Cotton Bowl $140M Renovation: 2025–26 Fan Guide
Dallas announced the completion of the Cotton Bowl Stadium’s $140 million renovation in September 2025. The upgraded west-side facilities are part of the setting for the October 10, 2026 Red River Rivalry. Here is what the official information supports and what to check before choosing tickets.
What changed
The City of Dallas’s completion announcement identifies:
- 14 new escalators and multi-story entrances at the west gates.
- An upper west concourse three times its previous size, with two outdoor terraces.
- Additional restrooms, concessions, premium seating, and hospitality spaces.
- Improvements to broadcast and team facilities.
The Fair Park venue page lists renovated luxury suites, expanded premium seating, elevators, and escalators. Those are specific facility categories, not a guarantee that every game ticket includes premium access.
What your ticket does not establish
A stadium renovation announcement does not establish that every ordinary seat has a cup holder or an individual backrest. It also does not confirm an in-seat delivery app. Before paying for a seat, check the section, row, seat type, and included amenities with the school or seller. Ask for written clarification if comfort or hospitality access is important to your group.
Team facilities are for team operations. Their inclusion in the renovation does not give suite guests access to a team locker room. A suite or premium ticket should state its own benefits.
Use the seating guide to compare views and section information. Renovation renderings and photographs of a lounge should not be treated as photographs of every ticketed seat.
Stadium and bowl game are different
Cotton Bowl Stadium opened in 1930 as Fair Park Stadium. It continues to host the annual Texas–Oklahoma rivalry.
The postseason Cotton Bowl Classic is a separate event. It used this Dallas stadium from 1937 through 2009, then moved to Arlington for its January 2010 edition. It is held at AT&T Stadium, not at the Red River Rivalry’s Fair Park venue. The Classic’s own history explains the move.
Check the event name and address when searching for tickets, maps, parking, or suite information. A Cotton Bowl Classic hospitality offer is not a Red River ticket package.
Plan for October 10, 2026
The Texas Athletics game center lists a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff on ABC. The State Fair’s game-day announcement confirms Fair parking and admission gates open at 7 a.m., while Cotton Bowl gates open at 11:30 a.m. A rivalry game ticket includes Fair admission that day.
The traditional fan split places Texas on the north side and Oklahoma on the south side. Verify the actual section on your ticket rather than choosing from unverified color-accent claims.
Allow time for both Fair entry and stadium screening. New entrances and escalators do not guarantee a particular queue length. Check the transportation guide, stadium rules, and Game Guide before leaving.
Future work
The Fair describes east-side renovations as a future phase. This guide does not assign a firm start date or promise additional amenities before they are officially confirmed. Recheck the venue and event instructions for each visit.
