Fort Worth’s new rodeo was a hit, but here’s one way to make it even better
As someone who loves Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum for more reasons than one has fingers, toes and bones, the decision to move Fort Worth’s annual rodeo to a new locale was as welcome as a tall glass of hot, four-month old milk.
The 2020 Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo is complete, and as much as I didn’t want to like watching a rodeo in the new Dickies Arena, some things are not meant to be. The changes made to the rodeo event itself, as well as the new arena, are all better than promised.
As a professional, licensed and certified critic of all things in this life and the next, take it from Mr. Always Right that this version of this year’s rodeo at Dickies was not perfect only because nothing is. But it was close.
The nostalgic charm of the old, smelly dump that is Will Rogers was effectively replaced by the slick, sleek Dickies Arena. I will always adore WRC, but Dickies Arena is an upgrade.
Some people whined and moaned about some of the changes to the new arena, but that attitude is inevitable even for those who win the lottery.
Adopting a tournament format that features mostly just accomplished riders was an upgrade even to the most novice eyes. This version just felt big-time, something that is the equivalent to the events in Las Vegas, Calgary or, my favorite, Cheyenne Frontier Days.
I have but two suggestions: Add one act to the lineup. One.
The FWSSR has no interest in making its rodeo into the Houston Rodeo, which is essentially a concert.
The 2020 Houston Rodeo will feature concerts by Midland, Chance the Rapper, Willie Nelson, Becky G, Lizzo, Chris Young, Keith Urban, Khalid and a few others. No word if the Houston Rodeo plans to add J-Lo’s Super Bowl booty as its own act.
Fort Worth is not going to be able to compete with Houston’s ability to host a rodeo/concert. Houston’s NRG Stadium is simply too big.
The good news is the people who run the FWSSR have no interest in trying to become any version of Houston.
The FWSSR wants its rodeo to be about the rodeo. About the horses. About the bulls. About the riders. All perfectly reasonable reasons.
Dickies Arena should make everyone re-think this position. The arena is at the top of all venues in DFW. There isn’t a bad seat, the intimacy for a 15,000-seat venue is ideal, and the acoustics are perfect.
Fans can now talk to the person next to them without having to shout over FWSSR’s public address announcer Bob Tallman’s voice. Bob is the best, but the acoustics at Will Rogers often made it impossible to talk to the person next to you during the rodeo.
Moving into Dickies gives the FWSSR the opportunity to do more than it did at WRC. It should go big one night. One night with a front line, A-list performer. One.
We’re talking one. One post-rodeo show is not necessarily a threat to Billy Bob’s.
Because of Dickies Arena’s size, it is doubtful it would land a Taylor Swift level of entertainer to do a show following a rodeo. Whomever is in the next size down on the performer pool should could do this. A Maroon 5. Luke Bryan. Pitbull. Or Grapevine’s own Post Malone.
Selfishly, I’d like to see Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, but I am pretty sure not even a Bass can pull off that one.
For those of you who (incorrectly) loathe my idea, don’t worry. We are talking about the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, where Tradition has one of the loudest voices at the table.
Even if Taylor Swift said she would play Dickies Arena for $1 after a Wednesday night rodeo, it’s doubtful the FWSSR would say yes.
So if this suggestion is nixed, just please consider the second one: Free Shiner Bock beer.
