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Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Coordinates: 29°41′5″N 95°24′39″W / 29.68472°N 95.41083°W / 29.68472; -95.41083
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Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Reliant Stadium filled with rodeo attendees at the 2006 HLSR
GenreRodeo, livestock show and fair
Dates7–26 March 2017
Location(s)Houston, Texas, United States
Founded1931 (as the Houston Fat Stock Show and Livestock Exposition)
Attendance2,462,030 (2016)[1]
Websitewww.HLSR.com

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, also called RodeoHouston or abbreviated HLSR, is one of the largest live entertainment and livestock exhibition. It also includes one of the richest regular-season rodeo events. It has been held at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, since 2003. It was previously held in the Astrodome.[2] It is considered to be the city's "signature event", much like New Orleans's Mardi Gras, Dallas's Texas State Fair, and New York City's New Year's Eve at Times Square.[3]

In 2013, attendance reached a record high of 2,506,238 people[4] requiring over 30,000 volunteers. In 2007, the rodeo was deemed "the year of the volunteer."[5] The event is 20 days long. It is kicked off by the Downtown Rodeo Roundup held near Houston City Hall, the Downtown Rodeo parade, and the ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run - a 10k and 5k walk & run and the World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest.[6] The show features championship rodeo action, livestock competitions, concerts, a carnival, pig racing, barbecue and the Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition, shopping, sales and livestock auctions. Traditional trail rides, which start in different areas of Texas and end in Houston, precede the Rodeo events.[7] The City of Houston celebrates this event with Go Texan Day, where residents are encouraged to dress in western wear the Friday before the rodeo begins.[8]

The rodeo has drawn some of the world's biggest recording artists, including Selena, Kiss, Elvis Presley, Beyonce, Bob Dylan, Justin Bieber, Big Time Rush, Brooks & Dunn, George Strait, Janet Jackson, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, , Bon Jovi, ZZ Top, John Legend, Taylor Swift and Lynyrd Skynyrd, among others.

Entertainment Lineup

2010 Entertainment Lineup

Date Artist
March 3 Dierks Bentley
March 4 Kenny Chesney
March 5 Mary J. Blige
March 6 Jason Aldean
March 7 Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato
March 8 Tim McGraw
March 9 Darius Rucker
March 10 Rascal Flatts
March 11 Brad Paisley
March 12 Toby Keith
March 13 Blake Shelton
March 14 Grupo Pesado and El Trono de México
March 15 Lady Antebellum
March 16 Keith Urban
March 17 Gary Allen
March 18 The Black Eyed Peas
March 19 Eli Young Band
March 20 Brooks and Dunn
March 21 Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez

[9]

2011 Entertainment Lineup

Date Artist
March 1 Clay Walker
March 2 Trace Adkins
March 3 Sugarland
March 4 Janet Jackson
March 5 Billy Currington
March 6 Selena Gomez
March 7 Tim McGraw
March 8 Keith Urban
March 9 Martina McBride
March 10 Rascal Flatts
March 11 Lady Antebellum
March 12 Gary Allan
March 13 La Arrolladora Banda El Limón and La Leyenda
March 14 Kid Rock
March 15 KISS
March 16 Miranda Lambert
March 17 Zac Brown Band
March 18 Alan Jackson
March 19 Brad Paisley
March 20 Jason Aldean

[10]

2012 Entertainment Lineup

Date Artist
February 28 Alabama
February 29 Kid Rock
March 1 Lady Antebellum
March 2 John Legend
March 3 Luke Bryan
March 4 Big Time Rush
March 5 Eli Young Band
March 6 Enrique Iglesias
March 7 Blake Shelton
March 8 ZZ Top
March 9 Reba McEntire
March 10 Chris Young
March 11 La Original Banda El Limón and Duelo
March 12 Zac Brown Band
March 13 Miranda Lambert
March 14 The Band Perry
March 15 Jason Aldean
March 16 Train
March 17 Brad Paisley
March 18 Alan Jackson

[11]

