Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← All organizations

COTTON BOWL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

EIN 75-0863843 ARLINGTON, TX

Revenue 2024
$20,990,780
Expenses 2024
$17,413,240

Program services were 93.8% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
N650
Classification
2000
Street
1 AT T WAY

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE MISSION IS TO PRESENT THE MOST INNOVATIVE OF ALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL GAMES AND TO BE THE LEADER IN CREATING PREMIER COLLEGE SPORTS EXPERIENCES FOR UNIVERSITIES, STUDENT ATHLETES, SPONSORS AND THE COMMUNITY.

Activities or mission (Part I)

TO PRESENT THE MOST INNOVATIVE OF ALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL GAMES AND TO BE THE LEADER IN CREATING PREMIER COLLEGE SPORTS EXPERIENCES FOR Univ, STUDENT ATHLETES, sponsors &comm.

  • From Slingin' Sammy Baugh to Troy Aikman and Johnny Manziel, the annual Cotton Bowl Classic continues to rank among America's great sports endeavors. For nearly eight (8) decades, the Cotton Bowl has been the shining star of postseason collegiate sports in Texas. The January 2, 2024 game marked the 87th anniversary of this historic event featuring college football at its finest. Two of the nation's top teams - Tulane University and University of Southern California - traveled to North Texas to do battle. Over 55,329 people witnessed an exciting game which Tulane won 46-45. The Cotton Bowl Classic is more than a game, however. For almost nine decades, the Classic has given more than $205 million to higher education. The Cotton Bowl also produces many events surrounding the game, including providing free access to a Dallas Cowboys youth football clinic at AT&T Stadium, children's' hospital visits, band concerts and Hall of Fame ceremonies. When the game week gets here, huge crowds of college football fans converge on North Texas to participate in the festive pre-game activities, and the generous Texas-style hospitality. These enthusiastic visitors generated over $54 million in direct economic impact for the region. Special civic and volunteer committees work year-round to provide the best in hospitality and entertainment for the players, media and the institution's official party. Nearly 16 million more fans watched game activities on ESPN that included a pre-game spectacular, a half-time extravaganza and some of college football's finest hours. And no matter the outcome of the game, no matter the year, it is a special and unique event that garners the attention of the nation and keeps the rich tradition of post-season college football in North Texas alive for past, present and future generations. Founded in 1936, the first Cotton Bowl Classic was played January 1, 1937, between Texas Christian University and Marquette University. The Frogs, behind legendary quarterback Sammy Baugh, defeated the Golden Avalanche that day 16-6 before 17,000 spectators at Fair Park Stadium. It was the beginning of a great tradition. The idea for a post-season football classic belonged to the late J. Curtis Sanford, a Dallas oil man, who promoted that first game as a private enterprise and covered expenses with $6,000 out of his own pocket. With an economic depression still gripping the country, and tremors of global unrest becoming more apparent, Sanford's dream of a Texas sports spectacle was deemed unrealistic by many observers. Time has vindicated Sanford's vision. The honor role of gridiron greats who have appeared in the Cotton Bowl through the years include such standouts as: Bo Jackson, Russell Maryland, Troy Aikman, Tim Brown, Chris Spielman, Doug Flutie, Earl Campbell, Bart Starr, Joe Theismann, Joe Montana, Eric Dickerson, Roger Staubach, Doak Walker, Jim Brown, Kenny Stabler, John Cappelletti, Dan Marino, Dicky Maegle, Sammy Baugh, Bryon "Whizzer" White, James Street, Jim Swink, Lance Alworth, Davey O'Brien, Bob Lilly, Norm Van Brocklin, Bobby Layne, John Kimbrough, Tommy Nobis, Duke Carlisle, Ernie David, Eli Manning and Johnny Manziel. The list of coaches is equally impressive: legends such as Paul "Bear" Bryant, Darrell Royal, General Bob Neyland, Bobby Dodd, Frank Leahy, Jess Neely, Frank Broyles, Bob Devaney, Ara Parseghian, Vince Dooley, Joe Paterno, Gene Stallings, Ben Schwartzwalder, John Robinson, Johnny Vaught, Lou Holtz, Johnny Majors, Lavell Edwards, Mack Brown, Nick Saban, Bob Stoops, and Bill Snyder. The Cotton Bowl Classic is a member of the New Year's Six Bowls, along with the Rose, Sugar, Orange, Peach and Fiesta Bowls. These six (6) games are part of the College Football Playoff (CFP), the most prestigious bowls in the post-season. As part of this partnership, five (5) of the six New Year's Six Bowls, including the Cotton Bowl, assigns their respective television and major sponsorship rights to the CFP (the Rose has a separate contract). These rights were bundled and along with a National Championship Game, sold to ESPN for an average of $470 million a year. The portion of the $470 million that is generated by the Cotton Bowl TV and sponsor rights, and in past years would have been given by the Cotton Bowl to the two (2) participating teams as grants, are now distributed to all 128 football Bowl Subdivision schools through the CFP. Either governmental or other 501(c)3 institutions are the ultimate recipients.

