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    • Why is it called the Cotton Bowl? The stadium has hosted the Red River Rivalry since 1932
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    Why is it called the Cotton Bowl? The stadium has hosted the Red River Rivalry since 1932

    Idris Bevan Posted on

    The Red River rivalry between Oklahoma and Texas is one of the most revered matchups in all of college football, a clash between two heated rivals who happen to be two of the most successful programs in the history of the sport.

    Even compared to such vaunted teams as Ohio State-Michigan and Alabama-Auburn, the setting for the rivalry is unique.

    Since 1932, the game has been played in Dallas rather than Norman or Austin, with the State Fair of Texas serving as the backdrop.

    Required reading: Who has the edge against Texas in OU football? Breakdown of key Sooners-Longhorns matchups

    Then there is the stadium where it takes place.

    The Cotton Bowl is an iconic football stadium, a venue that was originally home to the Dallas Cowboys, hosted SMU during the program’s glory days with the legendary Doak Walker, and even hosted World Championship games in 1994.

    As the focus shifts back to the stadium, questions also arise: In the age of corporate venues, why is the stadium called the Cotton Bowl?

    Here’s what you need to know about the Cotton Bowl and how the stadium got its name:

    Required reading: Texas vs. Oklahoma: 3 questions we’ll answer, including whether UT can protect Quinn Ewers

    Why is it called the Cotton Bowl?

    Originally, the Cotton Bowl wasn’t the Cotton Bowl.

    It opened in 1930 as Fair Park Stadium, the name of the site where it was built.

    The nickname didn’t last long.

    In 1936, Texas oilman J. Curtis Sanford noticed the attention the Rose Bowl was receiving in Southern California and believed that Texas, a burgeoning football hotbed, deserved something similar that would bring buzz, attention and money to the state.

    He raised $6,000 of his own money to start the Cotton Bowl Classic, first played on January 1, 1937, with neighboring TCU defeating Marquette 16-6 in the opening game (Marquette had not had a football program since 1960 more). . The bowl remains one of the most recognizable and prestigious bowls in college football and is part of the New Year’s Six Game Series.

    The name of the game comes from Texas’ designation as a leading cotton producer, a title the country still holds today. It was also a playful take on the term “cotton bolls,” which are the protective coverings over the famous fluffy tufts of a cotton plant.

    Like the Rose Bowl, the stadium was named after the game that became most famous for hosting it. Since 1936 it has been known as the Cotton Bowl.

    Required reading: These are my favorite memories of the Red River Rivalry, Texas-Oklahoma moments | Golden

    How old is the Cotton Bowl?

    The Cotton Bowl opened in 1930, making it 94 years old.

    Cotton Bowl seating capacity

    The Cotton Bowl holds more than 91,000 fans, making it one of the 15 largest stadiums in the United States.

    The stadium has almost doubled in size over the course of its existence. When it opened in 1930, it only seated 46,000.

    Although the capacity is just over 91,000, the Red River Rivalry often draws larger spectators. Last season, 92,100 fans were on hand to watch Oklahoma’s 34-30 victory over Texas.

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    Idris Bevan
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