This year’s Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo failed to draw as many visitors as in 2023 but experienced a bump in contestant entries.
Between January 12 and February 3, roughly 1.14 million visitors attended the event, nearly a 10% drop from the record 1.27 million attendees last year. According to show officials, cold weather was to blame.
However, frigid temperatures were not the only challenge the show faced. The route of the popular All-Western Parade that kicked off the show had to be altered due to the Sandman hotel explosion in downtown Fort Worth last month, as reported by The Dallas Express.
Despite the drop in attendance, the event welcomed 34,179 entries for shows and contests, a 6.3% jump from last year. Show spokesman Matt Brockman said higher contestant entry fees helped offset lost ticket sales revenue, per the Fort Worth Report.
Additionally, junior contest entries grew by 2.85% this year, with 12,048 entries. Brockman says the increase in junior contestants results from growing agriculture programs across the state.
“As these urban and suburban school districts … ag science programs grow, the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is just a beneficiary of growth,” Brockman said.
As recently reported in The Dallas Express, Junior Grand Champion Steer, a 1,324-pound European Cross steer named Leadfoot, was sold for $340,000. This was the second-highest sale in the event’s history. 17-year-old Dalhart native Elli Bezner raised the steer.
Despite fewer attendees this year, some local businesses reported increased activity, like the general manager at Bowie House, Gaylord Lamy. He said the hotel was almost completely booked over the past three weekends. The hotel’s bar and restaurant also noted an increase in business.
“We know hotels see a little bit of business increase over rodeo, but I think in the past, downtown has been a little too far. But because we’re so (close to) the venue, I think it was a great month for us and I assume other hotels,” said Lamy.
