Texarkana prepares to welcome annual football showdown

The sixth annual Agent Barry LIVE UNITED Bowl is scheduled for Dec. 1 at Texarkana Arkansas School District’s Razorback Stadium. Kick-off will be at noon.

The Agent Barry LIVE UNITED Bowl team announcement press conference will be held at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 14 at the Texarkana Arkansas Convention Center, Crossroads Business Park.

Bowl game events begin Nov. 28 with a live remote, pre-game tailgate party at the Texarkana Arkansas Convention Center’s Connection Bar. The event runs from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. and there will be free hors d’oeuvres.

Teams arrive late afternoon on Nov. 29 at their hotels within the Texarkana Arkansas Crossroads Business Park. In an effort to give the universities a taste of the Texarkana community, teams will participate in local community events on both Thursday and Friday before the game. Thursday will include visits to some of the United Way agencies and Friday afternoon will be football practice that will be open to the public.

The Jeans, Boots and BBQ Banquet will be held from 6 to 8:00 pm on Nov. 30, tentatively scheduled at the Texarkana, Texas Convention Center. Tickets are $25 per person and are available at liveunitedbowl. com. Tickets are limited. The community pep rally will follow at 8 p.m. also tentatively scheduled at the Texarkana, Texas Convention Center. Admission is free and open to the public.

This year’s banquet will feature a special guest appearance by Arkansas High School Alumni, Mike Cherry, Jr. After a stellar high school football career at Arkansas High, Cherry signed to play football at the University of Arkansas, later transferred to Murray State University where he holds several passing records and continued his playing days in the NFL with the New York Giants.

Game Day Dec. 1 starts off with a 5K Run sponsored by Arkansas Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Participants can sign up at liveunitedbowl.com and the cost is $25 per person. Parking lot gates open for tailgate set-up at 9 a.m. Stadium access gates open at 10 a.m.

Arkansas High School Alum, Skye Stover, will perform a captivating electric guitar rendering of the National Anthem prior to the game’s kick-off.

Tickets to the game are on sale now at any Mil-Way Federal Credit Union location, the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Greater Texarkana office. Tickets are $10 for adults and $4 for students. Adult tickets can also be purchased online at liveunitedbowl.com. Student tickets are not available online but can be purchased at any of the above locations or at the gate. The local benefactor of this event is the United Way of Greater Texarkana. Anyone interested in volunteering can sign up through the website.