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The new Cowboy Stadium is an oasis in a sports desert. Yet beware. Sports bars are simply a mirage. Public transportation non-existent and parking will cost you a bunch of gold coins.

Over 108,000 individuals made the journey to Arlington, Texas, yet it felt like a ghost town.

The below freezing wind chill factor could have played a huge role in lack of personality around the stadium I will admit that. Yet maybe it’s my Midwest raised kid in me coming out, but I expected more.

I certainly did not appreciate the 45+ minute standing in line to get into the stadium. Six Flags was right down the street. I thought maybe I was waiting in line for a roller coaster on a summer day. Except for the fact is was below freezing.

I’ll do what the refs would not do during the game, I’ll call a foul.

The Ballpark at Arlington has a sports bar inside the stadium, yet no one thought it would be profitable to open it for the All-Star game (it was closed for the Big 12 Championship game as well). The nearest sports bar to grab a drink and a burger is 2 miles away.

If you want to grab a taxi to take you to and from the sports bar, it will cost you $20 each way ($20.00 minimum ride). This after you paid $40.00 for a parking spot.

Maybe you stayed in Dallas; you saw a train dissecting the streets of downtown and felt “what better way to ride to Arlington”, well forget that notion. Get in your car and sit in traffic like all of us had to do.

Excuse me Mr. Goodell. You might want to take a look at this for next February.

Once you got inside the stadium, you couldn’t help but get excited. The level of frenzy was immeasurable, and the experience was “All-Star” caliber. It was as if the court was suspended in the air by the anticipation of the event, and it never sunk an inch the whole game.

All-Star Weekend 2010 was spectacular, despite the weather’s best efforts. The streets of Dallas were star-studded, the clubs packed with fame, and airport runways crowded.

It’s a shame Arlington couldn’t rise to the level that was expected.

The East won the game in a shoot-out. Dwayne Wade got the MVP award. I would love to be able to put words to describe the game, but I left the stadium and my excitement was instantly deflated.

Who says you can’t write and drive? I just finished this article in traffic.