Ultimate UT vs. Texas A&M Tailgate Only Leads to Winners — Cotton Holdings Makes Tailgating Luxe and Star Studded

Cotton Holdings founder and co-CEO Pete Bell played no favorites when signing his company on as sponsor of the revived Lone Star Showdown between the University of Texas and Texas A&M University football teams in College Station. Likewise, his lavish tailgate setup was impartial. But honey, it was over the top. Such grandeur unheard of in pigskin annals.

Think a 3,700-square-foot party space featuring eight dazzling chandeliers, six large screen TVs and two dedicated lounge spaces, each one decorated respectively for Longhorn and Aggie fans. Animal hide rugs, overhead balloon bouquets and formal seating completed the luxe setup. Open bars and food stations for grazing fueled team enthusiasm for the crush of more than 400.

And isn’t tailgating as much about the food as about the game? In addition to the replica of Kyle Field, carved from one massive block of cheese, Cotton executive chef Wade Schindler also prepared a game-worthy lineup including Dino Ribs, Texas Caviar, RC Ranch Wagyu hot dogs, steak au poivre potatoes, brisket sliders and much more.

“I grew up watching the Texas versus A&M rivalry with my family and it is truly an honor to be in this position where not only are we partners with these organizations, but we are able to help restore this legendary matchup after a 13-year hiatus,” Bell tells PaperCity. “These student athletes laid it all out on the field.

“I’ve never been prouder to put our support behind two incredible institutions on such a historical family weekend.”

Those familiar with Cotton Holding‘s sponsorship of Houston Rodeo’s World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest and its iconic, extravagant Cotton ‘Q Club were not surprised by the extent of the company’s Lone Star Showdown presentations. The UT vs. A&M contest revival was right up Cotton’s alley as the firm is known for property restoration and recovery, construction, roofing, consulting, temporary workforce housing and culinary services to public and private entities worldwide.

 “Cotton prides itself on our unique specialty to restore things to their former glory,” Bell adds. “And after this weekend at Kyle Field, I can honestly say college football will never be the same.”

While Bell graduated from Sam Houston State University, his two children are University of Texas alumni so it was with no small amount of pride that he presented the Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown trophy to the Longhorns. At the start of the game Bell was joined by Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Kyle Field for the coin toss.

Count on the Cotton team to be at the helm next year when the showdown moves to University of Texas’ home stadium in Austin.

PC Seen: Cotton Holdings co-CEO Bryan Michalsky; Duke Austin, CEO of Quanta Services; Zinat Ahmed, Cotton Holdings executive vice president of marketing and branding,; R.C. Slocum, the famed former Texas A&M coach with more wins than anyone else in Aggies football history; Quan Cosby, UT football legend and former NFL wide receiver; ESPN College GameDay host Pat McAfee; KPRC sports director Randy McIlvoy; Whitney and Marc Lawson; Donae Chramosta; Shelley Ludwick; Hunter Bell; Bailey and Hayden Layne.