I've been to the rodeo twice this year (work/client functions both times) and here are some observations.

1) The pedi-cab guys are cheating. I remember when the pedi-cabs actually had to pedal. Now they're all motorized.

2) Calf Scramble kids are more out-of-shape than in the past. Years ago the calf scramble was fun to watch but all the calves got caught in a reasonable amount of time. The other night they had to get the rodeo clowns involved to help the out-of-shape high school students wrangle them.

3) The entire scene is WAY over-crowded. They should honestly put a cap on how many tickets they sell to the grounds on any given day. Standing shoulder to shoulder in the carnival or in the food tents isn't safe and I bet actually leads to less money being spent.

4) Americans are fat and weak.

**** load of carnival canadians.

It was pretty annoying yesterday midday at the carnival with the kids just with local behavior on a Thursday

Food/beer tents are a beating $20 a pop for anything, but such is the current climate

I've quit going just because the crowds have gotten so overwhelming. Sad

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3) The entire scene is WAY over-crowded. They should honestly put a cap on how many tickets they sell to the grounds on any given day. Standing shoulder to shoulder in the carnival or in the food tents isn't safe and I bet actually leads to less money being spent.

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I agree. It's a nightmare trying to leave a packed show when the ramp is blocked by the packed carnival traffic.

If it were up to me, there would be a nightly cut-off time for public entrance without a badge or vendor permit.

But HLSR management, at the top, is fairly greedy on this. We all know the latenight stragglers are problematic, none of the public-facing volunteers really enjoy dealing w/ people who come in already wasted - and the crowding is a problem, but they're spending money at the gate and on parking. I thought I was going to see a legit throwdown a time or two when older volunteers found out the shift expectations were getting stretched out later into the night to keep the gates open and revenue coming in. It did cause a volunteer retention problem, but the solution was to expand the number of volunteer positions.

I've had to work the phone before to get the medical team out after Midnight, and I wonder what a bigger problem would look like. Was also there one night when there was a stampede of people trying to leave the grounds over alleged gunshots. It was probably balloons popping, but some people react differently to that sound, apparently.

Wednesday calf scramble the calves seemed to have a lot more energy than the others I've been to this year.

Yeah i havent been in now 3 years. You'd have to give me the company suite or someone else invites me to theirs to go now.

Jugstore Cowboy said:

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3) The entire scene is WAY over-crowded. They should honestly put a cap on how many tickets they sell to the grounds on any given day. Standing shoulder to shoulder in the carnival or in the food tents isn't safe and I bet actually leads to less money being spent.

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I agree. It's a nightmare trying to leave a packed show when the ramp is blocked by the packed carnival traffic.

If it were up to me, there would be a nightly cut-off time for public entrance without a badge or vendor permit.

But HLSR management, at the top, is fairly greedy on this. We all know the latenight stragglers are problematic, none of the public-facing volunteers really enjoy dealing w/ people who come in already wasted - and the crowding is a problem, but they're spending money at the gate and on parking. I thought I was going to see a legit throwdown a time or two when older volunteers found out the shift expectations were getting stretched out later into the night to keep the gates open and revenue coming in. It did cause a volunteer retention problem, but the solution was to expand the number of volunteer positions.

I've had to work the phone before to get the medical team out after Midnight, and I wonder what a bigger problem would look like. Was also there one night when there was a stampede of people trying to leave the grounds over alleged gunshots. It was probably balloons popping, but some people react differently to that sound, apparently.

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There isn't an entrance cutoff time, but they do stop selling tickets at 9PM every night, which stops some of the people coming in late.

Jugstore Cowboy said:

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3) The entire scene is WAY over-crowded. They should honestly put a cap on how many tickets they sell to the grounds on any given day. Standing shoulder to shoulder in the carnival or in the food tents isn't safe and I bet actually leads to less money being spent.

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I agree. It's a nightmare trying to leave a packed show when the ramp is blocked by the packed carnival traffic.

If it were up to me, there would be a nightly cut-off time for public entrance without a badge or vendor permit.

But HLSR management, at the top, is fairly greedy on this. We all know the latenight stragglers are problematic, none of the public-facing volunteers really enjoy dealing w/ people who come in already wasted - and the crowding is a problem, but they're spending money at the gate and on parking. I thought I was going to see a legit throwdown a time or two when older volunteers found out the shift expectations were getting stretched out later into the night to keep the gates open and revenue coming in. It did cause a volunteer retention problem, but the solution was to expand the number of volunteer positions.

I've had to work the phone before to get the medical team out after Midnight, and I wonder what a bigger problem would look like. Was also there one night when there was a stampede of people trying to leave the grounds over alleged gunshots. It was probably balloons popping, but some people react differently to that sound, apparently.

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Don't forget the discourteous morons taking photos on the exit ramp and blocking the way while everyone is trying to leave. It should be perfectly legal to grab their phone and chuck it over the edge.

