 | Ector County Coliseum | 42nd and Andrew's Highway Odessa TX |
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Rodeo rings registers
At Luskey's Western Store, it's almost like they have two Christmases.
Barely a week after the Odessa store starts recovering from the holiday shopping season, it's time for the SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo.
That means the store has to be ready for the cowboys and cowgirls who want to dress up for a dance or simply forgot their hat.
"We're ready," Luskey's manager Susan Munoz said. "We always prepare for it."
Luskey's is one of a number of local businesses that have to feed, cloth and shelter the participants, spectators and animals that make their way into town for the event, which started Friday and continues through Saturday.
Last year's rodeo brought in a total of $2.3 million to Odessa, said Pat Owsley of the Odessa Convention and Visitors Bureau. And retailers from clothing stores to car rental businesses to feed stores see revenue.
"There's just a lot of reasons that they spend money," Owsley said.
The event's 780 participants stay in the area an average of four nights and spend a total of $940,000, Owsley said. That's not including judges, rodeo clowns and other workers.
Another 1,000 spectators bring in $1.2 million, she said.
Owsley said the event probably brings in more revenue to the community than even the Permian Basin Fair & Expo or the Fina-CAF Airsho.
"Most of your groups are just in and out," she said of the fair and Airsho crowds. "These end up staying a little bit longer overall."
The event also has an impact on veterinarians in town. Dr. Will Evans of the Gardendale Veterinary Clinic said he has to spend time preparing paperwork for animals participating in events.
"It increases the workload a little bit," he said.
Evans said it's even busier for the vet on call that the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association requires be on hand, something he had to give up doing.
"Somebody has to put out a big time commitment," he said.
RODEO SCHEDULE
Today
>> Quarter Horse Show, 7 a.m., Coliseum.
Monday
>> ½ Tie Down Slack, 8 a.m., Coliseum.
>> Girls Barrel Racing Slack 1st go, following tie down, - Coliseum.
Tuesday
>> Super Tuesday Roping, 10:30 a.m., Coliseum.
>> Team & Match Roping, 6:30 p.m., Coliseum.
Wednesday
>> Girls Barrel Racing Slack, 8 a.m., Coliseum.
>> Bulls, Blood and Heroes Blood Drive, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Coliseum.
>> Christian Youth Night program, 5:30 p.m., Building G.
>> Third Rodeo Performance, 7:30 p.m., Coliseum.
Thursday
>> Steer Wrestling Slack, 9 a.m., Coliseum.
>> ½ Tie Down roping slack, following steer wrestling, Coliseum.
>> Fourth Rodeo Performance, 7:30 p.m., Coliseum.
Friday
>> Team Roping Slack, 9 a.m., Outback Arena.
>> Steer Roping Slack, following team-roping slack, Outback Arena.
>> Fifth Rodeo Performance, 7:30 p.m., Coliseum.
Saturday
>> Special Kids Rodeo, 9 a.m., Coliseum.
>> Steer Roping Slack, 9 a.m., Outback Arena.
>> Sixth Rodeo Performance, 7:30 p.m., Coliseum.
