Every once in a while, a film comes a long that really touches upon a topic that is very meaningful and significant to my life. With that being said, there is one thing in this world I am more passionate about than films and that would be sports, particularly Dallas teams. When I first heard of a documentary called America’s Parking Lot at SXSW this year, I knew it was a must see. Unfortunately, I missed all the screenings of it and thought I’d missed out on an amazing documentary, until I received the line-up for the Dallas International Film Festival and saw that the film would be screening again. This time I made sure I cleared my schedule so I wouldn’t miss out on the film again and, I must say, I’m glad I had the opportunity to experience this film.
America’s Parking Lot follows two hardcore Dallas Cowboy tailgaters Stan “Tiger” Shults and Cy Ditmore. They are the leaders of one of the greatest tailgating crews in Cowboy history, The Gate 6 tailgaters. This group of tailgaters display what it means to be a true “fan” and the passion they have for “America’s Team” is unlike anything else. The film follows their last year at Texas Stadium in Irving, TX and the adjustment to moving to the new Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, TX. During this process, they deal with the struggles of trying to keep their tradition going and the corporate greedy that is destroying the experience for the average fan.
Director J
onny Mars captures not only an emotional experience for fans but also what is truly wrong with the sports industry and how the greediness of the owners have destroyed a once timeless tradition before a football game. Many might have a difference of opinion because the film is based around the Dallas Cowboys, but Mars takes it so much further and actually compares the fans of the Cowboys with those of the Green Bay Packers and how they have managed to preserve the tailgating experience from being destroyed by owners. With these NFL owners trying to one up each other, they have created PSL or a Personal Seat License, which forces a fan to pay a fee between$5,000-150,000 per seat just to be able to have the ability to purchase season tickets. If that isn’t crazy enough, when you agree to pay these agreements, you are also agreeing to purchase tickets for the next 30 years. Ditmore comes to a big decision with dealing with these PSLs and has to choose between building a new house on his land or paying the PSL so he can continue to support and tailgate for the team he loves so dearly.
It takes a lot for a film to actually touch me on an emotional level or even bring a tear to my eye, but I could not help but get a bit emotional watching Texas Stadium imploded again and how big of an impact this event had on Cowboy nation. Some may think that is a bit crazy, but when you are as passionate about a team as I am, Ditmore or Tiger, events like this have a huge impact on your life and really hits you hard because you begin remembering all the memories you had at the stadium and how you really felt like you were a part of something special. When the film switches over to the new stadium, Ditmore and Tiger are no long tailgating together because they are in different parking lots and no matter how hard they 
try to recreate what they had before, it just isn’t the same. They acknowledge that that average fan can no longer afford to attend games and that the parking lots that were once full when the gates opened at Texas Stadium are now half empty at Cowboy stadium because the new “corporate fan” just doesn’t have the passion or desire to show up early or stay late. Ditmore explains that he went and spoke with the planning coordinator to see about reserving spots so that he could tailgate like he once did at Texas Stadium. During his meeting, Ditmore realized that the man had no care in the world about why he wanted to do this tailgate or what a meaningful event this was to fans, he wanted to know numbers. Ditmore then had to explain that the people attending his tailgate had spent well over a million dollars in PSL’s which was exactly what the coordinator wanted to hear and immediately took Ditmore to scope out a few spots for his tailgate.
If you are a Cowboy fan or even a football fan, I strongly recommend you watch this film. Put aside your rivalry and truly see the film for what it is and how it address the issues that are arising in the NFL. Mars does a fantastic job of showing this by interviewing fans in Green Bay and in New York where the Giants and Jets fans are now dealing with a new stadium and the PSL’s. Now matter how you feel about the Cowboys, they will always be “America’s Team” however the people of Green Bay have something truly special and, in my opinion, should be known as “The People’s Team”. I am truly jealous of what they have and wish Cowboy fans still had that special connection to their team like the Packer fans do. On a side note, if I could get Tiger to give me one of his infamous pep talks every morning, I would be a very productive individual.
Rating: One of the best documentaries I have seen in years. Truly a touching topic and an emotional ride for Cowboy fans, though football fans will enjoy as well. 10/10
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