Jerry Jones Reveals Camp Plan For Oxnard - And 'Full Stadium' For Cowboys In 2021

“We’re going to Oxnard,'' Jones said in the middle of the Prescott press conference, during which his new four-year, $160 million contract was made official. "We’re going to do it safe. We’re going to have that stadium full.''

Mike Fisher | Mar 10, 2021

FRISCO - A jubilant Jerry Jones, surely buoyed by the long negotiations with Dak Prescott coming to a successful conclusion, on Wednesday here at The Star issued optimistic announcements on the team's COVID-era plans to conduct training camp in Oxnard, California, and after that, to oversee a "full stadium'' at AT&T Stadium once the 2021 NFL regular season begins.

“We’re going to Oxnard,'' Jones said in the middle of the Prescott press conference, during which his new four-year, $160 million contract was made official. "We’re going to have training camp. We’re going to do it safe. We’re going to have that stadium full. We’re going to do it safe.''

Jones - only half-joking - revealed that he was "coached'' to make sure to interject the word "safety'' into every proclamation regarding summer camp and football in the fall.

Due to COVID, the NFL and the Cowboys experienced a condensed offseason and no traveling to California for camp, as is the team's custom. They did host fans at AT&T Stadium, as many as about 30,000 - which Jones said — both of which were not seen in 2020.

It is Jones' believe that the Cowboys' ability to do such things without COVID-related incident demonstrate leadership on the part of the franchise.

Formal announcements by the NFL have not been issued, but Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's lifting of the statewide mask mandate (while now allowing all businesses to operate at 100% capacity) is likely a factor.

“If this contract manifests anything, it’s our belief that this decision is about how we take the next step today and take on (to) tomorrow,'' Jones said. "Our best chance to get where we want to be which is holding that (Super Bowl) trophy up, best chance to have those stands full of fans and everybody excited about the Dallas Cowboys. And the best I’ve got is manifested by signing Dak Prescott.''

Published Mar 10, 2021

MIKE FISHER

Mike Fisher - as a newspaper beat writer and columnist and on radio and TV, where he is an Emmy winner - has covered the NFL since 1983 and the Dallas Cowboys since 1990, is the author of two best-selling books on the Cowboys.