AT&T Stadium is owned by the City of Arlington, Texas, while the Dallas Cowboys (through Jerry Jones’ organization) operate and lease the venue.

Who legally owns AT&T Stadium?

  • The stadium is a municipally owned facility; the City of Arlington holds legal title to AT&T Stadium.
  • The Dallas Cowboys do not own the building itself but are long‑term tenants under a lease agreement with the city.

Jerry Jones and the Cowboys’ role

  • Cowboys owner Jerry Jones financed a large share of construction costs and, in return, his organization controls stadium operations and revenue from events.
  • Under the lease, the Cowboys pay Arlington about 2 million dollars per year in rent, plus an additional amount tied to naming‑rights revenue.

Public funding and why the city owns it

  • Construction used a mix of public funds (via Arlington taxes/bonds) and private money from Jerry Jones, which is why the stadium ended up as a public asset.
  • The city’s ownership allowed it to use tax‑exempt municipal bonds and later refinance the stadium debt, targeting payoff on a long schedule through the 2030s.

Naming rights and AT&T

  • The building originally opened as Cowboys Stadium and was later renamed AT&T Stadium after a naming‑rights deal with AT&T.
  • The naming‑rights payments go primarily to the Cowboys, but a portion is contractually shared with the City of Arlington as part of the lease.

Simple takeaway

  • Legal owner: City of Arlington, Texas.
  • Primary operator and beneficiary of revenues: the Dallas Cowboys/Jerry Jones organization under a long‑term lease.