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Old attendance record shattered as curtains close on RodeoHouston 2017
2.6 million people? Wow.
Old attendance record shattered as curtains close on RodeoHouston 2017
By Keri Blakinger and Lindsay Ellis
Updated 9:55 pm, Sunday, March 26, 2017
[font size=1]Photo: Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Tim O'Connell throws his hat into the air after a strong bareback ride during the Houston Rodeo on Sunday, March 26, 2017, in Houston. (Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle)[/font]
The Houston Rodeo busted through its all-time attendance record this year, bolstered by a massively popular Go Tejano Day concert and three weeks of beautiful Texas weather. Despite a shooting scare and concerns about Border Patrol's presence, the festivities drew more than 2.6 million people, about 100,000 more than the previous 2013 record.
Thousands of Texans snagged last-minute fried Oreos, snuck closing peeks at livestock in NRG Center and took final trips on the 65-foot SkyRide overlooking it all as the nearly three-week rodeo roped in its final hours Sunday.
This year's festivities broke records for single-day attendance total, Go Tejano Day paid rodeo/concert attendance and day one barbecue contest attendance.
More Information
2017 Rodeo Records:
Overall attendance: 2.6 million
Single-day attendance: 185,650
Go Tejano Day: 75,557
Grand Champion Art: $235,000
Grand Reserve Art: $221,000
"I think we did a great job this year, operationally," Cowley said. "The show went really, really well, but anytime you bring 2.6 million people through the gates there will be some unexpected things." ... A shooting scare sparked an evacuation during the rodeo's second week, although no one was injured. Days later, a chuck wagon driver ended up in the hospital after a nasty spill during a race. Reports of Border Patrol's presence stoked fear in the Latino community, although the agency was only on scene to recruit potential employees.
By Keri Blakinger and Lindsay Ellis
Updated 9:55 pm, Sunday, March 26, 2017
[font size=1]Photo: Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Tim O'Connell throws his hat into the air after a strong bareback ride during the Houston Rodeo on Sunday, March 26, 2017, in Houston. (Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle)[/font]
The Houston Rodeo busted through its all-time attendance record this year, bolstered by a massively popular Go Tejano Day concert and three weeks of beautiful Texas weather. Despite a shooting scare and concerns about Border Patrol's presence, the festivities drew more than 2.6 million people, about 100,000 more than the previous 2013 record.
Thousands of Texans snagged last-minute fried Oreos, snuck closing peeks at livestock in NRG Center and took final trips on the 65-foot SkyRide overlooking it all as the nearly three-week rodeo roped in its final hours Sunday.
This year's festivities broke records for single-day attendance total, Go Tejano Day paid rodeo/concert attendance and day one barbecue contest attendance.
More Information
2017 Rodeo Records:
Overall attendance: 2.6 million
Single-day attendance: 185,650
Go Tejano Day: 75,557
Grand Champion Art: $235,000
Grand Reserve Art: $221,000
"I think we did a great job this year, operationally," Cowley said. "The show went really, really well, but anytime you bring 2.6 million people through the gates there will be some unexpected things." ... A shooting scare sparked an evacuation during the rodeo's second week, although no one was injured. Days later, a chuck wagon driver ended up in the hospital after a nasty spill during a race. Reports of Border Patrol's presence stoked fear in the Latino community, although the agency was only on scene to recruit potential employees.
