A Historic Timeline
1931:
The Houston Fat Stock Show and Livestock Exposition is created when seven men come up with the idea at lunch at the Texas State Hotel.
1932:
The first Rodeo in Houston occurs at the Democratic Convention Hall.
1937:
The Democratic Convention Hall is knocked down, so there is no rodeo this year. The Sam Houston Coliseum starts to be constructed.
1938:
The Houston Fat Stock Show occurs at the brand new Sam Houston Coliseum. The first rodeo, horse show, and street parade occur as well as the regular show.
1942:
The first entertainer, Gene Autry (The Singing Cowboy) performs at the Rodeo. The calf scramble is added to the list of rodeo events.
1952:
The very first trail ride takes place when four men travel on horseback all the way from Brenham, Texas, to Houston.
1954:
The Houston Rodeo is RCA-certified (currently PCRA - Professional Rodeo Cowboy's Association).
1957:
This year marks the beginning of official education scholarships, $2000 award given to Ben Dickerson.
1961:
The Houston Fat Stock Show and Livestock Exposition changes its name to what it is currently called, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
1963:
The School Art Program is established.
1966:
The venue of the Rodeo changes from the Sam Houston Coliseum to the Astrodome. The first Rodeo at the new stadium gathered over 25,000 people, and one performance this year had 40,000 people in attendance, which is five times more than the Coliseum could hold.
1968:
The Astrohall expands from 12 acres to 16 acres, which gives more room for exhibits and meeting rooms.
1970:
The Rodeo starts a research program where they give $100,000 every year to numerous Texas colleges to support their studies and research.
1973:
The Astrohall expands again, making it now 18 acres. There are new permanent administrative offices, meeting rooms, and exhibit space. The Super Sales Salon is added (auctions and sales).
1974:
The culture of rodeo food begins to develop this year when the World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest is held, which is now an annual tradition.
1975:
A new arena, the Astroarena, is built containing 6,000 seats.
1977:
All $4,000 college scholarships are upgraded to $6,000.
1980:
Even more acreage is added to the east and west sides of the Astrohall.
1983:
All $6,000 scholarships are increased to $8,000. More space is added to the Astroarena, which is funded partly by the Houston Sports Association and Harris County. This is the first time that the show doesn't completely fund their projects.
1986:
A new stage for entertainers (singers) is added, which rotates and includes an intricate lighting system. The 54th show celebrates the Texas Sesquicentennial Celebration (Texas' 150th birthday).
1989:
The scholarship program expands to include kids in the Houston Metropolitan area.
1990:
A special rodeo is held for the Economic Summit of Industrialized Nations in July. It was attended by President George H.W. Bush, United States; President Jacques Delors, European Commission; Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti, Italy; Chancellor Helmut Kohl, Germany; President Francois Mitterand, France; Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Britain; and Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Canada.
1991:
4.8 acres are added to the Astroarena which includes committee volunteer meeting rooms, a club, a restaurant, auction arenas, and commercial exhibits. Harris County helps out with paying for the expansion.
1992:
All $8,000 scholarships are increased to $10,000. Also every student gets an additional $2,000.
1994:
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is showed on pay-per-view television for the first time.
1995:
A 40,000 square-foot warehouse is built and donated to Harris County because of their help with money for the expansions. This warehouse contains the entertainment stage, space for contestants to keep their horses, and a warm up area for rodeo contestants. It's also a storage area outside of rodeo season.
1996:
The 30th year anniversary of the Astrodome is celebrated. RodeoHouston becomes the official name of the Houston Rodeo. George Strait breaks an attendance record with almost 63,000 people in the audience. The very first School Art Auction is held to raise money for students going into college.
1997:
The show creates a website. Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Institute for Teacher Excellence, Inc. is launched to train elementary school teachers how to teach young students how to read.
1998:
4-H and FFA scholarships are expanded to 60 students per program, creating a total of 120, $10,000 scholarship awards.
