The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
UT, OU to sign new five-year deal with State Fair
05.04.2006 | Football
AUSTIN, Texas -- Athletic Directors of The University of Texas and The University of Oklahoma have agreed in principal with the State Fair of Texas on a new five-year contract that will keep the AT&T Red River Rivarly football game in Dallas through 2010. The new deal adds two years to the previous contract that ran through 2008.
The agreement does not require that structural improvements be made to the 75-year-old Cotton Bowl. Any renovations made to the stadium would be a City of Dallas or State Fair decision.
Texas and Oklahoma will meet this season for the 101st time on Oct. 7. The AT&T Red River Rivalry has been played on a neutral field in Dallas each year since 1929. The first time the two teams played in that city was 1912.
"We have enjoyed a long and storied relationship with the State Fair of Texas," Texas Men's Athletics Director DeLoss Dodds said. "The experience has been wonderful. The game is a tradition. We have a great working relationship with State Fair officials and I credit President Errol McKoy and Pete Schenkel (Dallas businessman and former chairman of the State Fair of Texas) for making this extension a reality."
"The OU-Texas game represents one of the great traditions of college football, largely because of its location in Dallas, a neutral location for both universities, and the unique atmosphere that exists at the State Fair. It is also unique in that both universities are allowed an equal number of seats for their fans which adds to the excitement of the event," said OU Athletics Director Joe Castiglione. "Obviously, we cannot put aside the practical aspects, but we sense commitment from our partners and other constituents in Dallas and are anxious to work toward an agreement that can address our very real concerns, while preserving the greatness of this event."
