The University of Texas and University of Oklahoma agreed on a new contract for their annual football game. The deal will keep the Texas-OU game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas through 2036.
"We’re thrilled we’ve been able to extend the contract and continue our partnership with Oklahoma, the State Fair of Texas and the City of Dallas on our great game," said UT Athletics Director Chris Del Conte. "There is absolutely nothing like the Allstate Red River Rivalry game, and with all of its history, tradition and pageantry, it needs to stay in the Cotton Bowl."
Fans will notice some improvements at the Cotton Bowl when the two teams face off in the fall of 2024. The City of Dallas has agreed to make some major improvements to the stadium.
"We're making the entries a lot more efficient. We're adding escalators. We're significantly increasing the size of the restrooms and quantity of restrooms - for men and women, both." said architect Bryan Trubey with Overland Partners.
The goal of the project is to improve the experience for fans, while maintaining some of the distinctive features that set the Cotton Bowl apart from other stadiums.
"You can't get 90,000 people that close to the action in a new building," said Trubey. "That's one of the things that we're preserving."
Work on the renovations will start early in 2024. Construction has been scheduled so that it won't interfere with the Texas-OU game or other major events at the stadium during the State Fair of Texas.
"This game is nostalgic for so many," said State Fair of Texas President Mitchell Glieber. "This rivalry has been played in the Cotton Bowl during the State Fair of Texas for nearly a century. It is the most unique setting in all of college football."
The agreement between Texas and OU preserves the schools' broadcast partnership with Learfield. The game is broadcast each fall on Newsradio 1080 KRLD.
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