2013 Entertainment Lineup

Date Artist
Feb. 25 Toby Keith
Feb. 26 Gary Allan
Feb. 27 Alan Jackson
Feb. 28 Zac Brown Band
Mar. 1 Mary J. Blige
Mar. 2 Brantley Gilbert
Mar. 3 Demi Lovato, Austin Mahone
Mar. 4 Styx
Mar. 5 Lady Antebellum
Mar. 6 Dierks Bentley
Mar. 7 Bruno Mars
Mar. 8 Tim McGraw
Mar. 9 The Band Perry
Mar. 10 Julión Álvarez and Los Invasores de Nuevo León
Mar. 11 Jason Aldean
Mar. 12 Kenny Chesney
Mar. 13 Jake Owen
Mar. 14 Pitbull
Mar. 15 Blake Shelton
Mar. 16 Luke Bryan
Mar. 17 George Strait, Martina McBride, Randy Rogers Band

[12]

2014 Entertainment Lineup

Date Artist
March 4 Brad Paisley
March 5 Eli Young Band
March 6 Reba McEntire
March 7 Usher
March 8 Chris Young
March 9 Selena Gomez
March 10 REO Speedwagon
March 11 Jason Aldean
March 12 Jake Owen
March 13 Maroon 5
March 14 Keith Urban
March 15 Hunter Hayes
March 16 Grupo Pesado and Banda MS
March 17 Luke Bryan
March 18 Robin Thicke
March 19 Florida Georgia Line
March 20 Blake Shelton
March 21 Easton Corbin
March 22 The Band Perry
March 23 Zac Brown Band

2015 Entertainment Lineup

Date Artist
March 3 Eric Church
March 4 Hunter Hayes
March 5 Miranda Lambert
March 6 John Legend
March 7 Alan Jackson
March 8 Fall Out Boy
March 9 Justin Moore
March 10 Tim McGraw
March 11 Brantley Gilbert
March 12 Zac Brown Band
March 13 Pitbull
March 14 Billy Currington
March 15 La Arrolladora Banda El Limón and La Maquinaria Norteña
March 16 Dierks Bentley
March 17 Ariana Grande, Rixton, and Cashmere Cat
March 18 Florida Georgia Line
March 19 Blake Shelton
March 20 The Band Perry
March 21 Brad Paisley
March 22 Luke Bryan

[13]

2016 Entertainment Lineup

Date Artist
March 1 The Band Perry
March 2 Chris Young
March 3 Jason Aldean
March 4 Jason Derulo
March 5 Cole Swindell
March 6 Shawn Mendes
March 7 Miranda Lambert
March 8 Pitbull
March 9 Brett Eldredge
March 10 Luke Bryan
March 11 Darius Rucker
March 12 Billy Currington
March 13 Banda Los Recoditos
Los Huracanes del Norte
March 14 Kenny Chesney
March 15 Kid Rock
March 16 Jake Owen
March 17 Florida Georgia Line
March 18 Little Big Town
March 19 Brad Paisley
March 20 Keith Urban

[14]

Go Texan Day

The Friday before the Parade is also known as "Go Texan Day," where the entire population of Houston is encouraged to dress in Western attire, such as jeans, cowboy boots, and cowboy hats. While the concept was discussed in 1938 by the General Manager of the Houston Chamber of Commerce, it was not until the 1950s that it finally was put into practice. In 1954, Archer Romero chaired the first Go Texan Committee to encourage what would later become a Houston tradition during the rodeo.[15]

Rodeo Parade

In 1937, planning had begun for the first Rodeo Parade leading up to the 1938 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The first parade was headed by Mounted Police and various dignitaries on the city, county, and state levels, who also rode horseback. There were two bands with a Drum and Bugle Corp.

In 1952, the Salt Grass Trail ride was the first trail ride that was formed by only a few men. The following year, the publicity from that ride attracted more people to join.

All of the Trail Riders converge on Memorial Park to camp out for the night before heading down Memorial Drive to where it empties out onto Texas Ave to line up for the parade.

The parade has approximately 115 different groups joining in the festivities. There are 15 trail rides, 20 floats, 15 commercial wagons and stagecoaches, and 10 to 15 university and high-school marching bands in addition to Show officials, other elected officials and dignitaries on horseback and in vehicles.[16][17]

Trail Rides

The Trail Rides (cavalcades) are a long tradition with the rodeo and gather at Memorial Park to camp for a rest and party before the big Annual Rodeo Parade through Downtown Houston.

