When RODEO HOUSTON debuts in Reliant Stadium in 2003, more fans than ever will be able to take in the diverse lineup of music sensations that will be on the rotating stage closer than ever to the crowd.
The slate of 32 stars boasts an impressive list of honors including a total of 31 Grammy awards and twice that many Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music awards. Two of the musicians have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and one entertainer has been inducted into three national music halls of fame. And, just this week, four of these entertainers were honored with American Music Awards.
The lineup of music industry stars currently scheduled to perform at the 71st Houston Livestock Show and RodeoTM from Feb. 25 to March 16 includes:
Tues, Feb 25 – George Strait
Wed, Feb 26 – Martina McBride
Thurs, Feb 27 – Kenny Chesney
Fri, Feb 28 – Robert Earl Keen
Sat, Mar 1 – Lee Ann Womack and Cross Canadian Ragweed
Sun, Mar 2 – Julio Iglesias
Mon, Mar 3 – Tim McGraw
Tues, Mar 4 – ZZ Top
Wed, Mar 5 – Toby Keith (presented by Ford)
Thurs, Mar 6 – Clay Walker
Fri, Mar 7 – LL Cool J and Ashanti
Sat, Mar 8 – Phil Vassar and Jamie O’Neal
Sun, Mar 9 – Intocable and Los Tres Amigos, featuring Little Joe, Roberto Pulido, and Ruben Ramos, with special guests Johnny and Rocky Hernandez
Mon, Mar 10 – Lynyrd Skynyrd and Jerry Jeff Walker
Tues, Mar 11 – Brooks & Dunn
Wed, Mar 12 – Bon Jovi
Thurs, Mar 13 – Pat Green (presented by Miller Lite)
Fri, Mar 14 – Ray Charles and Ronnie Millsap
Sat, Mar 15 – Rockin’ Roadhouse Tour, featuring Joe Diffie, Mark Chestnutt and Tracy Lawrence
Sun, Mar 16 Alabama
All weekday performances begin at 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday performances begin at 4 p.m. Each performance begins immediately with rodeo events, continues with the calf scramble and grand salute, and ends with the concert entertainer.
Reliant Stadium features 10,000 more seats for Rodeo than Reliant Astrodome, and the front row in Reliant Stadium, the in-your-face Action Seats, is only 87 feet from the concert stage. No matter where fans are in the stadium, the performances in 2003 offer a variety to delight most musical tastes.
Because of the nature of the event, there will be no restriction on backpacks, purses and other bags, but for increased security, everyone entering Reliant Park, and/or their possessions, may be subject to search. Anyone refusing to be searched will be denied access. No alcohol, guns or knives will be allowed to be into the grounds, and food and drink may not be carried in to Reliant Stadium.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is supported by many sources but is especially proud to have Reliant Energy, Ford, Coca-Cola, Gallery Furniture and Miller Lite as 2003 Heritage Partners.
Fans can catch rodeo action during any of the 20 daily performances featuring outstanding PRCA/ProRodeo action in the worlds largest rodeo, the worlds largest calf scramble, chuck wagon races, in4oor fireworks and concert entertainment. Only the top 60 cowboys and cowgirls in the world are invited to compete in RODEO HOUSTONs seven ProRodeo and WPRA events bareback bronc riding, barrel racing, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping and tie-down roping. The RODEO HOUSTON finals will be on Sunday, March 16.
The Thursday, March 6, RODEO HOUSTON performance will be a special presentation of only bull riding, presented by 100.3 KILT, with 30 contestants competing and 15 advancing to the evenings second round, so fans will see an exciting 45 bull rides. The bull riding performance will include the calf scramble, grand salute and concert by Clay Walker.
There will be limited parking available at Reliant Park during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Pre-sold only through Ticketmaster and not available on site or through will call, Reserve Day Pass parking is available for $14 plus a convenience charge. These spaces, located west of Kirby Drive and accessible from Main Street, are very limited and include in-and-out privileges.
