Carrying at the Houston Rodeo

[MegaWatt]

This is probably asked every year so I'll be the one to ask this time. Can we carry inside Reliant Stadium during the rodeo? I know they pat you down at the Texans' games but what about the rodeo?

[Keith B]

Rodeo is a professional sport (PRCA = Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association), so carry is not allowed.

[A-R]

Rodeo is a professional sport (PRCA = Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association), so carry is not allowed.

I don't know why I just now thought of this (and has only a tangential relationship to rodeo, so may need/deserve it's own topic), but if top-level competition shooters are sponsored by big companies and "earn" prize money (just like rodeo cowboys) does it then follow logitcally that it is illegal (statutorily off limits) to carry concealed at a top-level competition shooting match if you're a spectator? Not talking about your local club matches of course, but say for example you go "just watch" a regional IDPA match or they happen to hold a national championship USPSA match in Texas and there are sponsored shooters competing and there is some sort of prize money for top finishers.

[Kythas]

A-R, if they're paid then I would say they're professional and it would make it a professional sporting event.

Of course, even though I took a pre-law class in college and discovered it bored me to tears, I am not a lawyer.

[Keith B]

Rodeo is a professional sport (PRCA = Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association), so carry is not allowed.

I don't know why I just now thought of this (and has only a tangential relationship to rodeo, so may need/deserve it's own topic), but if top-level competition shooters are sponsored by big companies and "earn" prize money (just like rodeo cowboys) does it then follow logitcally that it is illegal (statutorily off limits) to carry concealed at a top-level competition shooting match if you're a spectator? Not talking about your local club matches of course, but say for example you go "just watch" a regional IDPA match or they happen to hold a national championship USPSA match in Texas and there are sponsored shooters competing and there is some sort of prize money for top finishers.

Technically, I would say yes. Any 'sport' that the people are paid for would be a professional sporting event. The biggest issue is that there is no way even the event can allow you to carry if you are not a participant as the statutes do not allow a method of making it legal. I guess for a shooting match they could charge you to get in and call it a 'Spectator Entry Fee' and say you are a participant, but only to observe.

[A-R]

Thanks guys, that's the way I view it as well. Had just never occured to me before - being at a "handgun competition" and NOT carrying just seems so counterintuitive.

laws ...

[texanron]

Rodeo is a professional sport (PRCA = Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association), so carry is not allowed.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is not sanctioned by the PRCA this year. Story Here

Because RodeoHouston draws mammoth crowds and offers corresponding paydays, it can attract the top talent without the PRCA's blessing. RodeoHouston will pay out more than $2 million in prize money, up from the more than $1.75 million it doled out last year. The 20-day attendance of 2.26 million was up 118,757 from the standard set in 2010, leading to an increase in operating revenue from $90.8 million to $103.5 million. The final Saturday night of the 2011 rodeo drew a one-day record 150,948 to the grounds.

"Houston is just so innovative in trying to put money in the cowboys' pocket," said Justin Jonas, executive director of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. "They have the largest purse of anybody in the rodeo world and have the largest marketplace. Do I think it helps the sport of rodeo? No doubt."

The progressive bent of RodeoHouston is the very thing that put it at odds with the PRCA.

In hopes of appealing to a wider range of fans, Rodeo Houston replaced Xtreme Bulls with a Cinch RodeoHouston Super Shootout as the grand finale.

Popular events picked

The Super Shootout brings together champions from the top 10 rodeos in North America to compete in the events that are most popular in Houston - bull riding, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding and barrel racing.

"The Super Shootout came about in an effort to promote big rodeo, not necessarily even thinking about trimming events," Hancock said. "It was: How do we get the champions from the biggest rodeos in the world to come in to Houston and be proud of what we do? That built into the idea that we really can't put on a four-hour rodeo event back-to-back."

The PRCA took the stance that a rodeo should not be able to pick and choose events to stage and didn't sanction the Houston event.

"We're on very good terms with the guys there," PRCA commissioner Karl Stressman said. "I think they should be a PRCA rodeo, personally. But we don't allow anybody to go back and play by different rules. I would love to have Houston back. But the rules apply to everybody."

I would still leave my weapon in the vehicle though.

[MegaWatt]

I just talked to a friend of mine that went to the rodeo last night and he said there are no metal detectors, nobody with wands, and he didn't see any 30.06 signs. He said he didn't see anybody checking anybody.

[billfromtx]

I went to a NPBR bullriding in Kingsville Tx last weekend (I go every year) This year they had metal detectors and wands...I didnt carry my gun...but i had to take my pocket knife back to the truck! A POCKET KNIFE!!!!!!!!!
It was hillarioius EVERY man that walked up had to go back to the truck...

[bayouhazard]

They got nothing worth disarming for.

[RPBrown]

I went to a NPBR bullriding in Kingsville Tx last weekend (I go every year) This year they had metal detectors and wands...I didnt carry my gun...but i had to take my pocket knife back to the truck! A POCKET KNIFE!!!!!!!!!
It was hillarioius EVERY man that walked up had to go back to the truck...

They are afraid you will butcher a bull

[Carry-a-Kimber]

Nevermind, should read all posts...

[Keith B]

I just talked to a friend of mine that went to the rodeo last night and he said there are no metal detectors, nobody with wands, and he didn't see any 30.06 signs. He said he didn't see anybody checking anybody.

Doesn't matter though, it is still a professional sporting event as the pro cowboys are participating and they are getting paid.