  • Salt Grass Trail Ride - 85-mile (137 km) ride from Cat Spring, Texas, established in 1952
  • Sam Houston Trail Ride - 66-mile (106 km) ride from Montgomery, Texas, established in 1955
  • Old Spanish Trail Ride - 216-mile (348 km) ride from Logansport, Louisiana, established in 1956
  • Prairie View Trail Ride - 102-mile (164 km) ride from Sunnyside, Texas, established in 1957
  • Valley Lodge Trail Ride - 72-mile (116 km) ride from Brookshire, Texas, established in 1959
  • The Spanish Trail Ride - 112-mile (180 km) ride from Coldspring, Texas, established in 1961
  • Texas Independence Trail Ride - 92-mile (148 km) ride from Brazoria, Texas, established in 1961
  • Los Vaqueros Rio Grande Trail Ride - 386-mile (621 km) ride from Hidalgo, Texas, established in 1973
  • Southwestern Trail Ride - 100-mile (160 km) ride from Brazoria, Texas, established in 1974
  • Northeastern Trail Ride - 108-mile (174 km) ride from Beaumont, Texas, established in 1982
  • Texas Cattlemen’s Trail Ride - 85-mile (137 km) ride from Anderson, Texas, established in 1986
  • The Mission Trail Ride - 210-mile (340 km) ride from San Antonio, Texas, established in 1990
  • Southwest Trail Ride - 120-mile (190 km) ride from Rosenberg, Texas, established in 1993

World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest

The World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, also simply known as "The Cookoff," started in 1974 and has consistently drawn massive attendance numbers for the three-day event, drawing a record 264,132 visitors in 2013.[18] It takes place on the southern parking lot of NRG Stadium, with over 350 teams participating every year, and is generally considered a "Hot Ticket," as most are for members or by invitation only. While the event is open to the general public, those that can get into the tents are generally allowed an unlimited amount of food and beverages.[19][20][21]

BBQ attendance figures
BBQ contest attendance 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Thursday 30,421 33,568 34,223 35,934 36,800 37,831 38,829 40,502 45,375 43,371
Friday 66,850 70,121 76,889 68,198 83,711 84,258 86,042 83,064 74,029 81,038
Saturday 93,642 103,460 106,528 117,097 123,673 137,944 139,261 125,766 112,976 122,682
Totals 190,913 209,313 217,640 221,229 244,184 260,033 264,132 249,332 232,380 247,491

The Calf Scramble

Since the addition of the event in 1942, it has been one of the more popular events during the actual rodeo. The event features 14 calves and 28 students who must try to capture one of the calves, put a halter on it and bring it back into the "winners square" in order to claim the win. One of the rules is that as long as a contestant is actually in the act of holding the calf (i.e. Holding it by the tail) to get the halter on, no other participant may interfere unless the calf wriggles itself free. It's at this point where the calf is fair game once again. The event is held nightly between major events in the Reliant Stadium. Each of the students who catch a calf is awarded a $1,250 certificate to purchase a registered beef heifer. Raising and showing this heifer becomes a yearlong project as the scrambler sees to the grooming, feeding and care of the animal. The exhibitor returns to the Houston Livestock Show the following year for a special competition. Calf Scramble exhibitors receive a $250 bonus when they return to compete with their heifer, totaling their $1,500 certificate.[22]

A similar events for youngsters is Mutton Bustin', for 5- and 6-year-olds, who try to ride on top of a sheep for eight seconds.

Rodeo Houston also features the traditional rodeo events of bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping, steer wrestling, calf roping, barrel racing (women only), and chuckwagon racing.

Transportation

With between 60,000 and 150,000 people attending the rodeo each day, every year,[23] the city's transportation infrastructure is taxed as it must also compete with regular Houston Rush Hour on regular business days. There are a variety of ways into and out of the complex that include Park and Ride lots in certain parts of the city that are provided by the event as an express straight onto the property, Taxi, Self Parking, and METRORail.[24] The Coordinators of the event try to persuade attendees to use public transportation as the most convenient way to and from the Rodeo.

