Fans have started arriving in North Texas for the Red River Rivalry. Texas plays Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl Saturday at 11 a.m.
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The Dallas Sports Commission says the game will have a $51 million economic impact on the region.
"This matchup this year is extremely impactful," says Dallas Sports Commission Executive Director Monica Paul. "Both teams are highly ranked, and this is the last time they'll be under the Big 12 Conference umbrella as they move into the SEC."
At a pregame party for fans at Four Corners Brewery Friday, Paul said hotel occupancy rates were more than 90%, and revenue this weekend would double an average day.
"My office is out at Fair Park. Tuesday, I was out enjoying my first Fletcher's Corny Dog and here goes a Texas fan, here are OU fans already out there," she says. "It's not just one day, it's an entire week of celebration."
The Dallas Sports Commission says 90,000 people are expected to attend the game at Cotton Bowl Stadium. The organization expects more than 200,000 to attend the State Fair of Texas.
Paul says those visitors from across Texas and Oklahoma will spend money at the fair, but they also will learn more about different cities in the Metroplex.
"It's a benefit to the whole community, to our hotels, to our restaurants, to our other attractions. It's a very important weekend," she says.
In turn, she says the national attention brought by the Texas/OU game can also show the rest of the country the different reasons the Metroplex is gaining a reputation as a destination.
"All eyes should be on Dallas 11 am Saturday," Paul says.
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