Good eatin' one of the many draws of the Rodeo festivities

Livestock show, carnival offer many enjoyable experiences

By Jake McKim
Daily Cougar Staff

Let's face it.

While the Livestock Show is something to behold and the Rodeo events can be pretty entertaining, the thing that genuinely causes people to empty their pockets for a ticket is the musical entertainment.

Photo courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Superstar acts like Elvis, George Strait, Selena and Shania Twain have lent their legendary talents to the HLS&R and have helped push ticket sales into astronomical numbers year after year.

This year's Rodeo lacks the big-draw country acts of years past, but there are enough megastars to make the cash registers sing once again.

Diversity is the name of the game at the Y2K Rodeo, with R&B acts like Boyz II Men and Smokey Robinson, pop artists Enrique Iglesias and Rod Stewart and music icon Tony Bennett.

Of course there are the usual country music regulars to keep the Wrangler-wearing portion of the audience happy.

LeAnn Rimes, Alan Jackson, Clint Black, Brooks & Dunn (making their ninth Rodeo appearance), Reba McEntire and Clay Walker, who wraps up the festivities March 5, will grace the stage for the two-and-a-half-week event.

In addition, Monday, Feb. 21, will even see the long-awaited stage reunion of the promise-breaking Judds, whose 1991 performance was labeled their final concert. This mother-daughter duo promises an unforgettable performance.

Friday night, old-timers Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard will kick things off right with their classic brand of timeless folk music that is sure to please the Rodeo's youth-challenged visitors.

Motown act Robinson plays Black Heritage Day, Feb. 26, while Los Tucanes de Tijuana and A.B. Quintanilla y Los Kumbia Kings will add spice to the Rodeo for Go Tejano Day on Feb. 27.

Ticket sales have lagged a little compared to 1999, but day-of sales typically make up for slow business.

11,649 tickets remain unsold for Robert Earl Keen for the matinee show March 4 ,while 11,063 tickets are left for the Robinson set.

Boyz II Men's Feb. 23 performance lacks 9,267 more tickets to sell out, and Kenny Rogers' March 4 evening show has 8,567 tickets left on the market.

Tickets for all other shows have sold quite well, but still have plenty of seats remaining with the exception of Jo Dee Messina on Feb. 19, Sammy Kershaw/SheDaisy on Feb. 27, Rimes on Feb. 20, Iglesias on Feb. 24 and Nelson and Haggard on Feb. 18, all of which are close to sell-outs with only scattered singles and obstructed view remaining.

Clay Walker's March 5 concert is sold out.

Spectators in obstructed view seating can still enjoy a clear view of all Rodeo events and the stage, but some stadium scoreboards, video screens, aerial effects and fireworks may be obstructed.

The Hideout, which is the side stage of the HLS&R, will feature smaller-name, but equally talented acts like Wild Horses on Feb. 22, Rick Trevino on Feb. 28, Reckless Kelly on March 1 and well-known local artist Ezra Charles on March 3.

Tickets to all shows can be purchased at the Astrodome box office, but if you want to get in on the fun, you'd better hurry -- good seats are going fast.