(August 21, 2008)—The Dallas Cowboys are starting a season-long farewell to Texas Stadium.

More than 20,000 fans turned out for a rare open practice Wednesday night, which was billed as the beginning of a "Farewell to Texas Stadium" commemoration.

Heavy rain about an hour before practice began gave way to clearing skies, by the time Tony Romo, Terrell Owens and company came onto the field for a nearly two hour practice without pads.

It was the first such practice at the stadium in 17 years, and was free to the public.

This is the final season the Cowboys will play at Texas Stadium with its famed hole in the roof, which opened in 1971.

Next season, they're moving into a new $1 billion-plus stadium (complete with retractable roof) that's still being built about 17 miles away in Arlington.

The billion-dollar stadium will host Super Bowl XLV in February 2011.

Dallas plays its first home preseason game Friday night against the Houston Texans.

The Cowboys lost their first two pre-season games at San Diego and Denver.

Click here for virtual tour of the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington.