tools, techniques and expertise were drawn from an eclectic fusion of disciplines, such as the automobile and IT industries, applied mathematics, chemistry, climatology, computer engineering and micro-mechanical sciences (so they used computers?)

– New TAG Heuer-designed machines and methods were specially created, including proprietary software (TAG Heuer is a pioneer in 3D modeling and digital synthesis), automated micro-couplers and rheologically controlled high-pressure injectors

– Today, the Monaco V4 are hand-assembled at TAG Heuer by ‘Meilleur Ouvrier de France’ watch master Denis Badin, thus bringing the timepiece full circle: from the most cutting-edge techniques of the present era to the most time-honoured traditions of artisanal craftsmanship

– Each watch movement takes 165 hours of labor to hand assemble, and represents something very special amongst the Tag Heuer line

TAG HEUER MONACO V4 SPECIFICATIONS

Limited edition of only 150 pieces in 170 grams of platinum
Movement: Automatic Belt-driven transmission watch
Tungsten ingot linear mass
2 pairs of barrels in series, set in parallel and linked by belts
Dial: 7 silver fine-brushed bridges with “haute horlogerie” hand-finishings
Escapement and belt-driven transmission visible from the front
Hand-applied faceted indexes
Faceted polished Rhodium plated blue minute and hour hands with luminescent markers
Blue small second hand at 4 o’clock
Blue “V4” engraving
Monochrome blue engraved TAG Heuer logo
Case: Polished Platinum 950 case

Beveled sapphire crystal glass with double-sided anti-reflective treatment to ensure the best readability
Sapphire case back in 3 sections
Polished white gold crown at 3 o’clock
Water resistance: 50 meters
Strap: Blue alligator strap with hand-sewn blue stitching
Folding buckle with safety push-buttons in Platinum 950

Availability
1st batch (75 pieces): November 2009
2nd batch (75 pieces): June 2010
Estimated MSRP: $100,00 Swiss Francs

This probably has the worst musical selection for a luxury brand product video, ever

SOURCES

All information via two excellent Watch blogs. I highly recommend you visit both sites for extensive reviews, news, and information regarding watches:
– http://watch-happening.blogspot.com/2009/10/new-watch-tag-heuer-monaco-v4-limited.html
– http://ablogtoread.com/tag-heuer/tag-heuer-monaco-v4-limited-edition-watch/
– Don’t bother with the wretchedly designed Tag Heuer site

If you enjoyed this article, the Sifter highly recommends: The Bladeless Fan by Dyson

Can Your Boat Dive 100 Feet Under Water?

When you see a boat do you ever think; that’s it? Can’t you do anything else? In some circles (let’s call them anti-boat-ites) the comparison is often made to the snorkeler. Relegated to the surface, they are 2-dimensional players in a 3-D game.

Enter the Scubacraft. A relatively affordable ‘recreational submersible’ capable of taking your friends tubing and then diving with ease to depths of 30 meters (98.5 feet) or more. Yes this toy can be yours; starting at the low introductory price of $165,000 USD.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

– Scubacraft uses patented technology that allows it to transform its buoyancy from a floating craft into a streamlined submersible
– The craft is powered on the surface by a combustion engine and underwater by electric thrusters and batteries
– In normal operation, Scubacraft is designed to have slight positive buoyancy at all times. If at any time the craft loses power it will slowly float back to the surface in a controlled manner
– If so required, Scubacraft will be able to lose its positive buoyancy in a special ‘park’ mode, thus allowing occupants to depart from the craft and perhaps swim off to explore inside a shipwreck

KEY FEATURES:

– Advanced safety features include an automatic depth control (ADC) system that assists the operator in maintaining depth, controlling ascent and descent
– VHF radio, underwater communications, lights and GPS are accessories that further enhance safety and performance in operation
– Scubacraft also features an integrated SMB (Surface Marker Buoy) system that indicates its presence underwater to all surface craft and incorporates an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) transmitter
– The modular configuration allows for the electric system to be removed and replaced as necessary, adding extra batteries for extended operations or more thrusters for more power. A wide range of accessories including lights and cameras can be added to extend its underwater capability and enhance the user’s experience.
– With no exposed propeller and the ability to operate in very shallow water, the technology has advantages over conventional surface craft even before it submerges underwater.
– A wet submersible, the entire structure is free flooding and components are individually sealed to pressure

