Since the Cotton Bowl Stadium opened its doors in the 1930’s, the stadium has seen millions of fans pass through for all kinds of different events: Dallas Cowboys games during the 1960’s, Elvis breaking the record in 1956 for the largest crowd at an outdoor concert, and 90 years of the AT&T Red River Showdown. Continuing the strong history and tradition of the Cotton Bowl, the stadium is gearing up to host three college football games during the 2019 State Fair of Texas. Updated regulations and new features are sure to enhance the experience for football fans headed to the stadium during the State Fair this year, and for all sports fans alike year-round.
With safety as our main priority, Cotton Bowl Stadium will now follow NFL policy as it pertains to clear bag admittance. Approved bags include bags and totes that are made of clear plastic and do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12”, one-gallon clear resealable plastic storage bags, and small clutch bags or purses (which are not required to be clear) that do not exceed 4.5” x 6.5”. Express lanes will be in place at each gate for those who do not bring bags into the stadium. As in previous years, all carried items and entrants are subject to search. Prohibited items must be returned to the owner’s car or discarded. Items left at the gate will be discarded.
Included in the new and enhanced features, the historic Cotton Bowl has received and installed updated video and ribbon boards, installed by ANC. Both endzone boards now have higher quality resolution and the ribbon boards are new additions to the stadium to enhance the overall guest experience. The upgrades will be showcased during the upcoming State Fair, in addition to other year-round events, such as the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic – the first outdoor hockey game in the South.
Also adding to the fan experience of the NCAA football games held at the Cotton Bowl, beer, which has been available for purchase by all fans in limited areas of the stadium, will now be expanded and available for purchase in all areas within the stadium for all three games during the State Fair, in addition to the continued various locations around the fairgrounds. With this added feature, a new Point of Sale (POS) system will be implemented in order to expedite customer service. High-speed credit card acceptance at all points-of-sale will be available, as well as tap-payments (Apple/Google).
“We’re excited to unveil these new upgrades at the upcoming football games during the State Fair of Texas,” said Spectra’s Peter Sullivan, General Manager of Fair Park. “The upgrades to the scoreboards, the addition of ribbon boards, and a new point-of-sale system will greatly enhance the fan experience at the Cotton Bowl. We look forward to continuing our collaborations with the State Fair of Texas regarding future upgrades to Fair Park.”
“We are proud to continue investing in our home, Fair Park,” said Mitchell Glieber, President of the State Fair of Texas. “The Cotton Bowl has a multitude of historical relevance for the State Fair, as well as sentimental value. Ensuring the legacy can continue to grow, both during the State Fair and year-round, is beneficial to all parties, including event attendees and fairgoers.”
Three football games will be played on the iconic Cotton Bowl turf during the 2019 State Fair of Texas, kicking off with Prairie View A&M University and Grambling State University in the State Fair Classic at 4 p.m. on September 28. The AT&T Red River Showdown between the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma celebrates its 90th year inside the Cotton Bowl this year. The game will kick off on October 12 at 11 a.m. Closing out the 2019 State Fair, the Cotton Bowl will host the State Fair Showdown between Texas Southern University and Southern University at 2 p.m. on October 19. For game details and a full list of rules and prohibited items, please visit BigTex.com/football.