The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo kicked off last week at the Frost Bank Center with a full slate of performances, showcases, food and activities for the whole family.
The rodeo runs through Feb. 23, so there’s still time to get in on the action. From bullfighting to ranch showdowns and cook-offs to concerts, there’s plenty to pack your schedule. Here are just some of the events you might want to add to your list:
Music, mutton bustin’ and bullfighters
Catch live performances from artists such as Muscadine Bloodline on Feb. 13, Tyler Hubbard Feb. 14, Turnpike Troubadours Feb. 15 and Pesado on Feb. 16 following the nightly rodeo. Find the full schedule of rodeo concerts here.
The popular Bustin’ in the Barn event takes place every evening at 6 p.m. in the Bustin’ in the Barn Tent on the rodeo fairgrounds. Mutton bustin’ youngsters ages 4-7 compete for a chance to ride in the Frost Bank Center. Entry to the Bustin’ in the Barn event is free with fairgrounds admission.
Ranch Rodeo, part of the show at the Frost Bank Center on Thursday, Feb. 13, features cowboys from different ranches competing against each other in events similar to what they do every day on their home ranch. These events include steer loading, roping and calf branding and tying. Working ranches have the chance to win over $40,000 in cash and prizes.
The Charreada in the Freeman Coliseum on Feb. 22, features Mexico’s official sport, where multiple competitive riders in traditional Mexican costumes show off their competitive roping and ranching skills. The event is free with fairgrounds admission.
In Bullfighters Only, elite athletes from all over the world participate in a fight of 60 seconds where the riders are scored on style and the bull is scored on aggression and quickness. This event is happening at the Freeman Coliseum on Feb. 23 and is free with fairgrounds admission.
The rodeo fairgrounds are open daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., except for Feb. 23, when hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The carnival is open weekdays from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to midnight and Sundays 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Tickets are available on the rodeo’s website starting at $13 for fairgrounds admission, $40 for the carnival and $35 for rodeo events. Attendees can also purchase season tickets or the Rodeo Star Experience Package.
Attendees can now plan their visit with the help of the rodeo’s new app, San Antonio Stock Show 7 Rodeo, which can be downloaded from The Apple Store and Google Play Store.
App users can buy and manage their tickets, make their own schedule, view events happening that day, view concert line ups and have access to the rodeo grounds maps.
The rodeo gives back
The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo has long held the tradition of awarding scholarships to San Antonio’s youth pursuing agricultural studies. Since the first year of the scholarship program, the rodeo has awarded $267 million in scholarships, according to Chris Derby, the chief marketing director at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.
And it’s not just agriculture scholarships being awarded.
Scholarships awarded for animal showings and food, speech, Western art, robotics and mechanical competitions all hold opportunities for kids ages 12-18 to win scholarships.
“It’s the kids, you know, kids that come in from schools, and they build gates and trailers and … fire pits and barbecue pits. There’s so many ways to get involved, to get scholarships.” Derby said.
All of this, Derby emphasized, couldn’t have been accomplished without the help of the 7,000 volunteers who helped make it happen.
“We couldn’t do it without them, without their help and support throughout the year, … there’s no way we could give those dollars away or impact those students.”
Frost Bank Center is home
The Frost Bank Center has hosted the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo since 2003, when it was known as the AT&T Center, but with the announcement of a planned downtown sports and entertainment district that would include a new arena for the Spurs, residents are wondering what the future holds for the events hosted at the Frost Bank Center.
Although there is not a set plan as to what will be of the Frost Bank Center if the Spurs move, Derby said the rodeo is not going anywhere anytime soon.
“We brought the livestock show and the rodeo here … so our goal is, if this does happen and the Spurs do move downtown, we are staying home,” he said.
Derby sees it as a great opportunity to have the Frost Bank Center house events like horse and livestock shows year-round.
“We’d love to work with the county, stay here for a long time, help take over the grounds for a long period of time,” he said.