    Expenses $16,335,509 · Grants $5,833,893 · Revenue $16,667,429

As filed on the 2024 return.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • Rick Baker

    President / CEO

    Total calculated
    $1,134,939
    From this org
    $978,047
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $156,892
    Hours/week
    40 + 8 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $883,047
    Bonus
    $95,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $156,892
    Filer's total
    $1,134,939

  • Marty MacInnis

    COO / CFO

    Total calculated
    $692,818
    From this org
    $589,549
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $103,269
    Hours/week
    40 + 4 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $529,549
    Bonus
    $60,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $103,269
    Filer's total
    $692,818

  • Michael Konradi

    Senior VP External Affairs

    Total calculated
    $415,931
    From this org
    $345,075
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $70,856
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $319,075
    Bonus
    $26,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $70,856
    Filer's total
    $415,931

  • Amy Scott

    VP of Ticket Sales & Services

    Total calculated
    $253,871
    From this org
    $200,120
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $53,751
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $180,120
    Bonus
    $20,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $53,751
    Filer's total
    $253,871

  • Kelly H Newell

    VP of Creative & Guest Service

    Total calculated
    $230,851
    From this org
    $178,736
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $52,115
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $158,736
    Bonus
    $20,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $52,115
    Filer's total
    $230,851

  • Will Estel

    Director of Stadium Operations

    Total calculated
    $173,719
    From this org
    $126,206
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $47,513
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $111,206
    Bonus
    $15,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $47,513
    Filer's total
    $173,719

  • Scottie Rodgers

    Director of Communications

    Total calculated
    $171,504
    From this org
    $142,506
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $28,998
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $127,506
    Bonus
    $15,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $28,998
    Filer's total
    $171,504

  • Tiffany Rauschkolb

    Director of Ticket Operations

    Total calculated
    $155,459
    From this org
    $133,520
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $21,939
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $113,520
    Bonus
    $20,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $21,939
    Filer's total
    $155,459

  • W Mike Baggett

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Elizabeth Bentrup

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Robbie Baty

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Roland Burns

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Heath Cheek

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • John Crawford

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Buddy Dike

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Cole Dulaney

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jeff Fehlis

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • RYAN WALDRON

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Chad Estis

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Bruce Gadd

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Mike Henderson

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Darrell Hernandez

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Cindy Hourigan

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Isabell Novakov Higginbotham

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related

  • Stephen Jones

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

The first 25 listed. Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $20,990,780
    Expenses
    $17,413,240
    Contributions
    $2,681,550
    Grants paid
    $5,833,893
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $18,221,001
    Expenses
    $14,314,683
    Contributions
    $2,581,260
    Grants paid
    $3,539,320
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $16,767,428
    Expenses
    $14,387,106
    Contributions
    $2,675,000
    Grants paid
    $3,861,400

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $17,932,137
    Expenses
    $14,311,055
    Assets (EOY)
    $32,471,446

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $13,531,714
    Expenses
    $9,919,237
    Assets (EOY)
    $30,120,886

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $12,475,345
    Expenses
    $10,734,765
    Assets (EOY)
    $25,834,864

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $14,709,948
    Expenses
    $12,739,137
    Assets (EOY)
    $25,564,304

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $12,249,805
    Expenses
    $10,925,846
    Assets (EOY)
    $22,436,962

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $11,893,185
    Expenses
    $13,041,712
    Assets (EOY)
    $22,868,411

  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $12,889,279
    Expenses
    $11,030,680
    Assets (EOY)
    $23,071,493

  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $12,004,166
    Expenses
    $8,872,407
    Assets (EOY)
    $21,193,009

  • 2013 · 990

    Revenue
    $13,545,030
    Expenses
    $13,003,835
    Assets (EOY)
    $17,342,534

  • 2012 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $12,100,749
    Assets (EOY)
    $17,337,118

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

No itemized grant names this organization as a recipient. Only grants over $5,000 are itemized, and only by filers of the full Form 990.

Related organizations

From Schedule R Part II, where a filer lists the tax-exempt organizations it is related to by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Declared on its 2024 return

Declared as related by

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 29 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.