ProRodeo Sports News - March 29, 2024

MANAGER’S MESSAGE TRACY RENCK

Specialty act performer Shelby Pier son carries in the Ameri can flag prior to a performance at 2024 RodeoHous ton at NRG

Stadium. The lucra tive rodeo concluded March 17.

RodeoHouston photo/Mallory Beinborn

RodeoHouston is amazing in person G etting to cover RodeoHouston for the first time was worth the wait. My colleague Tanner Barth and I ventured to RodeoHouston, March 15-17, and the trip to H-Town was nearly derailed by Mother Nature. A massive snowstorm in Colorado Springs, Colo., Additionally, there was the pure excitement on Championship Sunday, March 17.

The round of 10 qualified competitors in each event competed against one another, aiming to qualify in the top four for the Championship Shootout to take aim at the $50,000 top prize. When the final champions were crowned the joy in their voices was obvious and the smiles on their faces couldn’t be erased. Who could blame them. These contestants found glory while competing before 70,000-plus fans. That is crazy. The bump in the PRCA | RAM World Standings is more like a massive jolt. A year ago, all the RodeoHouston champions qualified for the coveted Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The jury is still out on the 2024 RodeoHouston champs, but all of them definitely have greater chances now to be competing at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. There were plenty of great storylines on March 17 – like tie-down roper Ty Harris winning a rope off with his brother Joel. Steer wrestler Dakota Eldridge winning RodeoHouston for the second time in his career and bareback rider Leighton Berry winning the prestigious rodeo for the second year in a row. “When I nodded my head today in the four-man I only had three grand coming in,” Berry said. “To put $50,000 on top of that is obviously a game changer. I can’t thank the people who put on this rodeo enough for giving us opportunities like this.” Speaking for myself, 2024 RodeoHouston is one rodeo I cherished the opportunity to cover – and one I will not soon forget.

Tracy Renck is the Manager of Communications and Media. He previously served three years as the editor of the ProRodeo Sports News, and before that he spent seven years as a media coordinator at the PRCA. He has three decades of experience in sports journalism with the last decade consumed by ProRodeo.

March 14-15, left in doubt whether our plane would get off the runway at the Colorado Springs Airport at 5 a.m., March 15, but after some nervous moments the Southwest flight was up and away. Arriving at the rodeo the evening of March 15 was quite the adventure as well, considering we drove through a downpour of rain and some hail to get to NRG Stadium. The Stadium is amazing. It dwarfs the Houston Astrodome, which was known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World” when it opened on April 9, 1965. The Astrodome sits next door to NRG Stadium but no longer has any tenants. Yes, NGR Stadium was built for the NFL’s Houston Texans – but it’s also a perfect place to house RodeoHouston. The hospitality we received from RodeoHouston’s media personnel was wonderful. The view from the press box was incredible. The contestants were easily accessible and there were plenty memorable moments to document. There was the unveiling of the inaugural RodeoHouston Hall of Fame class of stock contractor Mike Cervi, barrel racer Charmayne James and announcer Bob Tallman. Then, the news of legendary ProRodeo Hall of Famer Leon Coffee transitioning roles at RodeoHouston after 31 years.

ProRodeo Sports News 3/29/2024

ProRodeo.com

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