Cotton Bowl Stadium

The Cotton Bowl Stadium rises from the center of Fair Park as a landmark shaped by nearly a century of Dallas history. Opening in 1930 as Fair Park Stadium, it first welcomed 45,000 fans cheering on the SMU Mustangs beneath its distinctive art deco facades. As North Texas grew, so did the stadium—expanded and updated through decades of renovations until it became the 90,000+ seat venue it is today. From concerts to championship games, it has hosted countless memories, none more iconic than the annual Red River Showdown during the State Fair of Texas. When RSM Design joined the project team, the task was to protect this legacy while guiding the stadium toward its next chapter. Working closely with the architects, we honored the historic art deco character that defines the Cotton Bowl, weaving it into design solutions built for today’s sports and entertainment audiences. The result is an environment that respects its past, meets modern expectations, and continues welcoming new stories with every event.