Cowtown Coliseum is a 2,400-seat arena in Fort Worth, Texas, United States, that hosts weekly rodeos. It also occasionally hosts concerts and local team sporting events.
| Cowtown Coliseum | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Town or city | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 32°47′22″N 97°20′52″W / 32.789500°N 97.347740°W |
| Current tenants | Professional Bull Riders (2022-present) |
| Website | |
| https://cowtowncoliseum.com/ | |
The venue was built in 1908 and was originally known as Grand Coliseum.[1] Part of the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, the structure is the first ever indoor arena for rodeos in the United States. The building was refurbished in 1986.[2]
32°47′23″N 97°20′52″W / 32.7898°N 97.3477°W
Rodeo
editThe Stockyards Championship Rodeo has been held at Cowtown Coliseum almost every Friday and Saturday since 1992. The venue also occasionally holds events sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (BPIR), Working Ranch Cowboys Association (WRCA), and Bulls, Bands & Barrels (BBB). During Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day weekends, the Stockyards Championship Rodeo is also held on Sunday. [3]
The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) held their very first event in April 1993 at Cowtown Coliseum. In late December 1993, the venue was the first stop of the 1994 inaugural season of the PBR's Bud Light Cup Series.[4] In February 2021, the PBR's elite series, now known as the Unleash the Beast Series, returned to Cowtown Coliseum for the first time since 1993 to host an event.[5] The PBR's Touring Pro Division hosted the Cowtown Classic at the Coliseum every New Year's Eve or New Year's Day for several years. In 2022, the PBR's Challenger Series hosted Sunday events known as PBR Sundays at Cowtown at the venue from June through August.[6] Since 2023, the PBR hosts lower-level events known as Stockyards Showcase at the Coliseum on most Thursdays of the calendar year. These events are the kickoff to the Stockyards Championship Rodeo held on Fridays and Saturdays.[7] Since 2024, the PBR World Finals are held at two different venues in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex; the first six days are held at Cowtown Coliseum, then the final two days at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.[8] By that same year, the PBR Team Series' Texas Rattlers will hold their annual three-day hometown event, Rattler Days, in two different venues. During its first two years, all three days of the event were held at Dickies Arena (also in Fort Worth). However, since 2024, the first day is held at Cowtown Coliseum, while the next two days are held at Dickies Arena.[9]
Since mid-October 2023, after the conclusion of the PBR Stockyards Showcase on Thursday and the Stockyards Championship Rodeo on Friday and Saturday, American freestyle bullfighting sanctioned by the Ultimate Bullfighters (UBF) is held on Sunday. Cowtown Coliseum has been the home of the UBF World Finals every December since 2021.[3]
On four select Sundays of the year, an event called Mexico En La Sangre (Mexico In Our Blood) also takes place at the Coliseum. It features charrería (Mexican rodeo), Mexican folk dances, and dancing horses.[3]
Cowtown Coliseum also houses the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame, as well as the Bull Riding Hall of Fame.[10][11]
Other events
editTwo Presidents of the United States have spoken at the Coliseum - Teddy Roosevelt in 1911 and Jimmy Carter in the late 1970s.[12]
Elvis Presley performed there four times from 1955 to 1956 when it was known as North Side Coliseum.[13] Ike & Tina Turner performed at North Side Coliseum in 1966.[14]
External links
editReferences
edit- ^ "Cowtown Coliseum history". Cowtown Coliseum. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "Cowtown Coliseum refurbished in 1986". Fort Worth Stockyards. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Cowtown Coliseum rodeo schedule". Cowtown Coliseum. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
- ^ "PBR's Premier Series returns to Cowtown Coliseum after nearly 30 years". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "Leme wins 2021 UTB event at Cowtown Coliseum". Focus Daily News. 28 February 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "PBR Sundays at Cowtown". Focus Daily News. 2 June 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "PBR lower-level tours to host year-long residency events at Cowtown Coliseum". Profesional Bull Riders. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
- ^ "PBR goes old school, set to open World Finals with Elimination Rounds inside historic Cowtown Coliseum May 9-12". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ "Rattler Days to now be held in two different venues by 2024". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ "Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame". Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "Bull Riding Hall of Fame". Bull Riding Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "A First Look at the Newly Revamped Cowtown Coliseum". FWTX.com. 3 October 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
- ^ "Elvis Presley performs four times at North Side Coliseum in mid-1950s". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ Leclercq, Matt (May 24, 2023). "'Simply the best': Remember Tina Turner's electric concerts in Fort Worth & Dallas?". Fort Worth Star-Telegram.