Cotton Bowl (stadium)

The Cotton Bowl is an outdoor stadium located in Fair Park, Dallas, Texas, originally opened in 1930 and long associated with major college football and public events. It has hosted the annual Cotton Bowl Classic and numerous large sporting and entertainment events.

The stadium features a large oval seating bowl and has historically accommodated crowds in excess of 90,000 for marquee games. It sits within the larger Fair Park complex and is used during the State Fair of Texas each autumn.

Over its history the venue has undergone renovations and hosted a wide range of events beyond football, including concerts and cultural gatherings. Its location in Fair Park makes it accessible from downtown Dallas and linked to the fairground infrastructure.

The Cotton Bowl is in east-central Dallas at Fair Park, a short drive east of downtown Dallas and well served by city roads and public transit during major events.

• Usage: Located inside Fair Park in east Dallas, the stadium is most famous for hosting the annual Cotton Bowl Classic college football game and has been used for major concerts and sporting events since opening.
• History and capacity: The stadium opened in 1930 and has been renovated multiple times; it has traditionally seated over 90,000 spectators for marquee events, with capacity varying after renovations.

What to See #

• Main bowl: Main bowl and seating bowl that has historically accommodated crowds in excess of 90,000 for major events and large football games.
• Fair Park and State Fair events: Fair Park grounds and the annual State Fair of Texas, which use the stadium as a focal venue during the fair period each autumn.