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Jan 1, 2009 9:43 pm US/Central
Mayor: Loss Of Cotton Bowl Game Won't Hurt Dallas
Reporting
Jack Fink
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Friday marks the end of an era. It's the last time the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic will be played in the Cotton Bowl, because next year, it will be held in Arlington. But Dallas leaders and the owners of local restaurants, bars, and entertainment spots say they're not worried they'll have to throw in the towel.
The Cotton Bowl Classic brings in about $30 million to Dallas, and even though it won't be played in its namesake stadium next year, businesses say fans will still stay and play in Dallas.
For decades now, restaurants and bars in Dallas' West End have scored an economic touchdown during the Cotton Bowl. "We love it. We're very excited about being in Dallas," said Ole Miss Fan Dottie Berry. "Of all the bowl games, it was our number one choice."
In the days before the big game, thousands of fans flocked to Dallas to eat, drink, and party. "I love it. I live in Austin," said Test Tech Fan Brad Douglas. "I like the feel to the West End."
But after 73 years, the tradition will end. Next year, The Cotton Bowl Classic will be played in the Dallas Cowboy's new $1 billion stadium in Arlington instead.
As a result, Dallas is recruiting other bowl games to play in the newly renovated and expanded Cotton Bowl Stadium. "There've been discussions on that bowl as well as some others. We think the Cotton Bowl is a great venue around New Year's," explained Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert. "So we're optimistic we will see an event there."
The mayor, restaurant managers in the West End and some Dallas hotel workers say while the Cotton Bowl game will be in Arlington, business in Dallas will still be good because many team events, such as parades and pep rallies, will still be in the city.
So are some restaurant managers worried about losing customers? "Yeah, there's some concern, but sometimes it makes you try harder, be smarter," Cadillac Bar owner Mark Collins said.
The manager of Hoffbrau Steaks, Barbara Thornton, said "I'm a little concerned about that, but there will be more people coming here next year because the stadium will hold more people and they will need places to stay and places eat."
While Arlington doesn't have anything like the West End, the city's mayor says more hotels, restaurants, and bars will be built around the new Cowboys' stadium.
"I think it's a transition period, and we have new hotels going up," said Robert Cluck, Arlington Mayor. "I expect them to be full for every event that they will have. We're going to add capacity, significant capacity."
Mayor Leppert says he hopes to make an announcement, in about 60 days, about a new bowl game to be placed in the Cotton Bowl next year.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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