Jerry Jones shuts down AT&T Stadium sun debate: ‘Stadium was built to feel like you’re outdoors’

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is not backing down on his stance about the sun distracting players at AT&T Stadium. During his weekly appearance on 105.3 The Fan, Jones explained why the team does not use curtains at the stadium to block the sun during games.

“Of all the things that we need to improve, that is way down the list of improvement. That stadium was built to feel like you’re outdoors,” Jones said, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. “It’s the largest air-conditioned space in the world. My biggest thought when we were building it was … make it look like it was outdoors.

“Every venue has certain things that at certain ways and times can create an advantage. That really goes under the category of home-field advantage. It should be an advantage to the home team. … It has been an advantage for us to know where the sun is. I don’t want to change that.

Jones’ comments come after the sun became a part of the Cowboys’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb missed a three-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter because he lost the ball in the sun.

Jerry Jones doesn’t believe the sun is a distraction at AT&T Stadium

“I couldn’t see the ball. Couldn’t see the ball, at all. The sun,” Lamb said after the game, per Pro Football Talk. Lamb wants curtains put over the windows, something that Jones has rejected.

“By the way, we know where the sun is going to be when we flip the coin, so we do know where the damn sun is going to be in our own stadium,” Jones said after the Cowboys’ 34-6 loss to the Eagles. “Let’s just tear the damn stadium down and build another one. Are you kidding me?”

Jones added: “Everybody’s got the same thing. Every team that comes in here has the same issues. They know where the sun is going to be. Every team has the same thing. “I’m not saying [it’s on McCarthy]. I’m saying the world knows where the sun is. We get to know that almost a year in advance. So someone asked me about the sun. What about the sun? Where’s the moon? We’re fine. But everybody plays in the sun out here.”

It’s been a rough season for the Cowboys who are now 3-6 on the year. The team is 0-4 at AT&T Stadium this year and has lost the last five home contests dating back to last year. The Cowboys have also dealt with multiple injuries to key players, including quarterback Dak Prescott who is out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.