Close your eyes and think for just a minute. It’s the second Saturday of October and you are at the State Fair of Texas. You are greeted by Big Tex as you walk into the fair. There are people riding carnival rides and children winning carnival games. You are surrounded by the aroma of Fried Oreos and Fletcher’s corn dogs. You look at your watch and realize that it is time for the classic Red River Showdown between Oklahoma and Texas. As you walk through the fair to watch the game, you look up to see the iconic Cotton Bowl Stadium and all feels right in the world.
The Cotton Bowl Stadium was built in 1930 and has been the home of major football games, including the Red River Showdown and the Cotton Bowl Classic. The stadium’s architecture has an Art Deco style, which was popular during this time and many buildings at the time were built in an Art Deco style (i.e. the Empire State Building). It can hold over 90,000 fans and is currently among the largest stadiums in the United States. Over the years, the stadium has made renovations to ensure that the Cotton Bowl remains in use for many years to come. However, as far as the Red River Rivalry is concerned, that very well may not be the case.
In the past decade, there have been complaints that raise concern that the stadium may not suitable to host the rivalry game for much longer. The foundation underneath the bleachers have been decaying after years of students standing on the bleachers to cheer on the Sooners and the Longhorns. Although the necessary renovations were made, the age and structure of the stadium may cause the end of the rivalry game to be played in Cotton Bowl Stadium. The rivalry is scheduled to remain at Cotton Bowl Stadium until 2025, but the future of the rivalry game being held in the famed stadium remains unclear.
There has been speculation that the rivalry game will eventually be moved to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. AT&T Stadium, built in the early 2000s and the home of the Dallas Cowboys, has more benefits to hosting the game as opposed to Cotton Bowl Stadium. Whether it is more seating, more innovative kinetic architecture, or more concession stands, it would be no surprise if the game were to soon get moved to Arlington. The stadium hosts a variety of events, including NFL football games, concerts, and ironically the Cotton Bowl Classic.
Nevertheless, Cotton Bowl Stadium has rich history and tradition. The feeling I get every time I step foot onto the State Fair of Texas is indescribable and is a feeling I hope to have for years to come. I believe it is truly one of the greatest venues in all of college sports because of its tradition. Unfortunately, an Art Deco styled football stadium may eventually be replaced by a football stadium with much more innovative architecture.
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