Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

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, Barry Manilow, Willie Nelson, and Julio Iglesias, The Cheetah Girls, to name a few.

2007 Entertainment Lineup

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

Rodeo bareback rigging

Notes

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