City of Arlington addresses weather concerns ahead of Ohio State-Texas CFP semifinal
The Cotton Bowl released a statement Tuesday, acknowledging weather concerns ahead of Friday’s College Football Playoff semifinal game between Texas and Ohio State.
Bowl officials released an updated statement in the afternoon:
“We continue to monitor weather reports, and over the last 24 hours, the forecast for later this week has improved according to the National Weather Service. We have been meeting routinely with city officials, the Director of Transportation for North Texas and the College Football Playoff. Should the forecast shift, we are prepared for all contingencies. North Texas highways are already being brined and plans are in place to assure a safe environment for everyone in and around AT&T Stadium on game day. The teams arrive tomorrow, as planned, and the 2025 CFP Semifinal at the 89th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic will kick off on Friday evening as scheduled.”
A winter storm watch is in effect until Friday, Jan. 10, with snowfall projections between 3-6 inches and arctic winds beginning on Thursday.
In preparation, the City of Arlington said they had treated more than three dozen city-owned bridge crossings ahead of the game and said that safety would be paramount in a statement.
“Public safety is a top priority for both our visitors as well as our residents and businesses. Since Monday, our Public Works crews have been treating city-owned bridge crossings throughout Arlington with salt brine to help prevent the surfaces from freezing and creating icy conditions for drivers. Public Works expects to treat the bridge crossings over Johnson Creek in the Entertainment District on Thursday, and they will have sand, brine and equipment on hand to address any icy road conditions that may occur around AT&T Stadium on Friday ahead of the Cotton Bowl Classic,” said a City of Arlington spokeswoman.
The statement also said the city would keep Cotton Bowl organizers and fans attending updated on any changes due to weather.
“We encourage our residents and our visitors to be cautious when driving in inclement weather conditions. We will be monitoring road conditions, and we will work with the event organizers to communicate any important information, such as parking or traffic impacts, through all of the City’s communication platforms,” said a City of Arlington spokeswoman.
The Cotton Bowl Classic is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff on Friday, Jan. 10 at AT&T Stadium and is one of two CFP semifinal games. The Capital One Orange Bowl, the other CFP semifinal, between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, is scheduled on Thursday night.
This story was originally published January 7, 2025 at 9:45 AM.