THE SC6

Specs:
Capacity: 6 persons
Engine type: 4 stroke, inline 4 cylinder DOHC
Maximum power: 250 Hp forced induction
Range: 241 km (150 miles)
Mass: 700 Kg (1,543 lbs)
Surface performance: 80 kph (50 mph)
Payload: 800 Kg (1,763 lbs)
Maximum depth: 30 meters standard (50 meters optional) | 100 – 164 feet

Dimensions
Overall length: 5.6 meters (18.4 ft)
Overall width: 2.3 meters (7.5 ft)
Overall height: 2.0 meters (6.6 ft)

THE SC3

Specs:
Capacity: 3 persons
Engine type: 4 stroke, inline 4 cylinder DOHC
Maximum power: 160 Hp naturally aspirated
Range: 161 km (100 miles)
Mass: 390 Kg (860 lbs)
Surface performance: 80 kph (50 mph)
Payload: 400 Kg (882 lbs)
Maximum depth: 30 meters standard (50 meters optional) | 100 – 164 feet

Dimensions
Overall length: 4.5 meters (14.8 ft)
Overall width: 2.1 meters (6.9 ft)
Overall height: 1.8 meters (5.9)

All pictures and information courtesy of Scubacraft. Please visit their website for more information: www.scubacraft.com

If you enjoyed this article, the Sifter highly recommends: Experience The Joy of Flight in the Icon A5 Light Sport Aircraft

The Bladeless Fan

From the makers of the $400+ vacuum with the big ball, comes the $300+ bladeless fan! Inventor James Dyson unveiled his latest product earlier this week. While the design aesthetic has garnered universal praise, the main focus has been on the audacious price given the times. Will people pay $300 for a 10″ oscillating fan? Dyson has already found success in delivering high-end products in a tough economic environment. His pricey upright vacuum cleaner debuted in 1993 at the height of a recession. They have since sold more than 31 million units with more than half of that volume achieved in the past three years.

THE CHALLENGE

Electric fans haven’t changed since they were invented in 1882. Different materials, new buttons and the addition of grills, but still the same problem – the blades chop the air before it hits you. That’s why they cause unpleasant buffeting. The solution? Take the blades out, and the buffeting stops. But how can a fan work without blades?

THE SOLUTION

Dyson engineers started with pressurized air, forcing it through narrow apertures to create jets. But they needed it to be more powerful to work in a fan. The breakthrough came when they noticed that accelerating air over a ramp amplified it by 10 – 20 times, drawing in surrounding air through processes known as inducement and entrainment (think of an airplane wing). Hundreds of iterative tests revealed the ideal ramp angle, aperture width and loop amplifier dimensions.

Example of an impeller

Then came the problem of air intake – the motor had to suck in more than 20 liters (5.3 gallons) of air per second to generate a powerful enough jet. A 3D impeller was required. Its nine asymmetrically-aligned fins have rows of tiny holes to reduce the friction caused by colliding high and low air pressure – birds of prey balance air pressure around their wings in a similar way. So in the most technical sense, the fan still has blades, they’re just completely enclosed.

ADVANTAGES
– No blades makes it the safest fan on the market
– Light and easy to move and adjust
– Easy to clean

DISADVANTAGES
– Very expensive
– Surprisingly loud at higher speeds (think of an Xbox360 cooling down)
– Dead zone in the middle when hand is placed very close

Photographs above and below from Notcot. For more, visit their article covering the launch party

Sources
– http://www.dyson.com/fans/default.asp
– http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10373251-1.html

If you enjoyed this article, the Sifter highly recommends: Sander Mulder’s One-Handed Clock That Tells Hours, Minutes and Seconds

Philips Carousel: Best Continuous Shot Ever?

