A look back at instances where Dallas-area sports were impacted by inclement weather

As the Dallas area braces for the possibility of wintry precipitation, sports fans are shifting their focus to Friday’s Cotton Bowl Classic between Texas and Ohio State.

In a statement to The Dallas Morning News, a Cotton Bowl spokesperson said the game’s organizers are routinely monitoring weather reports and have plans in case inclement conditions bring any changes. If this week’s weather event does lead to a delay or postponement, it wouldn’t be the first time this area has seen its sports impacted by meteorological conditions.

Here’s a look at a few instances where bad weather affected D-FW sports, starting with Super Bowl XLV at AT&T Stadium:

2011 Super Bowl at AT&T

One of the biggest topics of discussion that came from Super Bowl XLV was the weather. A few days before the NFL’s largest event took over AT&T Stadium, snow and ice blanketed the Dallas area and led to a variety of issues.

While the game between the Packers and Steelers went on as planned, a few people suffered injuries after ice and snow fell from the stadium. A halftime show worker notably sued the Cowboys and stadium architects after being injured at the venue, saying he suffered a skull fracture and lasting medical problems. The lawsuit was settled in 2014.

At least six people suffered a range of injuries on the Friday before Super Bowl XLV when warming weather melted layers of ice and snow on the stadium roof.

Temperatures sat at 27 degrees or lower for more than three days in that stretch.

2017 tornado warning keeps Cowboys at AT&T Stadium

Weather events are usually associated with delays or postponements when it comes to the sports world. In this instance, the weather affected fans after a game ended.

Just a few short moments after the Cowboys fell to the Green Bay Packers in a 2017 divisional round playoff game, a tornado warning was issued in Arlington. AT&T Stadium was under a lockdown due to the weather, and several Cowboys employees, fans and players were told not to exit the venue as storms moved through the area.

Then-rookies Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott were among those taking shelter at the stadium, spending some time on the field before they received the all-clear to leave.

2018 First Responders Bowl

This is another scenario where the weather impacting a sporting event wasn’t exactly wintry. In December 2018, Boise State and Boston College were set to face off in the first-ever SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.

The game kicked off at the Cotton Bowl and Boston College took a 7-0 lead early. With about five minutes left in the first quarter, the momentum was halted. As thunderstorms rolled through the area, continued lightning strikes near the stadium meant a string of 30-minute delays would take place.

The contest would eventually be canceled and ruled a no-contest.

2021 ice storm postpones Mavs and Stars

A severe Arctic outbreak impacted a large portion of the state in February 2021, leaving more than 1.7 million Texas homes without power. The Dallas Stars and Mavericks saw their schedules affected by this winter storm.

The Stars were scheduled to face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Feb. 21, but the NHL postponed the matchup due to ongoing power issues in the area. That was the team’s fourth postponement attributed to the storm, with other games that week against the Nashville Predators and Lightning already being pushed back.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks had a game against the Pistons postponed. The game, scheduled for Feb. 17, could not be played because of a “government shutdown of American Airlines Center” due to the ongoing storm.

2023 Pistons, Pelicans have travel issues due to icy weather

In February 2023, icy conditions in the Dallas area put a game between the Mavericks and Pelicans in jeopardy.

Ice and freezing temperatures disrupted travel across the state, meaning the Pelicans were unable to leave Denver after a Tuesday night game with the Nuggets. New Orleans was scheduled to face Dallas on a Thursday night.

While some travel-related headaches occurred, the game went on as scheduled when the Pelicans were cleared to head to Dallas. New Orleans wasn’t the only team experiencing issues. The Detroit Pistons were stuck in Dallas after a game with the Mavericks and saw a game against the Wizards postponed.

Other notable instances

1993 Thanksgiving Day Cowboys game: This game wasn’t delayed or postponed, but it was memorable. A mix of rain and sleet fell in the Dallas area on Nov. 25 1993 when the Cowboys and Dolphins faced off at Texas Stadium.

The stadium’s turf was covered, marking the first time snow fell in Dallas during an NFL game. The matchup featured a wild finish, seeing Miami come away with a 16-14 win.

2010 NBA All-Star festivities: Snow blanketed the area when AT&T Stadium hosted the NBA All-Star Game in February 2010. The event’s public opening was impacted by gloomy conditions, but the weekend was still considered a success.

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