1999:
Opportunity scholarships are created for students in Houston that need financial support for college. 4-H and FFA scholarships are increased again to 70 students per program, so there's 140, $10,000 scholarship awards. A new exhibition facility plan gets approved to go on the north side of the Astrodome. New parking lots start to be constructed. Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo works with Houston NFL Holdings and Harris County to build a new Rodeo/football stadium
2000:
The new RodeoHouston/NFL stadium is approved and has 70,000 seats. It is estimated to be completed by 2002. The Harris County Exposition Center is planned to be constructed. In October, NRG Energy obtains naming rights for the Astrodome Complex, including the stadium that is currently under construction. The renamed NRG Park includes th NRG Astrodome, NRG Arena, NRG Hall, NRG Center, and NRG Stadium.
2001:
The scholarships are expanded and there are 300 Houston-area students that receive a $10,000 scholarship through the Metropolitan, Opportunity, and School Art scholarship programs. The Show's finale concert in the NRG Astrodome, featuring George Strait sells out in less than 2 hours.
2002:
NRG Hall is demolished and that area is changed into a parking lot. NRG Stadium opens with the first Houston Texans pre-season NFL football game in August.
2003:
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has its first year in the new NRG Stadium and NRG Center. The Rodeo paid attendance is over 1 million and ticket sales broke all previous records. Go Tejano Day also breaks a new record. Carruth Plaza, a Western sculpture garden, is completed at NRG Park. It is named after a past president and chairman of the board of the Rodeo.
2004:
Show attendance breaks another record, and Kenny Chesney breaks a concert attendance record. The World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest also breaks an attendance record. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has its first Wine Competition and Auction. The Show reaches $100 million in educational commitment. Scholarships are raised from $10,000 to $12,000.
2005:
The RodeoHouston all-time paid attendance record is broken twice. The first time was when Alicia Keys performed on March 4, celebrating Black Heritage Day and the second time was with Hilary Duff two days later.
2006:
All junior market auctions, the School Art Auction, and the Wine Auction top a million dollars each for the first time. The yearly educational commitment is over $8 million. Area Go Texan scholarships are increased to 60, $12,000 awards. More records were broken for attendance.
2007:
The Show celebrates its 75th year anniversary, the 50th year anniversary of its education programs, and "The Year of the Volunteer." All $12,000 scholarships are increased to $15,000. The Show's yearly educational commitment is over $10.6 million. RodeoHouston becomes the world's richest, regular season PRCA rodeo. Reba McEntire is inducted into the Star Trail of Fame joining Gene Autry, Charley Pride, Elvis Presley, Roy Rogers, and George Strait.
2008:
Brooks & Dunn are inducted to the Star Trail of Fame. Almost all attendance records are broken again.
2009:
This year's show is dedicated to Celebrating Community Commitment. More records are broken. Mutton Bustin' is added to the list of Rodeo events. The new Fun on the Farm exhibit teaches children about hands-on agricultural education. RodeoHouston rings The Closing Bell for the New York Stock Exchange with a bucking bull and cowboy, and Show officials and volunteers ringing cowbells. The Salt Grass Trail Ride is shown on television. The stage is given some improvements.
2010:
The Show creates RodeoHouston Radio, an online radio station playing the best of the superstar entertainers that have performed at the show. All $15,000 scholarships are increased to $16,000. The educational commitment is over $12 million.
2011:
The RodeoHouston Super Series, an international championship, features the world's top 40 cowboys and 50 cowgirls in seven events. Everything is funded by the Rodeo and none of the athletes have to pay to enter. The contestants compete for a combined total of $1.5 million as well as a trophy saddle and buckle. The RodeoHouston Sports Medicine Team is introduced, which provides a medical plan for all rodeo participants. The Show creates a new Rodeo app for cell phones and tablets. Alan Jackson is inducted into the Show's Star Trail of Fame.
2012:
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo celebrate their 80th year anniversary. The Show's educational commitment to the youth of Texas exceeds $330 million. All scholarships are increased from $16,000 to $18,000 each. The yearly educational commitment exceeds $24.6 million. The Show starts the military, and rising junior and senior scholarship programs.
2013:
The Show and Rodeo attendance reaches a new record of over 2.5 million people, more than the Houston population. Eight of the Show's junior market and School Art auction Grand and Reserve Grand Champion sales set new world record prices.
2014:
New scholarships are presented to rodeo participants. Steer wrestling was the fifth event added to the RodeoHouston Super Shootout: North America's Champions.