The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo opens today for millions of visitors, rivaling the Super Bowl for its economic impact on the region. President and CEO Joel Cowley says the 85th annual festival opens today with a tribute to first responders.
“On this day,” Cowley says, “we will honor and recognize those men and women who literally place their lives on the line, to keep us safe on a daily basis.”
Total attendance will approach and possibly exceed two-and-a-half million people over the 20-day schedule.
“About 1.34 million of those go into the stadium to see great rodeo action,” he says. “That makes us the largest fair-festival in North America.”
The first one was held in 1932. Cowley says enhanced WiFi is available in NRG Stadium and singer Aaron Watson is tonight's featured entertainer.
“Nowhere else in the world are there 20 consecutive days of rodeo action and star entertainment,” he says.