Back in April, Stink Digital and Tribal DDB Amsterdam unleashed the fury with an incredible campaign for Philips’ Cinema 21:9 HD Television. Scoffing at conventional product launch wisdom (i.e., television commercials, print ads, repeat) Philips’ brand team put their eggs into the digital basket; creating a flashy micro site with dreams of deeper consumer engagement. But they needed a hook. A legitimate reason to actually visit and stay a while. The solution? A short film called Carousel.

Best continuous shot ever? That’s for you to decide.

note the length of the film 😉

Thoughts? Personally, I loved how it ends where it starts. For a frozen moment in time I still felt a sense of development. As the camera guides us through the sequence you learn more about the crazy scenario taking place. Who knew there was so much money at a hospital?

As people slowly picked their jaws off the ground the awards started rolling in, culminating with a Film Grand Prix and Silver Cyber Lion at Cannes (the ad industry’s answer to the Academy Awards). But how did they do it? Was it all CGI? Check the two videos below for a brief explanation into the making of.

– Crew of 100+
– Three large cranes
– State-of-the-art motion controlled camera rig
– Three day shoot
– Five weeks of post-production
– Actors with excellent body control
– Lots of wire to suspend actors

– Micro Site: http://www.cinema.philips.com/
– Interactive: Stink Digital
– Agency of Record: Tribal DDB Amsterdam


It’s been said that imitation is the best form of flattery so this should make the Philips team blush:

Opening sequence for the season 10 premiere of CSI, which aired September 24, 2009

If you enjoyed this article, the Sifter highly recommends: The Complete Series of BMW Films: The Hire

What Costs $1.3 Billion, Holds 111,000 people and Has the World’s Biggest TV?

AP Photo/Brandon Wade

 

 

Jerry’s World

 
The Dallas Cowboys new stadium of course! First conceived 15 years ago, owner Jerry Jones has finally realized his vision of creating an entertainment Mecca in the city of Arlington, Texas. The stadium will also host College bowl games, major concerts, the 2011 Super Bowl and any event that requires 3 million square feet of space. Did we mention the world’s largest HDTV? Let’s take a closer look at the one of the biggest domes on Earth.
 

 

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

 

ARCHITECTURE

– Cowboys Stadium replaces the open-air Texas Stadium, which opened in 1971, as the Cowboys’ home. It was completed on May 29, 2009 and seats 80,000, but is expandable to seat up to 111,000
– The Stadium was designed by the Dallas-based architectural firm HKS
– It is the largest domed stadium in the world and has the world’s largest column-free interior
– The Cowboys Stadium site covers 73 total acres and the overall site encompasses approximately 140 total acres
– The stadium itself is approximately 3 million square feet containing 104 million cubic feet of volume
– The 180-foot-wide by 120-foot-high operable glass doors, located at each end of the stadium, are the largest operable glass doors in the world and take 18 minutes to open or close
– At 660,800 square feet, the stadium’s roof is one of the largest domed sports structures in the world, opening 410 feet long by 256 feet wide with each panel weighing 1.68 million pounds
– Each roof panel is 215 feet long consists of 14,100 tons of structural steel and opens or closes in 12 minutes
– The stadium features a pair of nearly 300 feet (91 m) tall arches that span the length of the stadium dome, anchored to the ground at each end
– The length from one end zone retractable wall to the opposite end zone retractable wall is a staggering 900 feet
– With 180,000 square feet of free space, the stadium accommodates more SRO (standing room only) fans than any other NFL venue

 

 

Photograph by John P

 

Photograph by John P

 

 

