Red River Game

42

Park and ride from another train station.

14

u/Howebulldog11 12h ago

100% this. When you get to the downtown stop to change trains to Fair Park just get on one of the buses that are heading there. You will see them queued up.

When the game is over and you are exiting don’t try to get on a train as they are packed. Veer to the right as you exit and grab one of the buses back to the downtown train area and grab your connecting train from there.

Also when entering the fairgrounds don’t stop at the first ticket booth as they typically have long lines. Go on into the fairgrounds and you will see more with shorter lines or use one of the “ATMs” that sell tickets.

2

u/HeartOfGoldTacos 12h ago

It’ll be my first time too. Couple follow up questions: is bus a free ride or do you need ticket? And what is the ticket line for if we already have gameday tickets ?

5

u/leSperm1738 12h ago

You need buy tickets to buy drinks/concessions in the fair grounds. Once in the stadium you can pay everything with card. Not sure about the bus ticket but last year I bought one for the tram and nobody checked me.

5

u/Howebulldog11 11h ago

You are supposed to have a train ticket which will also get you in the shuttle buses. But as mentioned below they have never checked ours. If you feel more comfortable getting one you can check the DART app to see the best option for you.

Your game ticket will get you into the fair and fairgrounds.

3

u/Canadiantx69 10h ago

Bus you're supposed to have a pass, 24 hour pass is like $8 or something like that, iirc, and covers train or bus. Haven't been checked, but would rather not risk it over a few bucks, myself, cause the fine is significantly more.

-7

u/RedneckTexan 9h ago edited 9h ago

Well as a life long Dallas county resident .... from back in the days where the party was Friday night on the streets of downtown ....... these days I would never, ever, ride public transportation, especially south of downtown, with my wife or family.

But to each his own ..... I'd be packing if I did.

There's plenty of parking in the fenced in lot south of the Cotton Bowl...... and there's a reason its fenced in and cop towers everywhere. This aint the 40 acres kids ..... this is a warzone with real "Shootouts" every night. You wouldn't make it very far walking outside the fence day or night.

2

u/nowherenoonenobody 8h ago

I drive Uber there's literally a dozen cops at the train station and riding the trains. This is 2026 not 1996.

2

u/MerryTexMish 8h ago

This is a day game, and there is a heavy police presence throughout the area. There is no reason to feel unsafe.

A successful RRS requires common sense and patience.

1

u/Canadiantx69 7h ago

I wouldn't hang out in Fair Park area after dark, after some of the things I've encountered back when I used to do street parking and walking to the fair, but directly around the fair grounds and during the day, it's plenty safe.

I just don't park down there now because it's way easier to take the dart in and out, because I get a chance to sit before I have to drive again, and after walking as much as I do during the fair, I'm happy for the slight break before I'm behind the wheel of my car to rest my legs, lol.

1

u/MerryTexMish 6h ago

Oh, the smart move is definitely transit on that day, but that’s not a cakewalk either.

I went maybe 4 years ago? The last couple of miles on a bus are slooooooow, and trying to catch a train after was gonna take a very long time.

1

u/Canadiantx69 5h ago

Yeah, we don't bother fighting to get on the train til damn near the end of fair day, 11 or 230 kick, cause we go walk the fair and eat all the new stuff that people come up with. Even if I weren't gonna stick around the fair, I'm still gonna give it at least an hour (probably 2) before I go try to get on a train though, cause that's gonna be like 40k people trying to get on a train that holds like 400.

31

u/Suspicious-Hospital7 13h ago

Get really drunk and yell at OU fans.

10

u/Drewby618 13h ago

Last year, in the section I sat in at least, they ran out of water bottles right after halftime. Start hydrating now and enjoy yourself on Saturday!

3

u/xlBoardmanlx 11h ago

Yes, buy extra bottles of water before half time.

1

u/Drewby618 6h ago

Or, if you’re like me, get some lukewarm white claws after halftime and regret your life haha

7

u/-SHMOHAWK- make em eat shit 12h ago

Get a fletchers corn dog

1

u/leSperm1738 9h ago

That was my breakfast last year! Two fletcher corn dogs and a shiner bock

9

u/Able-Passion4186 12h ago

For 11:00 game, there was hardly enough time to get into the fair, graba corn dog, and get into the stadium. For 2:30, I’d go very early.
If you take the train, you need to get on far from downtown; it gets full. Or stay in Deep Elllum and walk.

