SUPER SERIES PAYS OFF BIG AT RODEOHOUSTON

Posted Wednesday, March 21, 2007

MARCH 21, 2007 — HOUSTON — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ paid out $1.2 million to PRCA cowboys and cowgirls in its first-ever RodeoHouston Super Series.

“The final Saturday, with the $50,000 paychecks going to our champions, was a great experience,” said Skip Wagner, president of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. “But the real revolution in rodeo was that more than half of our contestants made back their entry fee (202 contestants) of $500; nearly half made more than $1,000 (186); and about 16 percent (63) took home more than $5,000. Twenty-two contestants made $10,000 or more.

“If rodeo is going to grow, we’ve got to compensate the top cowboys and cowgirls to take the risks they’re taking for this incredibly exciting sport.”

The biggest money winner was barrel racer Codi Baucom, who won a total of $60,000.

“If Codi had been our champion barrel racer in 2006, advancing through our old system, she would have gone home with $18,513,” said Wagner. “The RodeoHouston Super Series is all about rewarding the best, giving the contestants a ‘last chance,’ and paying them for going all out every performance.”

Show officials also went all out to put faces to the names of the contestants, with a 50 ft. by 18 ft. bracket wall, showing the contestants’ photographs as they moved up to the next level. Winners from each Super Series round were posted daily, and as the bracket filled out, fans could see if their favorites were advancing.

“The contestant autograph area was a huge hit, as well,” said Wagner. “A lot of our fans are drawn to the event by the concert following the rodeo action, but it didn’t matter if they had come to see George Strait, Beyoncé or ZZ Top, we had great crowds to meet the real cowboys and cowgirls, too.

“We tip our hats to everyone who helped us develop this concept. The Calgary Stampede, PRCA management, contestant representatives, and stock contractors all chipped in to help us refine a concept and turn it into the reality that really should fuel a revolution in rodeo,” said Wagner.

Most of the focus was on the increase in prize money to the cowboys and cowgirls, but RodeoHouston also doubled the amount of money paid for rodeo stock, utilizing 23 different contractors to ensure quality and consistency in every Super Series competition. Some of the best were saved for last, producing particularly phenomenal action in the Semifinals, Wild Card and Championship rounds.

“Our four-person shootout on our championship Saturday was the most exciting rodeo I’ve seen, and our fan reaction was incredible. We look forward to the 2008 RodeoHouston Super Series,” said Wagner. “There’s no turning back.”