FINANCIALS

– Originally estimated to cost $650 million, the stadium’s current construction cost has been pegged between $1.12 and $1.3 billion, making it one of the most expensive sports venues ever built
– The City of Arlington provided over $933 million (including interest) in bonds as funding, and Jones covered any cost overruns. The NFL also provided the Cowboys with an additional $150 million, as per their policy for giving teams a certain lump sum of money for stadium financing
– The average ticket to a Cowboys game costs $159.65, a record for the Fan Cost Index survey, which dates to 1991. The New England Patriots previously had the priciest ticket in pro sports and that cost remained the same at $117.84
– There is the $150,000 down payment required of season-ticket holders for 30 years of seats — which doesn’t include ticket prices
– Suites will range from $100,000 to $500,000 per year. That lease will include tickets to Cowboys games, but not third-party events
– According to the Cowboys, the 20-inch pizzas at the new stadium will cost $60. There will be five different types of pizza available for that price. Beer will be sold for $5
– On October 20, 2008, Cowboys owner Jones and New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner announced a joint business venture called Legends Hospitality Management LLC which would operate the concessions and merchandising sales at the new Cowboys stadium and at the new Yankee Stadium, along with the stadiums of the Yankees’ minor league affiliates
– Former Pizza Hut President Michael Rawlings will run the company from its new headquarters in Newark, New Jersey. The company was also backed by Wall Street investment firm Goldman Sachs and Dallas private equity firm CIC Partners LP

 

Photograph by John P

 

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

 

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

 

TECHNOLOGY

– The stadium includes more than 3,000 Sony LCD displays throughout the luxury suites, concourses, concession areas and more, offering fans viewing options that extend beyond the action on the field.
– It also features the largest high-definition television in the world. The 160 x 72 foot (49 m × 22 m), 11,520-square-foot (1,070 m2) scoreboard surpasses the 8,736 sq ft (812 m2) screen that opened in 2009 at the renovated Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The total cost was $40 million USD
– The screens were developed by Mitsubishi’s Diamond Vision Systems. Each center-hung sideline display consists of 10,584,064 LEDs, consuming some 635,000 watts.
– Since each pixel consists of four LEDs (2 red, 1 green, 1 blue), the 2,176 X 4,864 LED distribution corresponds to a 1,088 X 2,432 pixel resolution, the equivalent of 1080p
– However the image can actually be considerably sharper than the resolution suggests, because Diamond Vision’s “Dynamic Pixel” technology allows the corner LEDs of four neighbouring pixel clusters to function as a pixel cluster together, providing virtual pixels between each physical pixel
– The total size of all of the video displays inside the new Cowboys stadium is equal to 25,000 square feet. The total size of the ribbon video boards circling the inside of the stadium is equal to 11,000 square feet

 

 

 

Photograph by John P

 

MISCELLANEOUS

– On March 10, 2008, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, joined by officials and coaches from Texas A&M University and the University of Arkansas (Jones’ alma mater), announced that the two schools would renew their rivalry with annual games at the stadium, beginning October 3, 2009
– The stadium will also host Super Bowl XLV in 2011, beating out bids from the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana
– It will also host the 2009 Big XII Football Championship and Cotton Bowl, the 2010 NBA All-Star Game and the 2014 men’s Final Four
– The first regular season game at the Cowboys Stadium set an NFL regular-season attendance record with a crowd of 105,121 on Sunday night (September 20, 2009)
– Prior to Sunday’s matchup the largest crowd for an NFL regular-season game was 103,467 for Arizona-San Francisco in Mexico City in 2005. The record for a game in the United States was 103,985 for the Super Bowl between Steelers and Rams at the Rose Bowl in January 1980
– The record for any NFL game is still 112,376 for a pre-season game between the Cowboys and Houston Oilers in Mexico City in 1994
– The screens are the greatest source of debate thus far because they hang only 90 feet above the field and were hit by a punt in the pre-season opener. If it happens again, the NFL has stated it will be ruled a dead ball and a do-over. If it happens often, the league will likely force the Cowboys to raise them before next season

 

Photograph by John P

 

AP Photo/Matt Slocum

 

Photograph by John P

 

SOURCES

– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowboys_Stadium
– http://onemansblog.com/2009/08/09/dallas-cowboys-stadium-a-complete-photo-and-video-review/
– http://www.professionalroofing.net/closeup.aspx?id=1549

 

Photograph by John P