After a wild 20 days filled with record-breaking attendance, electric performances by the world's top artists—including two by Garth Brooks—RodeoHouston 2018 has come to a close.
Among the highlights: More than 2 million people attended the rodeo; over 365,000 Oreos were fried; 14,000 people rode camels; and more than $26 million was raised for scholarships and education.
"There was something fun for everyone at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo," said Joel Cowley, CEO and president of the rodeo. "Along with our many offerings, we were excited to bring back for our fans. With the help of more than 33,000 dedicated volunteers, fans wee gretted with celebration of agriculture, entertainment and Western heritage, all while supporting the youth of Texas."
Here's a look at this year's rodeo by the numbers:
PHOTOS: A day at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
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ATTENDANCE
- Total attendance for all activities on the grounds, Feb. 22 – 24 (World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest) and Feb. 27 – March 18, 2018 (Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo) reached 2,408,550.
- In three days, the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest entertained 215,476 guests
- Paid Rodeo/concert attendance reached 1,346,388.
- Five RODEOHOUSTON performances landed on the list of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s top 25 paid rodeo/concert attendance records.
- first: Sunday, March 18, 2018 – Garth Brooks – 75,577
- second: Sunday, March 11, 2018 – Go Tejano Day – Calibre 50 – 75,565
- 20th: Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018 – Garth Brooks – 75,018
- 21st: Saturday, March 17, 2018 – Brad Paisley – 75,016
- 23rd: Friday, March 16, 2018 – Chris Stapleton – 75,014
- Five RODEOHOUSTON performances landed on the list of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s top 25 paid rodeo/concert attendance records.
RODEOHOUSTON
- RODEOHOUSTON committed $2.17 million to its contestants in 2018.
- The 2018 RODEOHOUSTON Super Series invited the world's top rodeo athletes to compete in seven traditional rodeo events, Feb. 27 – March 17.
- RODEOHOUSTON Super Series athletes competed for a share of $1,748,000 in prize money. Each event champion rode out of NRG Stadium with $50,000, plus winnings from the preliminary rounds.
- The 2018 RODEOHOUSTON Super Series Champions, with total money earned, are:
- Tie-Down Roping: Tyler Milligan: Pawhuska, Oklahoma – $56,000
- Bareback Riding: Clint Laye: Pocatello, Idaho – $57,250
- Team Roping: Matt Sherwood: Pima, Arizona; and Walt Woodward: Stephenville, Texas – $112,000
- Saddle Bronc Riding: Cody DeMoss: Heflin, Louisiana – $56,250
- Three-time RODEOHOUSTON champion – 2003, 2017 and 2018
- Steer Wrestling: Timmy Sparing: Helena, Montana – $53,500
- Barrel Racing: Nellie Williams-Miller: Cottonwood, California – $58,750
- Bull Riding: Parker Breding: Edgar, Montana – $57,500
2018 HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW™
- Livestock and horse show competitions drew 33,949 entries.
- Junior auction sales totaled $15,141,680
- Five junior auction Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion lots set world or Show records. The prices for the top winners in the junior market and school art auctions were:
- Junior Market Barrow
- Grand Champion Barrow: $214,000 (world record)
- Reserve Grand Champion Barrow: $134,000 (world record)
- Junior Market Pen of Broilers
- Grand Champion Pen of Broilers: $150,000
- Reserve Grand Champion Pen of Broilers: $118,000
- Junior Market Goat
- Grand Champion Goat: $182,000 (world record)
- Reserve Grand Champion Goat: $100,000
- Junior Market Lamb
- Grand Champion Lamb: $300,000 (world record)
- Reserve Grand Champion Lamb: $120,000
- Junior Market Steer
- Grand Champion Steer: $410,000
- Reserve Grand Champion Steer: $366,000 (world record)
- Junior Market Turkey
- Grand Champion Turkey: $110,000
- Reserve Grand Champion Turkey: $95,000
- School Art
- Grand Champion Work of Art: $225,000
- Reserve Grand Champion Work of Art: $150,000
- Junior Market Barrow
- Auction totals (unaudited preliminary totals that do not include cash contributions and some purchase commitment amounts) were:
- Barrow: $3,002,251
- Lamb and Goat: $2,912,540
- Poultry: $1,745,870
- School Art: $2,048,745
- Steer: $5,432,274
- The Junior Commercial Steer Auction totaled $644,106 (live auction of choice steers).
- The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Champion Wine Auction totaled $2,431,041.
- The Ranching & Wildlife Auction totaled $519,920.
- Calf scramble and judging contest winners received 365 certificates, each worth $2,250, to apply toward the purchase of a registered beef heifer or steer to exhibit at the 2019 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Certificate premiums totaled $821,250.
- Calf scramble exhibitors from 2017 who returned with their heifer or steer projects to compete at the 2018 Houston Livestock Show received more than $100,000 total in premiums and awards.
Photos: RodeoHouston's magical tribute to bucking horses
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SCHOLARSHIPS AND EDUCATION
- The Rodeo committed $26,709,110 to the youth of Texas in 2018:
- $14,271,000 in scholarships to be awarded this summer;
- $8,125,250 to junior show exhibitors and calf scramble participants;
- $3,726,820 in educational program grants; and
- $586,040 in graduate assistantships.
2018 PHOTOS: Man vs. beast in RodeoHouston semifinals
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Photos: Rodeo cowboys in action!
AGVENTURE, presented by Occidental Petroleum
- More than 61,000 people participated in a scheduled school tour or field trip.
- More than 19,000 little cowboys and cowgirls rode the pony rides.
- More than 625 eggs hatched in the Poultry Exhibit.
- Sixty-one piglets, 14 calves and 13 lambs and were born at the Birthing Center.
- More than 62,000 sunflower seeds were planted in the Soil Exhibit.
2018 PHOTOS: Cute kiddos at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
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The Junction
- More than 114,000 little farmers visited Fun on the Farm, presented by TDECU.
- More than 14,000 people rode camels.
- More than 3,600 children participated in Mutton Bustin’ in The Junction.
Food
- More than 365,000 Oreos were fried and more than 125,000 turkey legs, more than 80,000 funnel cakes, nearly 30,000 barbecue sandwiches, and more than 45,000 tamales were purchased.
PHOTOS: Shop 'til you drop at the rodeo!
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Photos: Shop 'til you drop at the rodeo!
Official Rodeo Merchandise
- Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and entertainer merchandise sales reached more than $3.4 million.
- Nearly 75,000 items with the Rodeo’s logo went home with fans, including 30,000 caps and T-shirts, 10,000 lapel pins, and 9,000 cups and mugs.
- Carnival
- A record of more than 2.7 million rides were enjoyed in the carnival.
- It took 350 truckloads of equipment to build the carnival.
- Sixty-four semitrailers full of plush toys were brought to the carnival.
- The top five rides in the carnival were La Grande Wheel, Skyride, Windstorm, RaveWave and Crazy Coaster.
(Numbers provided by RODEOHOUSTON.)
