38
RED RIVER SHOOTOUT
Where?
Cotton Bowl Stadium
3750 Midway Plaza
Dallas, TX 75210
The game, as of right now, will be held here through 2015. From there, both schools will come to an agreement on a new contract and the stadium/venue may change.
When?
First weekend in October every year.
Significance:
The Red River Rivalry, the official name for the Red River Shootout since 2005, pits the University of Texas Longhorns against the University of Oklahoma Sooners. The origins of the annual game go back to 1900, predating Oklahoma’s (then Oklahoma territory) entry as a state. Considered one of the greatest and most intense rivalries in American sports, the name comes from the Red River that carves a portion of the boundary between the two states. The cultural differences boil over and often lean toward bitter disputes and negative stereotyping going back and forth. Okies are country yokels, according to Texans. Texans are phony cowboys, according to the Sooner faithful.
Since the mid-forties, the Rivalry has been about more than just a moral victory over a hated rival. For over sixty years, Texas and/or Oklahoma have ranked in the top twenty-five nationally, giving their matchup significance both nationally and within their conference. Games that are more recent featured one of the eventual participants in or winners of the Bowl Championship Series National Championship game.
Three Red River Rivalry/Shootout trophies are at stake as well. The most prominent is the Golden Hat, kept by the winning school’s athletic department until the next clash. Since 2003, the respective student governments have exchanged the Red River Rivalry trophy. The Governors’ trophy has been traded back and forth between the governors of Texas and Oklahoma. Many times, a side bet of a side of beef is placed between the chief executives; that “trophy” goes to charity.
Who attends?
Longhorn and Sooner fans, but keep them separated. Also in attendance, a lot of good ol’ college football fanatics.
How to get there?
Easily accessible from the north off US 75, east and west off I-30, and from the south off I-35E. Note that you may be directed to take a route back to a freeway system different from the one you used to get to the Cotton Bowl.
Tickets:
For primary ticket access information, consider:
AT&T Cotton Bowl Ticket Office
P.O. Box 569420
Dallas, TX 75356
Phone: 1-888-792-BOWL
UT Athletics Ticket Office
Bellmont Hall, First Floor Lobby
P.O. Box 7399
Austin, TX 78713-7399
Phone: (512) 471-3333
Toll-Free: 1-800-982-BEVO
www.TexasBoxOffice.comOklahoma Ticket Office
For secondary ticket access, consider:
GoTickets, Inc.
2345 Waukegan Road, Suite 140
Bannockburn, IL 60015-1552
Toll-Free: 1-800-775-1617
Fax: (919) 481-9101
E-mail: sales@gotickets.com
www.gotickets.comAccommodations:
Omni Mandalay
Note: Fifteen short minutes to the stadium and close to business and cultural attractions in Dallas. Luxury hotel with unique Burmese city-style design.
Hyatt Regency
Note: Four miles from the stadium and close to shopping and other sports. Boasts the longest-running AAA four-diamond distinction among other convention hotels in Dallas.
Hilton Anatole
2201 Stemmons Freeway
Dallas, TX 75207
Phone: (214) 748-1200
Fax: (214) 761-7520
www.hilton.comNote: Five miles from the stadium. Well-known Dallas hotel known for warm hospitality and Western lore.
On-Site Hospitality:
At the Cotton Bowl Stadium, you will have over seventy-five concession areas with specialty items located just outside of Gates 1 through 10. Chicken fajitas sizzle next to game-day staples such as hot dogs and charbroiled burgers. On each ramp, you will find express beverage services for quick thirst-quenching.
Travel Packages:
If you are going to travel to this event, I would recommend using a reliable company to work with you on making the necessary arrangements. The suppliers listed in this book have solid references and are by far the most trusted in the business. Below are some of the organizations to try for this Top 100 Must See Sporting Event.
Premiere Corporate Events
14 Penn Plaza, Suite 925
New York, NY 10122
Phone: (212) 695-9480
Fax: (212) 564-8098
Toll-Free: 1-877-621-5243
E-mail: requests@tseworld.com
www.tseworld.comwww.pcevents.comPremiere Sports Travel
201 Shannon Oaks Circle, Suite 205
Cary, NC 27511
Phone: (919) 481-9511
Fax: (919) 481-1337
Toll-Free: 1-800-924-9993
E-mail: sales@sportstravel.com
www.sportstravel.comPremiere College Sports
(Powered by Dodd’s Athletic Tours)
Dining:
Bread Winners Bakery and Café
Note: Known for not only crowds, but also great breakfasts that are worth the wait.
La Calle Doce
Note: What else would you eat while in Texas? Great Mexican food and margaritas that will not disappoint.
For those fair food aficionados, the Texas State Fair can also satisfy those cravings for cotton candy and other delectables.
Airports:
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
Dallas Love Field
Sports Travel Insider’s Edge:
Best way to watch the action:
Like the fans’ loyalties, the stadium is split in half when tickets are sold for the event. Wearing the team colors of red or burnt orange shows your spirit and allegiance. Just make sure you are sitting on the proper side; this is Texas versus Oklahoma, after all.
Best place to get up close:
The State Fair on game day is where plenty of Texas and Oklahoma devotees will be wandering around before the game. Team colors surround you, giving you a chance at a friendly wave to a fellow fan and a scowl at a loyalist for the opposition. Make sure to be aware of the time so you do not miss the game introductions.
Best travel tip:
The Texas State Fair is a must see while you are in Dallas for the big game. This is a Texas-sized gathering that is considered one of the best in the country. Grab a corn dog and play a game in a location that is convenient and a mere skeeball throw away from the Cotton Bowl.
Notable Quotes:
“I have been attending since 1970 and have commuted from my homes in either Atlanta or Connecticut to Dallas for games. I once postponed colon surgery to attend the game. It wasn’t minor surgery I was delaying either. It resulted in 13 inches of my large intestines and a benign tumor being removed, but I did not miss the game. And I don’t regret the decision.”—Jim Ross, WWE television announcer and die-hard Sooner fan
“Back in the day, I have gone to the Dallas city jail to buy tickets from fans who had been arrested for being drunk and disorderly the night before the game where downtown Dallas was turned into the biggest tailgate party/pep rally.”—JIM ROSS
Relevant Websites: