Are you ready for some football? The State Fair of Texas comes to town Sept. 28 to Oct. 21, bringing more exciting gridiron action than ever – three college football games!
To get there in time for the kickoff, make sure you have a winning game plan. Make these six plays to guarantee an enjoyable game day experience.
Saturday = Game Day
Game days typically attract some of the largest State Fair crowds of all. Know when your team is playing. Visit
BigTex.com for game times.
Sept. 29 – State Fair Classic:
Prairie View A&M University takes on Grambling State University.
Oct. 6 – AT&T Red River Showdown:
The definitive “grudge match” between The University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma for state bragging rights.
Oct. 20 – State Fair Showdown:
NEW! Southern University goes helmet-to-helmet with Texas Southern University in the first edition of this match up.
Note: For the Texas vs. Oklahoma Red River Showdown on Oct. 6, DART has modified train and bus service. Visit
DART.org/statefair for complete details.
Tackle Traffic with DART
Not a fan of battling traffic and parking? Tackle the issue head-on and ride DART! Most DART riders know about Fair Park Station. But MLK, Jr. Station also serves Fair Park, and it’s located near Gate 6 – closer to the Cotton Bowl Stadium and ideal for game day.
Transfer from any line to Downtown Dallas then take the
Green Line with signs that read BUCKNER, LAWNVIEW or FAIR PARK.
Download the GoPass® app
The best play you can make is to download DART’s GoPass® app. It takes the hassle out of buying a pass. Know friends going to the Fair but not the game? Tell them to get $2 off Fair admission with the GoPass® app.
The app is free, and you can download it from either the App Store or Google Play store. Purchase your transit pass and State Fair ticket in advance, but
DON’T ACTIVATE them until the day you go to the Fair.
Run the Option, But Play It Fair
Don’t get penalized – play fair by knowing the right fare. The College/Trade School reduced pass is only for students registered at schools in the DART Service Area. These students also need a DART-issued college/trade school photo ID.
Unfortunately, none of the universities represented in the three Cotton Bowl games qualify for this fare. Know your options by visiting
DART.org/fares and learn more about college student passes at
DART.org/students.
Park and Ride
You want to be there in time for the kickoff – right? That requires a good game plan. Save time, gas and the expense of parking by taking advantage of free parking available at many DART transit centers and rail stations. Learn more at
DART.org/parking.
Run a Spread Offense
To avoid overcrowding, spread out on the rail platform and avoid “huddling” near the first train car. Score a better seat by boarding through doors where crowds haven’t gathered. Remember that the center section of each rail vehicle has low floors that are level with the platform – perfect for those with strollers, wagons, wheelchairs, walkers or other mobility devices.
Finally, listen to your “coaching staff” – DART has volunteers stationed throughout the system ready to help you have a great game day.
We hope this survival guide helps you avoid fumbling on game day! Find more information at
DART.org/statefair.