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Cowboy Stadium Waited To Seek Permit For Temp Seats At Super Bowl

The Dallas Cowboys had plenty of time to prepare for the Super Bowl, but decided to wait until almost the last minute. An official procrastinated on seeking a permit to build the temporary seats until less than a month before the game.

Records show a Cowboys Stadium official didn't seek a permit for construction of temporary Super Bowl seating until the game was less than a month away, even though the city hosting the game asked for plans five months earlier.

The records released Friday by the city of Arlington show that city and stadium officials scrambled to prepare temporary seating for the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers. About 1,250 seats were ultimately deemed unsafe, and 400 fans ended up without a seat.

Arlington's chief building official, Ed Dryden, told stadium General Manager Jack Hill by e-mail in September that a permit would be required. The request wasn't received until Jan. 13. The delay prompted at least one reminder from Dryden.

The Cowboys declined comment.

Copyright 2011 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

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