Troubling economic times and a billion dollar stadium deal trumps any concern about what is happening on the field.  Winning a Super bowl this year was part of Jones’ grand plan; but it is not the most important part of the plan.  He loves to win, and winning sells tickets; but the most essential thing is that the stadium is completed in time for next year and that the team sells enough outrageously priced box seats and seat licenses to pay for it.  

Jones has always been a finical risk taker, but as it’s working out, his timing on when to finance and build a billion dollar stadium could not have been worse.  The ability to pay for that stadium is predicated on a significant increase in future sales revenue.  Already, Corporate America has already cut back on advertising dollars and they will be spending a lot less buying nice to have items such as million luxury seats and seat licenses. 

With the fiscal shock therapy that the economy has suffered over the last six weeks; I can guarantee you that over the last month that the Cowboys had more sales cancellations then they had new sales.  If this economic turn down is as deep and long lasting as many analyst fears then Jones and the Cowboys stand to lose tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars over the next couple years.  Due to cash flow and financing considerations; sour deals of this size can bankrupt billionaires in short order.

It is laughable that many fans still choose to believe that Jerry Jones is micromanaging the coaches or is heavily involved in game planning or film breakdown.  Jones may be worried about and disappointed by the Cowboys performance on the field, but he is much more worried about how to survive difficult economic times then he is about how to better utilize Felix Jones.

Jerry is the consummate promoter that is always looking for a way builds his franchise.  He comes up with and implements a new revenue streams more often then any sports team owner.  He has not out hustled his counter parts in this arena by spending his nights and weekends breaking down gap assignment or other football coaching essentials.

He shows up in the locker-room and sideline and offends the sensibilities of fans that believe that sports team owners should be seldom seen or heard and be willing to lose a bit of money to have their team win.  NFL and Cowboy fans should be appreciate what Jones has done for the team and the sport.  His financial “Cowboy” style has generated a lot of money for the sport and resulted in some great NFL teams. 

With a growing global economic crisis, a new stadium coming online and the CBA coming up for renegotiation the Cowboys and the NFL are in for some “interesting” financial times. Let’s hope that next year, the Cowboys biggest concern has to do with football.