Fair Park’s Cotton Bowl Set for a $140 Million Makeover: Revitalizing a South Dallas Landmark

Fair Park, the gem of Sunny South Dallas, was the center of attention earlier this week. The occasion? The groundbreaking of a massive $140 million upgrade to the iconic Cotton Bowl stadium. This investment marks the largest financial commitment in Fair Park’s 137-year history and signifies what stakeholders and residents of South Dallas and Fair Park alike hope to be a bright future for the beloved venue and the neighborhood. The project, a collaboration between the Dallas Park and Recreation Department and Fair Park First, aims to create a balance between preserving the Cotton Bowl’s heritage and propelling it into the modern era. Construction began in late 2023 and is slated for completion by the 2025 State Fair of Texas. Rendering of Cotton Bowl upgrade, courtesy of Dallas Innovates via dallasinnovates.com The project is funded by the Brimer Bill, a funding mechanism that became state law in 1997 that allows sports arenas and convention centers to be built using taxes on hotels and other tourist services including rental cars. The Brimer Bill was used to build the American Arlines center over 20 years ago when in 1999, Dallasites voted to approve $140 million in bonds to build the home of...