As the cheapest and easiest way to reach the Show, the Rodeo METRO Express will provide transportation for Show visitors from eight shuttle locations throughout Houston. Round-trip transportation on the shuttle is $2 for riders ages 13 and older and free for those ages 12 and younger.
The Rodeo METRO Express is sponsored by Ford and Your Texas Ford Dealers.
From the northwest, riders can catch the shuttles at Delmar Stadium and METRO North Shepherd Park and Ride. In the southeast, the METRO Monroe Park and Ride serves as a pick-up and drop-off location. The Aramco Services Company at 9009 West Loop South, METRO West Loop Park and Ride and METRO Westwood Park and Ride will serve patrons on the southwest side. Centrally located, the Minute Maid Park B and C Lots and Reed Road HLS&R Park and Ride will offer longer hours of operation than the other locations. Each lot is serviced by METRO lift buses.
Rodeo METRO Express service will begin for the Worlds Championship Bar-B-Que Contest Feb. 20-22.
The Reed Road HLS&R lot will run from 5 am. to 2 a.m. all three days. All other lots will run from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, and Friday, Feb. 21, and from 9 am. to 1 am. on Saturday, Feb. 22.
The last in-bound bus at all locations during the barbecue contest will depart for Reliant Park at 9:30 each evening.
Daily shuttle service to and from Reliant Park will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 25. The Reed Road HLS&R lot will have continuous shuttle service from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. All other lots will operate from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., Monday through Thursday; 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays; and 9 a.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday and Sunday.
Rodeo tickets are $14, plus a Ticketmaster convenience charge, and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets including Foleys, Fiesta and Wherehouse Music locations. Ticket sales will begin Saturday, Jan. 18, 10 a.m., CST. Tickets will be sold on the Internet at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets may be charged by phone at 713-629-3700. Tickets will not be sold at Reliant Park on Saturday, Jan. 18 or Sunday, Jan. 19. Tickets may be purchased at Reliant Park beginning Monday Jan. 20, at 10 a.m. at the south Reliant Stadium ticket windows. On Saturday, Jan. 18, only, tickets to the performances on Feb. 25 with George Strait and on March 3 with Tim McGraw will be limited to 10 tickets per person.
Most Ticketmaster locations in the Houston area will be distributing linestubs beginning at 9 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 18. Drawings will be held at each of the locations at approximately 9:30 a.m. to determine the linestub number that will start the line for ticket purchases at these locations.
At all ticket locations, linestubs will be available only to persons ages 12 and older, and each person will receive only one linestub. Linestubs that have been tampered with will not be honored.
Ticket buyers should be aware that the only Show-authorized ticket outlets are at the Reliant Park box office and all Ticketmaster outlets.
Ticketmaster will be selling carnival value packs by phone Saturday, Jan. 18, through Friday, Feb. 14. This approximate $20-value pack may be purchased for only $10. Also available for purchase through Ticketmaster are BP Worlds Championship Bar-B-Que Contest tickets and Houston Livestock ShowTM season passes. VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express cards will be accepted by Ticketmaster and at Reliant Park. American Express will not be accepted at Foleys.
The 2003 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo opens its inaugural year at the new Reliant Park with the BP Worlds Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, Feb. 20-22, and Go Texan Weekend events on Feb. 22- 23. The Rodeo Parade and ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run will be held in downtown Houston Saturday, Feb. 22.
All daily attractions at Reliant Park open at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25, and conclude on Sunday, March 16.
For additional information regarding the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Shows Web site is available 24 hours a day at www.rodeohouston.com or www.hlsr.com.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a 501 ©(3) charitable event, committed to benefiting youth and supporting education throughout the state. Since presenting its first scholarship in 1957, the Show has committed more than $92 million in scholarships, graduate assistantships, endowments and grant contributions for the youth of Texas.
For daily updates during the Show and weekly during non-Showtime, subscribe to the Shows e-mail newsletter at www.rodeohouston.com or www.hlsr.com.