Attendance records

Interior of the Reliant Stadium at the 2006 HLSR
Top ten attendance figures[25]
Rank Year Artist Attendance
1 2016 Banda Los Recoditos/Los Huracanes Del Norte 75,508[26]
2 2015 La Arrolladora Banda El Limón/La Maquinaria Norteña 75,357[27]
3 2013 Julión Álvarez & Los Invasores de Nuevo León 75,305[28]
4 2013 Luke Bryan 75,242[29]
5 2013 Blake Shelton 75,238[30]
6 2014 Banda MS & Grupo Pesado 75,224[31]
7 2013 Pitbull 75,217[32]
8 2014 Maroon 5 75,214[33]
9 2013 Bruno Mars 75,177[34]
10 2015 Brad Paisley 75,167[35]
Show attendance history
Year General attendance Rodeo attendance
1982 1,095,155 646,735
1983 1,095,730 597,783
1984 1,014,550 592,403
1985 1,070,276 537,802
1986 1,120,796 547,763
1987 1,107,822 564,911
1988 1,194,179 640,117
1989 1,242,288 717,541
1990 1,323,865 784,483
1991 1,366,598 827,037
1992 1,501,818 928,304
1993 1,568,266 973,318
1994 1,616,113 985,871
1995 1,810,007 1,068,447
1996 1,830,265 1,061,344
1997 1,788,437 1,013,100
1998 1,769,359 923,313
1999 1,853,650 #1,101,507
2000 1,889,861 #1,101,478
2001 1,382,183 #1,031,570
2002 1,563,662 #1,091,955
2003 1,745,351 #1,215,913
2004 1,890,174 #1,126,092
2005 1,740,095 1,127,239
2006 1,688,103 1,115,558
2007 1,806,129 1,176,436
2008 1,802,158 1,206,551
2009 1,890,332 1,182,128
2010 2,144,077 1,264,074
2011 2,262,834 1,255,323
2012 2,257,970 1,283,419
2013 *2,506,238 1,308,288
2014 2,485,721 1,377,416
2015 2,483,193 *1,377,477
2016 2,462,030 1,345,983

(*) denotes all-time attendance record (#) denotes paid attendance figures beginning in 1999 (actual turnstile figures were reported through 1998).

