Taking Stock of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Image: Courtesy Sage Newman
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which kicked off its 91st year this week , is the largest livestock exhibition and rodeo in the world and is considered by many to be Houston’s signature event. Created in 1931 and originally called the Houston Fat Stock Show, it’s a Texas-size gathering of all things wild and western, including cattle, barbecue, auctions, music, rodeo, running, and, now, even wine.
We’ve gathered some of the more significant numbers, dates, and milestones of the event over the decades.
Gene Autry
1942
Singing cowboy Gene Autry is the first nationally recognized entertainer to perform at the show.
1961
Renamed the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
1966
The event officially moves to the Astrodome. It’s the first year of the rodeo, and the new “bowlegged H” logo is introduced.
1974
The Go Texan committee launches the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest.
1988
The 5k and 10k runs that go through downtown Houston are introduced.
2003
The event moves to Reliant Stadium (now NRG Stadium), where it is to this day.
2004
Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition is introduced, where wine from vintners from around the world is judged and auctioned off.
2017
A record high attendance for the event, of 2,611,176 people, is reached.
Los Tigres Del Norte
Image: CC/FLCKR/Alterna2
2019
Los Tigres Del Norte play to a crowd of 75,586 on Go Tejano Day in the event’s largest concert to date. (Cardi B claims the second-largest show the same year, playing to 75,580 people.)
2023
A record prize purse for the rodeo is set at $2,178,000.
