MADISON, Wis. — When Wisconsin fans invade North Texas at the end of the month for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, a great experience awaits.
"From a Cotton Bowl perspective, it is always much more enjoyable for us to have teams that have never experienced the 'Cotton Bowl experience' before," Michael Konradi, Chief Marketing Officer for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, said. "For us to have Wisconsin this year, a great Big Ten team, steeped in tradition, we hope to create experiences that will last a lifetime for the players, fans and anybody associated with Wisconsin. We take great pride in creating a great experience for the fans leading up to the game and certainly on game day."
In its 81st year, the Cotton Bowl is the fifth-oldest bowl game in the country. As part of the "New Year's Six," it joins the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Peach Bowl and Fiesta Bowl as the games that make up the College Football Playoff.
"The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is part of the fabric of the community of North Texas," Konradi said. "You have generations of fans who have grown up coming to the game."
Check out the events available to fans leading up to and including gameday:
Wisconsin Football Cotton Bowl Pep Rally / Plainscapital Battle of the Bands
Sunday, Jan. 1 – 3-4 p.m.
Klyde Warren Park - Downtown Dallas
Tickets: Free, no ticket required
Show your spirit as Bucky Badger, the UW Spirit Squad and the UW Band perform to get fans fired up. Plus, the UW Band will be joined by the Western Michigan Marching Band in a "Battle of the Bands" to determine band supremacy.
Fans can get a free Wisconsin/Cotton Bowl cowbell while supplies last. Food and beverage will be available for purchase.
Badger Huddle at the Cotton Bowl
Monday, Jan. 2 – 8:30-11 a.m.
Globe Life Park - Home of the Texas Rangers
1000 Ballpark Way, Arlington, TX
Buy Tickets:
 • Adults: $65
 • Child (ages 3-12): $25
 • Child (under 3): Free
Get ready for kickoff at the official Wisconsin Cotton Bowl tailgate. Enjoy live entertainment, a kid's zone and loads of UW spirit including a performance by Bucky Badger, the UW Spirit Squad and the UW Band.
There will be plenty of great food available, including Texas-style brisket and egg burritos, biscuits and vegetarian gravy, breakfast potatoes, brats, assorted pastries, and fruit. Assorted beverages including beer, wine, brunch cocktails, and soda will also be available.
Be sure to purchase your tickets quickly because Badgers bowl tailgates commonly sell out.
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
Monday, Jan. 2 – 12 p.m.
AT&T Stadium
1 AT&T Way, Arlington, TX
The week's main attraction as the Wisconsin Badgers take on the Western Michigan Broncos.
"Even though we moved from our namesake stadium to AT&T Stadium seven years ago, that only enhanced the local interest in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic because of the grandeur of the stadium and all the amenities the stadium has to offer," Konradi said. "And it takes the weather out of the equation. It's guaranteed 73 degrees and sunny inside the stadium for the Cotton Bowl."
Party on the Plaza with Pat Green
Monday, Jan. 2 – Postgame
Miller Lite Plaza at AT&T Stadium
Free Admission
After the game, head over to the Miller Lite Plaza on the west side of AT&T Stadium for a postgame concert by Texas country legend Pat Green. Watch the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual on big screens. Enjoy plenty of food and beverage to celebrate the conclusion of another outstanding season of Wisconsin football.
"We pride ourselves on hospitality here in Texas, and even more so at the Cotton Bowl," Konradi said. "We do our best to create what we hope will be perceived as one of the best experiences Wisconsin and its fans will have at a bowl game. Hopefully, after the game, we'll have Badger fans walking away saying, 'That was pretty special.'"
In addition, Wisconsin Athletics has several ways to serve fans needing assistance leading up to gameday.
The Wisconsin Athletic Ticket Office will be open for business on New Year's Day in Dallas. Fans can visit the main lobby of the Hilton Anatole Hotel at 2201 North Stemmons Freeway from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. On gameday, the Wisconsin Athletic Ticket Office will be open at AT&T Stadium at the south box office near Entry F starting at 9 a.m. until the start of the third quarter.
Also, Wisconsin Athletics will operate its Bowl Central Fan Assistance service. Get answers to your bowl-related questions. Contact us via text or phone at 608-345-0195 or email at UWBowlCentral@athletics.wisc.edu.
