Texas and Oklahoma fans have started to arrive at the State Fair of Texas ahead of this year's Allstate Red River Rivalry. The game between the Longhorns and Sooners starts at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Cotton Bowl and can be heard on NewsRadio 1080 KRLD.
"I look forward to this the second that clock hits zero. I start that 365-day calendar, and I'm counting down the days until we can kick Texas' booty," one Oklahoma fan said while taking pictures with his family near Big Tex.
"I've always been cheering for Texas," a UT fan countered. "It's always been fun watching the 'Horns whip up on the Sooners."
Texas leads the series between the two schools 63-50-5. Last year, the Longhorns won 49-0.
"All I know is we put up 49, and you didn't put up one," a Texas fan said to a friend who attends Oklahoma.
"We didn't have a quarterback," the Oklahoma fan said.
This year, both Texas and Oklahoma are 5-0.
Regardless of the rivalry, fans of both teams said one reason they look forward to the game is the time they can spend at the State Fair of Texas.
"It's exciting, it's fun, it's a bunch of food, lots of nice people and my darling grandchildren," one woman said.
The State Fair of Texas will open early Saturday to accommodate fans coming for an 11 a.m. kickoff. State Fair Will Call, at 816 S. Second Ave., will open at 6:30 a.m. Gates will open at 7 a.m.
A complete list of tips from the State Fair of Texas:
Due to an 11:00 a.m. local kick-off time, the State Fair will open early to allow fans to arrive and enjoy the Fair before game time, so plan your travel to the fairgrounds accordingly.
Your game ticket includes admission to the most iconic pre-game party of the year, the State Fair of Texas.
State Fair Will Call opens at 6:30 a.m. The Will Call booth is located just outside of the fairgrounds at 816 S. Second Ave.Official State Fair parking lots are located at gates 2, 6, 11, and 15. All gates will open at 7:00 a.m.
The Fair encourages fans to take exit 48A towards Haskell Avenue off I-30.Rideshare (taxi, Uber, Lyft, Alto, etc.) drop-off and pick-up will be located at Gate 1, which is located at Gurley Ave & S. Haskell Ave. (4200 block of Gurley Avenue).
Coupon Booths and Online Coupon Pick-up Centers will open at 7:00 a.m.
Purchase coupons ahead of time at BigTex.com and skip the long lines. Pick up your coupon orders at a Hospitality Center instead of a Coupon Booth. Be sure the original purchaser is present, as well as the matching driver’s license and credit card used on the order. Guests will not be able to redeem their coupon vouchers if all requirements are not met.
Hospitality Centers and Information Booths will open at 7:00 a.m.Outdoor concessions, in addition to concessions inside the Tower Building Food Court, will open at 8:00 a.m.
The State Fair of Texas Midway will open at 8:00 a.m.
ESPN College GameDay will air LIVE from 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. in Cotton Bowl Plaza (between Cotton Bowl Stadium and the Leonhardt Lagoon). Fans are urged to arrive early. Fans may bring flags and signs for ESPN College GameDay through State Fair gates up until 8:00 a.m. They must be discarded after the show before entering Cotton Bowl Stadium.
All exhibit buildings, outdoor exhibits, and indoor concessions (except the Tower Building, which opens earlier) will open at 9:00 a.m.
Gates to the Cotton Bowl will open at 9:00 a.m.As a reminder, your game ticket also acts as your admission into the fairgrounds. Game tickets will be presented at the entrance to the Fair and scanned at all Cotton Bowl gates as you enter the stadium. Be sure to download your game tickets and save them to your phone before arriving at the fairgrounds in case of any connectivity issues.
We remind all fans and fairgoers to stay hydrated and apply sunscreen throughout the day.
For the safety of all game attendees, a clear bag policy is in effect for all events at Cotton Bowl Stadium within Fair Park. Visit BigTex.com/Football for more details.
DART trains and buses will become more crowded as game-time approaches and at locations closer to Fair Park. For DART schedules, visit DART.org/StateFair.
All guests will be screened for weapons as they enter the Fair. Bags, purses, coolers, and similar containers are screened as well and subject to search. Please read any signage and listen to gate attendants for directions upon entry.
We encourage all guests to read the Fair’s Guest Code of Conduct before entering the grounds, visit BigTex.com/CodeofConduct.
For a list of items allowed and not allowed at the Fair, visit BigTex.com/FAQ.
For a list of prohibited items in the Cotton Bowl, visit BigTex.com/Football.
After the game, be sure to stick around to enjoy the fun and attractions the State Fair of Texas has to offer. Chevy House Party will take the Chevrolet Main Stage at 3:00 p.m. and 5:45 p.m., take in the Kroger Starlight Parade throughout the fairgrounds starting at 7:15 p.m., enjoy fireworks at the Mattress Firm Illumination Sensation at 8:00 p.m. along the Esplanade, and Lil Jon performs on the Chevrolet Main Stage at 8:30 p.m. The Fair’s Midway is open on Saturday until 11:00 p.m.
Note: Buildings close at 10:00 p.m.For a map of the fairgrounds, visit BigTex.com/Map.
For a full schedule of events, visit BigTex.com/Schedule.
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