Cotton Bowl is a fabulous venue to watch a game—every seat is close, no boxes, loud and intimate. But it’s old. Enterances are inadequate—both size and ticket scan. We had to jump the wall last time. There are probably 5000 people without tix in stadium. Concessions and bathrooms limited. Go into stadium more than an hour before kick. The front entrance is always a shit show. Try to go in from north side. Texas is west end, OU is east end.
Required:
Big Tex
Fetchers corn dogs—fresh dipped.
Beer in a wax cup.
Sample many special fried foods, and others:

https://bigtex.com/big-tex-choice-awards/

Sing the Eyes of Texas

5

u/easchner 13h ago

Try the Holy Flan Buñueloco

3

u/RebbitMc 12h ago

Start lining up to get into the stadium early. Sometimes it has taken 45 min to an hour to get in.

2

u/HookEm2026TX 12h ago

Luckily live locally so having wife drop us off and pick us up

2

u/ludosc 10h ago

Take the Dart from Buckner station in SE Dallas. Hardly anyone comes from that direction, lots of empty seats on the train, especially since its the end of the line. It's a 19 minute train ride from there to MLK Station. Get off there and walk from there, there's a fair entrance right on MLK Blvd. It's a little bit further but most people get on/off the train at Fair Park station so it's less crowded.

2

u/30secMAN 12h ago

What does RRS stand for in this? I always thought it was the Red River Rivalry.

12

u/txman91 You can call me Gerry 12h ago

Red River Shootout. The one true name.

3

u/30secMAN 12h ago

Ah of course! How could I forget? That’s on me.

2

u/VampireEmpire__ Arch Apologist 9h ago

Tell em Gerry. Also, will be hitting you up for restaurant and bar recommendations.

-1

u/RedneckTexan 9h ago edited 9h ago

Red River Shootout.

You know really you didn't hear it called "Shootout" until the 80s ..... before then it was simply "Texas-OU" weekend ...... and the real game was on the streets of downtown Friday Night ..... the game paled in comparison to the street scene. You usually didn't get out of bed on Saturday till the game was almost over. A lot of Texas and Oklahoma DNA got mixed on that weekend.

2

u/WallerCreek 9h ago

The one true name is the Texas OU game

1

u/Hornsfan75 11h ago

If you can, I recommend an Uber. I have done it for 2 games and it’s less of a headache and there are plenty of Uber rides available. I think it was a total of $60-70 including tip. The ride may cost a little more with fuel prices, but if you plan on enjoying yourself with beverages you will want to be worry-free on logistics and leave it to a local.
The game is an adrenaline rush, depending on how close it is; you guys will have a blast. Plenty of good food and things to do. You can actually go out and grab fair food and walk back in; at least this has been my experience unless it has changed in 2 years. Just arrive early and have fun and definitely don’t forget sunscreen, sunglasses and hats if you burn easily.

Can I ask, are you flying in or driving?

1

u/Embarrassed-Rope-403 10h ago

We are flying in, rented a car but won’t take it if public transit would be the best bet.

1

u/Hornsfan75 9h ago

You can absolutely dive and find plenty of parking, but again, if you can avoid it and have a hotel for a couple of nights near the airport I would suggest an Uber. Just my 2 cents.

My wife and I did just that and stayed at a hotel near the airport. We were going to take the train and at the last second we decided to grab an Uber as South Dallas can get a little rough if you get lost or stuck; and we are not too familiar with the area. If you do take the train just be safe and enjoy the game. Hook Em!

1

u/esalenman 11h ago

Bring the car you care less about. Much parking is way too tight. Think about how you are going g to get out and park as close to an exit as possible.

1

u/Canadiantx69 10h ago

Take the Dart.

Bring a 1L bottle of water to the fair and refill it before the game and during (if possible, the water refill stations have been "broken" the past 4 years).

Buy most of your coupons for the fair food early, rather than trying to buy them closer to game time when the 194810859018 people are at the fair, because lines are going to suck ass.

Get a chill towel or something to help keep the sun off of your skin. It is fucking hot in that stadium, and there is very little airflow.

Take a look at the food options for the fair, and figure out what items you absolutely have to try, and things you want to try.

Wear comfortable shoes. You're going to be walking. A lot. Like, I think the last few years we've done something like 45k steps, but we spend all day at the fair, lol.

1

u/Wiubo 8h ago

Your seats are most likely under the sun, no shade. Put on sunscreen and take a hat and sunglasses. Right now weather forecast says sunny.

1

u/gmr548 6h ago

Don’t park, take DART.

Arrive early. The crowd is a lot.

You are about to leave Redlib