Records Shine Through Despite Cloudy Skies At The 2015 Houston Livestock Show And Rodeo™

HOUSTON, March 23, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Despite many days of gray skies and rain during the 2015 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, weather did not dampen the enthusiasm of 1,377,477 fans, a rodeo/concert paid-attendance record. The total attendance for all activities on the grounds came in at 2,483,193, putting it in at number two in the 20-day-run record book.

"Thanks to the undeniable passion of our more than 31,000 volunteers, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is able to provide unique experiences to outstanding crowds, rain or shine," said Joel Cowley, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo president and CEO. "Our more than 100 different committees selflessly work with our dedicated staff to make this Show an impressive event."

Following are highlights from the 2015 Show:

Attendance

• Rodeo/concert paid attendance reached a record 1,377,477 fans, breaking the previous record set in 2014 with 1,377,416 in paid rodeo/concert attendance.
  • Seven of the 20 RodeoHouston^® performances landed in the list of the Show's top 20 paid rodeo/concert attendance records.
    • first: March 15, 2015 – La Arrolladora Banda El Limón/La Maquinaria Norteña – 75,357
    • ninth: March 21, 2015 – Brad Paisley – 75,167
    • 11th: March 17, 2015 – Ariana Grande – 75,068
    • 14th: March 19, 2015 – Blake Shelton – 75,016
    • 15th: March 18, 2015 – Florida Georgia Line – 75,015
    • 16th: March 13, 2015 – Pitbull – 75,013
    • 18th: March 22, 2015 – Luke Bryan – 75,005
• Total attendance for all activities on the grounds reached 2,483,193 visitors, ranking second in the total attendance 20-day-run record.
  • The World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest entertained 232,380 people, Feb. 26 – 28.
    • The opening day attendance record was set Thursday, Feb. 26 with 45,375 people, breaking the 2014 record of 40,502.

RodeoHouston

• RodeoHouston committed $2,104,100 to its contestants in 2015.
• The 2015 RodeoHouston BP Super Series invited the world's top rodeo athletes to compete in seven events March 3 – 21.
  • With the entire purse provided by RodeoHouston, rodeo athletes competed for a share of $1.69 million in prize money. Each event champion walked away from NRG Stadium with $50,000, plus their winnings from the preliminary rounds.
  • 2015 RodeoHouston BP Super Series Champions, with total money earned, are:
    • Tie-Down Roping: Ryan Jarrett – Comanche, Oklahoma – $58,750
    • Bareback Riding: Kaycee Feild – Spanish Fork, Utah – $56,750
      • three-time RodeoHouston Champion: 2012, 2014, 2015
    • Team Roping: Charly Crawford – Stephenville, Texas, and Shay Carroll – La Junta, Colorado – $109,700 ($54,850 each)
    • Saddle Bronc Riding: Zeke Thurston – Big Valley, Alberta, Canada – $54,900
      • Zeke's father, Skeeter Thurston, won the RodeoHouston Saddle Bronc Riding in 1986
    • Steer Wrestling: Luke Branquinho – Los Alamos, California – $53,850
    • Barrel Racing: Nancy Hunter – Neola, Utah – $57,150
      • three-time RodeoHouston Champion: 2013, 2014, 2015
    • Bull Riding: Sage Kimzey  – Strong City, Oklahoma – $62,450
• The RodeoHouston Super Shootout^®: North America's Champions, presented by Crown Royal, was held Sunday, March 22, 2015.
  • This one-day event featured champion athletes from eight of the best rodeos in the U.S. and Canada.
  • Contestants competed as individuals, and as part of a team consisting of event champions from each of the eight rodeos.
  • Contestants competed in bareback riding, barrel racing, bull riding, saddle bronc riding and steer wrestling.
  • With a total purse of $250,000, the Super Shootout is among the richest one-day rodeo events in the world. Each champion earned $25,000.
  • 2015 champions, with the rodeos they represented, are:
    • Bareback Riding (tie – received $17,500 each):
      • Bobby Mote, Stephenville, Texas – RodeoHouston
      • Steven Peebles, Redmond, Oregon – Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo
    • Barrel Racing: Kaley Bass, Davenport, Florida – Calgary Stampede
    • Bull Riding: Joe Frost, Goodwell, Oklahoma – Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo
    • Saddle Bronc Riding: Rusty Wright, Milford, Utah – San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo
    • Steer Wrestling: Stan Branco, Krum, Texas – San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo
    • Super Shootout Team Award: San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo

