Texas Live! hopes Cotton Bowl, New Year's Eve means big crowds

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The final days of 2018 will likely be the biggest yet for new entertainment venue Texas Live!

A series of events around the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and New Year’s Eve means the venue, which opened in late summer, has a chance to be at capacity for several nights.

While Texas Live! is open daily, its lifeblood is events at the venues that surround it: Globe Life Park and AT&T Stadium.

This year’s Cotton Bowl is a semifinal game of the College Football Playoff and features two teams with large fan bases, Clemson and Notre Dame.

Things will get going on Friday, as Texas Live! hosts a battle of the bands between the two universities. The bars and restaurants inside say they’ll have their best Texas hospitality ready for the visitors.

Saturday is game day between the Tigers and Fighting Irish. Kickoff is at 3 p.m. CT, but Texas Live! expects crowds before, during and after the game. The venue was designed to accommodate fans who have tickets and want to enjoy themselves pregame, but also serve as an unofficial watch party for people who don’t have game tickets and can watch on the giant televisions.

While there are other sports bars in and around the stadiums, visitors said they like the accessibility and fun of the new Texas Live!

“I was at AT&T five years ago when Norte Dame played Arizona State. Texas Live! was not here then. Love Texas Live! Enjoyed the experience,” said Notre Dame fan Bob Mackessy. “We have something similar in Atlanta. But not as good.”

The fun will continue on Monday night, with Texas Live! hosting New Year’s Eve parties indoors and outdoors. Inside a giant 12-foo tball will drop from the ceiling in a nod to the tradition at New York’s Times Square. Outside, there will be a fireworks display.

People can buy New Year’s Eve party tickets in advance or just buy them at the door.