Friday’s Armed Forces Bowl game at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth is sold out. Before the showdown, fans will spend some time enjoying the festive scene at the Stockyards.

It’s the place to be in Fort Worth less than 24 hours before kickoff. The Stockyards are known for having lots to do and see during the holidays. This year, it only made sense for University of Oklahoma and Navy fans to also join in on the festivities.

OU student Kevin Daniel, a native of Texas, stopped by with his father, Jeff, to have a little fun before the bowl game.

“Just to know something that’s really local to me so I don’t have to travel all the way to Birmingham, Alabama or Tampa, Florida. It’s an hour’s drive from my house and I can watch my team play,” Daniel said.

He said it was the perfect time to experience something for the first time.

“This is my first visit to the Stockyards, period. “Just looking around and seeing, even if you’re window shopping, just seeing what’s going on here is definitely something I would come back to,” he said.

The Fort Worth Stockyards brings in more than $134 million annually from retail and restaurants. A year-end Armed Forces Bowl in town is sure to provide an added boost as Sooner fans meet Navy fans.

“My daughter and her boyfriend are midshipmen, so we’re going to the game,” Todd McWhorter said.

McWhorter said it only made sense for his family to get involved in the Navy.

“Oh, we’re Texas fans too, so we hate OU. So we’re looking forward to them beating OU,” he said.

And he said one of the best ways to socialize, besides the game, of course, is to spend time here.

“Her friend is from out of town and so we’re happy to bring him here and show him around and it’s just a great opportunity,” he said.

The Armed Forces Bowl begins Friday at 11 a.m. Central Time.