Houston Livestock Show™

• This year's livestock competitions and horse shows boasted 30,476 entries.
• Eight Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion junior market and school art auction lots set or matched world or Show records. The prices for the top winners were:
  • Junior Market Barrow
    • Grand Champion Barrow, $208,000 (world record)
    • Reserve Grand Champion Barrow, $128,000 (world record)
  • Junior Market Pen of Broilers
    • Grand Champion Pen of Broilers, $215,000 (world record)
    • Reserve Grand Champion Pen of Broilers, $115,000
  • Junior Market Goat
    • Grand Champion Goat, $170,000 (world record)
    • Reserve Grand Champion Goat, $140,000 (world record)
  • Junior Market Lamb
    • Grand Champion Lamb, $260,000 (world record)
    • Reserve Grand Champion Lamb, $145,000 (world record)
  • Junior Market Steer
    • Grand Champion Steer, $300,000
    • Reserve Grand Champion Steer, $280,000
  • Junior Market Turkey
    • Grand Champion Turkey, $145,000
    • Reserve Grand Champion Turkey, $127,500
  • School Art
    • Grand Champion Work of Art, $150,000
    • Reserve Grand Champion Work of Art, $211,000 (Show record)
• Junior auction sales totaled a record $12,087,550.
• The junior auction totals (unaudited preliminary totals that do not include cash contributions and some purchase commitment amounts) were:
  • Steer: $4,387,600
  • Lamb and Goat: $2,197,850
  • Barrow: $2,035,700
  • Poultry: $1,647,800
  • School Art: $1,818,600
• The Junior Commercial Steer Sale totaled $710,863.
• The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Champion Wine Auction brought in $1,916,500. The Grand Champion Best of Show set a Show record price of $232,000, and the Reserve Grand Champion Best of Show sold for $200,000. 
• The Ranching & Wildlife Auction totaled $267,500.
• Calf scramble and judging contest winners received 430 certificates, each worth $1,750, for a total of $752,500. Calf scramble exhibitors from 2014 who returned with their steer and heifer projects to compete at the 2015 Houston Livestock Show™ received more than $100,000 total in premiums and awards.

Scholarship and Education

• The Show committed more than $24 million in 2015.
  • $12,981,000 in scholarships to be awarded this summer
  • $525,400 in graduate assistantships
  • $3,323,100 in educational program grants
  • $7,347,000 for 2015 junior show exhibitors and calf scramble participants

More Facts and Figures

AGventure

• More than 61,000 people participated in a scheduled school tour or field trip.
• Approximately 20,000 little cowboys and cowgirls rode the pony rides.
• More than 455 eggs hatched in the Poultry Exhibit.
• Twenty-two lambs, 18 calves and 47 piglets were born in the Birthing Center.

Carnival

• Rides were ridden more than 2.4 million times.
• Games were played nearly 6.7 million times.
• The three most popular rides were Windstorm Roller Coaster, Sky Ride and Rave Wave.
• Mini Basketball was the most popular game.
• Nearly half a million riders enjoyed the view from the La Grande Wheel.
• A quarter of a million riders bumped cars in the bumper cars.
• Three semi-truck loads of cookies were battered, fried and enjoyed.
• Seventy semi-truck loads of teddy bears, minions and basketballs were won by visitors.

Kids Country

• Fun on the Farm hosted more than 108,000 little farmers.
• 17,000 people rode camels.
• 3,200 children participated in mutton bustin' in Kids Country.
• 2,000 kids competed in the tractor pull.

Food

• 814,400 tamales were purchased.
• 143,000 pounds of potatoes were served.
• 116,000 barbecue sandwiches were served.
• 68,000 turkey legs were consumed.
• 52,000 funnel cakes were purchased.
• 45,000 corn dogs were consumed.
• 44,000 sausages on-a-stick were sold.
• 20,000 fried Oreos were consumed.
• 18,000 ears of roasted corn were purchased.
• 11,000 dipped and deep-fried cookie doughs on-a-stick were purchased.
• 11,000 cinnamon rolls were sold.
• 110 pounds of bacon were fried and dipped in chocolate.

Information Technology

• Approximately 480 computers, laptops and kiosks were set up throughout the grounds.
• The Show ran 30,000 feet of copper and fiber network cable throughout NRG Park.

RodeoHouston TV

• live television broadcast on FOX Sports Southwest throughout the U.S. and Canada, March 18 – 22
• live radio broadcast on RFD-TV each night of the Show
• live stream of Rodeo action each night on rodeohouston.com and FoxSports.com/Southwest
• four simultaneous live streams of various Show activities and live rodeo competition each day

Show Merchandise

• Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and entertainer merchandise sales reached more than $3.6 million.
• More than 175,000 items with the Show's logo went home with fans, including 10,000 lapel pins, 20,000 caps and 30,000 T-shirts.

Social Media

• 201,941 posts on the Internet regarding the Show.
• Show messaging reached more than 183 million people, worldwide.
• Fans shared and retweeted original content to more than 120 million people worldwide.
• 1.1 million views of YouTube series, #RODEOHOUSTON Unplugged: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9-QoAsqypOZvduFd-HIyuqAPCLMEnQIs

Transportation

• More than 778,000 visitors utilized the Rodeo Express and METRO Park & Ride locations, including more than 350,000 riding the METRORail.

For complete results and highlights, visit rodeohouston.com. Connect with the Show on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram and YouTube: RODEOHOUSTON.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a Section 501(c)(3) charity that benefits youth, supports education, and facilitates better agricultural practices through exhibitions and presentation. Since its beginning in 1932, the Show has committed nearly $375 million to the youth of Texas. Heritage Partners are NRG, Ford, Miller Lite, Coca-Cola, BP America and Mattress Firm. For more information, visit rodeohouston.com. The 2016 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is scheduled for March 1-20.

SOURCE Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo

Related Links

http://www.rodeohouston.com/