The Cotton Bowl first opened in 1930 as Fair Park Stadium. Texas and Oklahoma fans have been wanting it upgraded ever since.

The city of Dallas has pumped millions into stadium upgrades over the years to keep one of the crown jewels of college football at the State Fair of Texas. A new, two-year project worth $140 million is currently ongoing that is about halfway complete.

There won’t be too many obvious changes for most fans who attend Saturday’s Texas-OU game, according to The Dallas Morning News. But there will be some dramatic changes in store for 2025.

“We’re approximately halfway done, but it’s the half that a lot of it is underground; a lot of its infrastructure,” Bryan Trubey told The News. Trubey is the construction project’s principal spokesperson.

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“It’s not as cool-looking as the second half — because when you get the second half done, you’re finished,” Trubey said. “But it’s a significant accomplishment for the whole team. It’s significant because we haven’t improved this building anywhere near this much in really, 60 years. It’s a great investment for the city of Dallas.”

The Dallas city council approved a $145,000 contract with construction firms JE Dunn and H.J. Russell & Company in December 2023. Then, $52.9 million was approved in February, according to The News. An additional $65 million was approved by city leaders in September. The money was generated by a 2% increase in the hotel occupancy taxes that were approved by Dallas voters in 2022.

Texas and OU have signed a contract to remain in Dallas and play at the Cotton Bowl through 2036.

Groundbreaking on the latest upgrades began in March, but construction was paused for the Grambling-Prairie View A&M game on Sept. 28 and the Texas-OU matchup.

The Dallas Morning News was given an exclusive tour and noted the completion of new concrete structures that will house 14 escalators on the stadium’s perimeter. Fans will be able to get into the upper deck without going through the cramped, main concourse level.

With new escalators, that means the stadium ramps will be demolished, doubling the size of the main concourse on the west side and creating more square footage on the upper west concourse, The News said.

Texas officials have long wanted two things on their wish list — more restrooms and more room on the main concourse. Anyone who has tried to navigate the concourse to find a bathroom between quarters or halftime know how challenging that can be.

Football coaching staff and school officials will get a totally new experience with a redesigned Level 7, according to The News. Some of the new finished out areas have floor-to-ceiling glass and awning windows that open to allow crowd noise.

In 2025, the Cotton Bowl will have more restrooms, concession stands, premium seating, outdoor terraces and a relocated press box, according to The News.