ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys didn’t obtain a permit to install temporary seating at Cowboys Stadium until about three weeks before the Super Bowl, despite being informed of Arlington’s requirements five months ahead of the big game, according to records released by the city Friday.
City and stadium officials then scrambled to prepare the temporary seating for the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers, the records show, but about 1,250 of the seats were deemed unsafe — and about 400 fans who had bought tickets with a face value of $800 had nowhere to sit.
The controversy has been a black eye for the NFL, which has given fans who lost their seats two options. At least two lawsuits have been filed on behalf of fans whose seats didn’t exist or had obstructed views for the game the Packers won 31-25.
• The Packers signed general manager Ted Thompson to a multiyear extension.
• The New England Patriots named quarterbacks coach Bill O’Brien their offensive coordinator.
Fast times at Daytona Speedway
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The recently repaved surface at Daytona International Speedway is fast. Really fast. Maybe too fast.
In the most significant test on the 2 1/2-mile superspeedway, cars topped 203 mph during practice for the Budweiser Shootout.
Joey Logano turned the fast lap with an average speed of 203.087 mph in the second of two practice sessions. Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch also topped 203 mph. In all, 10 cars hit 200 mph, creating some concern at NASCAR’s most famous track.
NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said officials would monitor speeds during Daytona 500 practice today “and see how things settle out” before making adjustments.
• The Ford Motor Co. informed NASCAR it would like to race the Mustang in the elite Sprint Cup Series beginning in 2013. The approval process to replace the Fusion could take all year.
• Tom Carnegie, who was best known to generations as the voice of the Indianapolis 500, died at his Indianapolis home following an illness. He was 91.
Footnotes.
Sami Salo (Achilles tendon) will return to the Vancouver Canucks lineup tonight against the Calgary Flames, helping offset the loss of defenseman Dan Hamuis to a concussion.
• Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jonas Gustavsson underwent another minor heart surgery to help treat a condition causing an abnormal rhythm. He is expected to be cleared to practice in about seven days.
• Kansas backup forward Thomas Robinson will miss the next two weeks after surgery on his right knee to repair a meniscus tear.
• Kim Clijsters beat Jelena Dokic 6-3, 6-0 to reach the Paris semifinals and will replace Caroline Wozniacki atop the women’s tennis rankings.
• Cal-Berkeley reinstated three teams — men’s rugby, women’s lacrosse and women’s gymnastics — that were slated to be eliminated in a cost-cutting move, while going ahead with plans to get rid of the baseball and men’s gymnastics teams.