Milestones

1931 : First established as The Houston Fat Stock Show and Livestock Exposition.
1932 : First Show is held at the Sam Houston Hall.
1938 : Moved to new location: Sam Houston Coliseum.
1942 : First star entertainer: Gene Autry, "the Singing Cowboy"; calf scramble event added to the Show's rodeo.
1952 : First trail ride (Salt Grass Trail Ride) commences from Brenham, Texas.
1957 : First major educational scholarship ($2,000) awarded to Ben Dickerson.
1961 : Name changes to Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
1963 : The School Art Program begins
1966 : New location: Astrodome complex; Astrohall built for Livestock Exposition.
1970 : Research program launched committing $100,000 annually in support of research studies at various universities and colleges in Texas
1974 : The first World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest. Elvis Presley sets attendance record of 43,944. On his second show, on the same day, he breaks his own record drawing 44,175, for a one-day record 88,119
1975 : The Astroarena is completed.
1977 : Four-year scholarships increased from $4,000 to $6,000.
1983 : Four-year scholarships increased from $6,000 to $8,000.
1989 : Scholarship program expands to Houston metropolitan area.
1992 : Four-year scholarships upgraded from $8,000 to $10,000 retroactive to all students currently on scholarship.
1993  : Tejano superstar Selena breaks attendance record at the Astrodome by drawing a crowd of exactly 57,894 fans.
1994  : Tejano superstar Selena sets another attendance record at the Astrodome by drawing another crowd of 60,081 fans, breaking her previous record.
1995  : Tejano superstar Selena holds famed Astrodome concert with over 67,000 fans, again, breaking her previous records
1997 : Rodeo Institute for Teacher Excellence is created as a 3-year pilot program with $4.6 million in funding; websites www.hlsr.com and www.rodeohouston.com introduced.
1998 : Number of 4-H and FFA scholarships increased to 60 per program, totaling 120 four-year $10,000 awards.
1999 : Number of 4-H and FFA scholarships increased to 70 per program, totaling 140 four-year $10,000 awards; Opportunity Scholarships awarded based on financial need and academic excellence.
2000 : Rodeo Institute for Teacher Excellence extended another 3 years with another $4.6 million; Reliant Energy acquires naming rights for the Astrodomain; renamed Reliant Park includes the Reliant Astrodome, Reliant Arena, Reliant Hall, Reliant Center and Reliant Stadium.
2001 : Largest presentation of scholarships to date, with 300 four-year $10,000 awards through the Metropolitan, Opportunity and School Art scholarship programs, totaling $3 million.
2002 : George Strait sets paid attendance record for any Rodeo event in the Reliant Astrodome with 68,266; Reliant Hall is demolished.
2003 : New location: Reliant Stadium and Reliant Center; Carruth Plaza, a Western sculpture garden named in honor of past president and chairman, Allen H. "Buddy" Carruth, completed at Reliant Park.
2006 : Brooks & Dunn break rodeo attendance record set by Hilary Duff in 2005 with 72,867 in attendance.
2007 : The Cheetah Girls and supporting act Hannah Montana sell out in just three minutes and set a new rodeo attendance record of 73,291.
2008 : Hannah Montana sets an attendance record of 73,459.
2009 : Ramón Ayala and Alacranes Musical set the all-time paid Rodeo attendance record on Go Tejano Day, with 74,147 in attendance for championship Rodeo action, concert entertainment and the Mariachi finals.
2012 : The Professional Bull Riders held their first event at Reliant Stadium, and it was their first to be a part of RodeoHouston.
2013 : George Strait, Martina McBride, and the Randy Rogers Band set a new all-time attendance record with 80,020.
2015 : La Arrolladora Banda El Limón/La Maquinaria Norteña set a new all-time paid Rodeo attendance record on Go Tejano Day with 75,357.
2016 : Banda Los Recoditos/Los Huracanes Del Norte broke the all-time paid Rodeo attendance record on Go Tejano Day with 75,508.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6922775.html
  2. ^ http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90782/90873/7328336.html
  3. ^ http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90782/90873/7328336.html
  4. ^ hlsr.com/AboutUs/LatestNews/Article/ARTMid/394/ArticleID/254/All-In-All-Done-2013-Show-Concludes-With-Record-Shattering-Attendance
  5. ^ http://www.khou.com/entertainment/rodeo-houston/Houston-Livestock-Show--Rodeo-sets-attendance-record-with-21M-visitors-88824857.html
  6. ^ http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/sports/110225-conocophillips-rodeo-run
  7. ^ "The Salt Grass Trail Ride". texasbob.com January 01, 2007. Last accessed January 11, 2007.
  8. ^ http://www.usmedequip.com/our-commitment-detail.php?intPID=23&intPageID=11
  9. ^ [1]
  10. ^ [2]
  11. ^ "Houston Rodeo reveals performance lineup for 2012 show". January 9, 2012.
  12. ^ [HLSR.com/Concerts.aspx]
  13. ^ "Artist Lineup". Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Retrieved 2015-01-12.
  14. ^ "Artist Lineup". Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
  15. ^ HLSR's History Page
  16. ^ Houston Livestock Show And Rodeo - "Bowlegged H" Magazine Archive - Committee Spotlights
  17. ^ Houston Livestock Show And Rodeo - Downtown Rodeo Parade and Route
  18. ^ http://www.africannewsdigest.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=388:2011-houston-rodeo-breaks-attendance-record&catid=63:horse-racing&Itemid=181
  19. ^ "World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest". Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. HLSR. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
  20. ^ "BBQ Teams". Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. HLSR. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
  21. ^ "World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest Attendance Figures". Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. HLSR. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
  22. ^ Rodeo Houston Website
  23. ^ "Attendance History". Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
  24. ^ "HLSR Transportaion Options". Retrieved 2007-06-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  25. ^ "Top 20 Paid Attendance Records Individual Performances". hlsr.com 6 March 2011. Last accessed 6 March 2011.
  26. ^ [3]. HLSR.com 2016-03-17. Last accessed 2016-03-17.
  27. ^ [4]. HLSR.com 2015-03-17. Last accessed 2015-03-17.
  28. ^ [5]. HLSR.com 18 March 2013. Last accessed 2013-03-19.
  29. ^ [6]. HLSR.com 18 March 2013. Last accessed 19 March 2013.
  30. ^ [7]. HLSR.com 18 March 2013. Last accessed 19 March 2013.
  31. ^ [8]. HLSR.com 17 March 2014. Last accessed 17 March 2014./
  32. ^ [9]. HLSR.com 18 March 2013. Last accessed 19 March 2013.
  33. ^ [10]. HLSR.com 17 March 2014. Last accessed 17 March 2014.
  34. ^ "RodeoHouston review: Bruno Mars". MSNBC.com 7 March 2013. Last accessed 7 March 2013.
  35. ^ [11]. HLSR.com 2015-03-22. Last accessed 2015-03-22.

29°41′5″N 95°24′39″W / 29.68472°N 95.41083°W / 29.68472; -95.41083

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