Why are Dallas Cowboys players barring their families from coming to Sunday’s game?
Not only is Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones allowing — he’s actually encouraging — fans to come to games at AT&T Stadium this season smack dab in the middle of the global pandemic.
The Cowboys will likely have the largest crowd in the NFL season to date on Sunday when 25 percent, or roughly 20,000 fans, are expected to be in the stands for Sunday’s home opener against the Atlanta Falcons with a few thousand more in the 380 suites at the 11-year-old, $1.2 billion stadium.
The Cowboys’ crowd will be well under the 50 percent capacity previously set by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
While the Cowboys players will be excited to see fans in the stands after playing the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams before an empty crowd at SoFi Stadium last Sunday due to COVID-19 restrictions in California, don’t look for many of their family members to be in attendance.
Running back Ezekiel Elliott usually has an end zone suite for his mom and sisters at AT&T Stadium, but it will be empty in 2020.
“No, sir. No family coming into town this year,” Elliott said. “It’s going to kind of suck. Me and my mom, we had a trade off. I told her that she couldn’t come down this year, so I finished her basement and got her a nice TV and couches so she has somewhere nice to watch the games.”
Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence is of a similar mindset, though he said he is looking forward to fans being in the stands Sunday because he likes to entertain people.
“Being able to have fans out there, to have the laughs, the joys, the cheers go along with the game is more exciting than to be out there celebrating by yourself and trying to bring your own energy,” Lawrence said.
His wife and kids won’t be celebrating and helping him bring energy at AT&T Stadium Sunday.
“I know we’re still in a pandemic so I don’t think me and my family really have much to discuss on that situation,” Lawrence said.
Elliott’s mom, Dawn, is admittedly disappointed she won’t be able to attend games in 2020. She has not missed one of his home games dating back to peewee football, none in high school at John Burroughs in St. Louis, none in college at Ohio State and certainly none since he was drafted by the Cowboys in 2016.
“Not ever,” she said via text.
“I never missed any of his games until his freshman year at Ohio State when they played Cal,” Dawn said. “Then I missed his game against Maryland [at Maryland] because I was being inducted into my high school hall of fame as a charter member. So this is tough.
“However, I’m a diabetic, Type 2. I would have to fly and be exposed to so many people in the airports, then at the stadium. I don’t want COVID and I don’t want to give it to anyone else. Therefore, it’s best that we just stay put.”
She is, however, happy with her COVID-19 consolation prize.
In addition to the finished basement, Elliott got his mom a nice TV with a soundbar and speakers, a theater system and new bar stools.
“He hooked it up really nice,” she said. “Also purchased a 2020 NFL Sunday Ticket, because sometimes our local stations in St. Louis will air Green Bay Packers games over Cowboys games.”
