The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, also called RodeoHouston, with attendance approaching over two and a half million visitors per year, is the world's largest livestock exhibition as well as the world's largest rodeo event, requiring the support of sixteen thousand volunteers.[1]
Traditional trail rides, which start in central Texas and end in Houston, precede the Rodeo events.[2] The three-week long event is held at Reliant Park in Houston, Texas and features bull riding, livestock judging, concerts, a parade, a carnival, trail rides, barbecue and wine competitions, shopping, sales, and auctions.
It has drawn some of the world's biggest stars and music legends: Selena, Elvis Presley, George Strait, Reba McEntire, Barry Manilow, Willie Nelson, and Julio Iglesias, The Cheetah Girls, to name a few.
2007 Entertainment Lineup
| Date | Artist | Attendance |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 27th | George Strait | 70,317 |
| Feb. 28 | Los Lonely Boys | 42,816 |
| Mar. 1st | Reba McEntire | 51,040 |
| Mar. 2nd | Natalie Cole | 45,022 |
| Mar. 3 | Clay Walker | 61,228 |
| Mar. 4 | Hannah Montana and The Cheetah Girls | 73,295 (new record) |
| Mar. 5 | Josh Turner | 47,048 |
| Mar. 6 | Gretchen Wilson | 45,815 |
| Mar. 7 | Sheryl Crow | 49,383 |
| Mar. 8 | Alan Jackson | 53,574 |
| Mar. 9 | Pat Green | 57,010 |
| Mar. 10 | Martina McBride | 58,467 |
| Mar. 11 | Pesado and Emilio | 69,641 |
| Mar. 12 | Sugarland | 51,298 |
| Mar. 13 | Toby Keith | 61,396 |
| Mar. 14 | Rascal Flatts (Concert Cancelled,replaced with Clay Walker, Joe Nichols, and Jack Ingram) | 70,568 |
| Mar. 15 | Beyoncé | 72,057 |
| Mar. 16 | Dierks Bentley | 55,114 |
| Mar. 17 | Brooks and Dunn | 71,559 |
| Mar. 18 | ZZ Top and Xtreme Bulls | 70,014 |
Trail Rides
- Salt Grass Trail Ride
- 85-mile ride from Cat Spring, Texas was established in 1952
- Sam Houston Trail Ride
- 66-mile ride from Montgomery, Texas was established in 1955
- Old Spanish Trail Ride
- 216-mile ride from Logansport, Louisiana was established in 1956
- Prairie View Trail Ride
- 102-mile ride from Sunnyside, Texas was established in 1957
- Valley Lodge Trail Ride
- 72-mile ride from Brookshire, Texas was established in 1959
- The Spanish Trail Ride
- 112-mile ride from Coldspring, Texas was established in 1961
- Texas Independence Trail Ride
- 92-mile ride from Brazoria, Texas was established in 1961
- Los Vaqueros Rio Grande Trail Ride
- 386-mile ride from Hidalgo, Texas was established in 1973
- Southwestern Trail Ride
- 100-mile ride from Brazoria, Texas was established in 1974
- Northeastern Trail Ride
- 108-mile ride from Beaumont, Texas was established in 1982
- Texas Cattlemen’s Trail Ride
- 85-mile ride from Anderson, Texas was established in 1986
- The Mission Trail Ride
- 210-mile ride from San Antonio, Texas was established in 1990
- Southwest Trail Ride
- 120-mile ride from Rosenberg, Texas was established in 1993
Timeline
- 1931
- First established as The Houston Fat Stock Show and Livestock Exposition.
- 1932
- First Show is held at the Democratic Convention 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.
- 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
- Latin superstar Selena breaks attendance record at the Astrodome by drawing a crowd of over 67,000 fans. Held record for nine consecutive years.
- 1994
- Latin superstar Selena sets another attendance record at the Astrodome by drawing another crowd of over 67,000 fans.
- 1995
- Latin superstar Selena holds famed Astrodome concert with over 64,000 fans.
- 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; paid attendance of 70,405 for Go Tejano Day; Carruth Plaza, a Western sculpture garden named in honor of past president and chairman, Allen H. "Buddy" Carruth, completed at Reliant Park.
- 2005
- Performance lineup included Brooks and Dunn, Maroon 5,Clay Walker, Duelo, El Grupo Mazz, and Jeff Foxworthy.
- 2006
- Brooks & Dunn break rodeo attendence record set by Hillary Duff in 2005 with 72,867 in attendence.
- 2007
- Hannah Montana and The Cheetah Girls set a new rodeo attendence record set by Brooks & Dunn in 2006 with 73,295 in attendence, selling out in just three minutes.
Attendance Records
See also
Notes
- ^ http://www.hlsr.com/wh/wh_h.aspx
- ^ "The Salt Grass Trail Ride". texasbob.com January 01, 2007. Last accessed January 11, 2007.
External links
- Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Homepage
- Houston Livestock Show - Pro Rodeo Online
- Houston Rodeo Photographs
- Houston Livestock & Rodeo Photo Gallery
| Rank | Year | Artist | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2007 | Hannah Montana and The Cheetah Girls | 73,295 |
| 2 | 2006 | Brooks & Dunn | 72,867 |
| 3 | 2005 | Hilary Duff | 72,843 |
| 4 | 2005 | Alicia Keys | 72,063 |
| 5 | 2007 | Beyoncé | 72,057 |
| 6 | 1993 | Selena Quintanilla Perez | 67,077 |