Went to see George Strait a few years ago. Parking, traffic, crowds, etc were a cluster. No plans to go back.
Don't miss it for sure.

I noticed that body positivity campaigns have been really effective, and that the people to whom these campaigns were aimed are making some really bold fashion choices.

I almost saw someone's who ha and I saw a lot of really deep cleavage .

combat wombat said:

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I noticed that body positivity campaigns have been really effective, and that the people to whom these campaigns were aimed are making some really bold fashion choices.

I almost saw someone's ha ha and I saw a lot of really deep cleavage .

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I saw butt crack and full cheek on same shorts. She weighed more than me.

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There isn't an entrance cutoff time, but they do stop selling tickets at 9PM every night, which stops some of the people coming in late.

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I wonder if they pre-purchase tickets or just get gate attendants to look the other way. Some are gold badges of course ("Do you know who my uncle is, dude?"), but there seemed to be a segment of the population mixing the carnival into their nocturnal routines. I've never tried going in later than when the Hideout opens, so I was surprised when I learned there was basically no cut-off for people showing up whenever.

Lost power in middle of Journey!

Hope I didn't jinx it earlier. Got a text from a friend there that the stage lights and sound have now been out 12 minutes.

Everyone thought it was a "don't stop believing " acapella sing along til the got to the part everyone mumbles and the band didn't join in.

Cancelled

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2) Calf Scramble kids are more out-of-shape than in the past. Years ago the calf scramble was fun to watch but all the calves got caught in a reasonable amount of time. The other night they had to get the rodeo clowns involved to help the out-of-shape high school students wrangle them.

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To be fair, these are some of the rowdiest calves we have had in the last few years. We have even had numerous Committeepeople hit the dirt due to calves getting loose after catching. That has made many of the Scrambles go long.

Electrical fire. Show cancelled 2.5 songs.

MJ20/20 said:

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**** load of carnival canadians.

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Flour rangers are inconvenienced I see… lol

Not too mention that I have to think the amount of adrenaline is super charged to start and when that wears off it's good luck for them.

Flour Rangers! That's actually pretty good for a chuckle, not a euphemism I've heard before. Is that a brother who likes white men? Please update urban dictionary.

cryption said:

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I've quit going just because the crowds have gotten so overwhelming. Sad

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I HATE general population crowds more than the next guy. We take our young kids in the morning one day of Spring Break every year to go see the animals and then end at the carnival.

Fortunately my family all feels the same way so we game it hard.

Pro tip for kid day out there:

• Show up right when parking gates open.
• Be the first wave into NRG Center,
• no line for petting zoo, pony ride, and one other thing that usually has an outrageous line. Casually walk through the animal exhibits before the rush.

Then grab a beer and laugh at your buddies you see come in 45 min later and sitting in the petting zoo line for an hour while trying to juggle 3 toddlers. End at the carnival/food tents, kids start nap on the way home.

I'll never understand the types that enjoy just being in the crowd, like people that go out in the madness on Black Friday to compete with the masses.

So about half way through a rodeo set list

Haven't been in 10+ years even though we're offered free tix every year. Between the crowds, parking, and clientele there's nothing that makes it enticing.

if you arent walking in to the carnival the second it opens, youre going to be nuts to butts with a million edgars and tyrones with their severely overweight and underdressed girlfriends and baby mommas.

We don't go anymore either for the same reasons. Just no desire at all.

MAS444 said:

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We don't go anymore either for the same reasons. Just no desire at all.

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yep last time we went was 2 years ago and dont think we will be going back any time soon.

I've been 5 times and enjoy the people watching aspect. Lines are bad but it's the rodeo. Enjoy the experience

Bunch of grumpy ass olds in here. Even though it's crowded, my kid still loves it and we always have a good time

We went on opening on Friday and kids had a great time. Minimal to no lines. Out of there by early afternoon.

It's cool to hate stuff

BowSowy said:

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Bunch of grumpy ass olds in here. Even though it's crowded, my kid still loves it and we always have a good time

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Ding ding ding. Found the guy that will show up to Disney at peak crowd time and no plan.

While I don't judge you here (I've been working hard on this aspect) I don't understand how you wouldn't take 10 min of research to guide your family through a much easier win.

It's hard enough!

We've been season ticket holders for more than a decade. The Calf Scramble calves seem to be getting bigger and bigger every year. They should be 100lbs or less for this event. They're pushing 300lbs. One of these days a kid is really gonna get hurt bc of the size of the calves.

Seamaster said:

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I've been to the rodeo twice this year (work/client functions both times) and here are some observations.

1) The pedi-cab guys are cheating. I remember when the pedi-cabs actually had to pedal. Now they're all motorized.

2) Calf Scramble kids are more out-of-shape than in the past. Years ago the calf scramble was fun to watch but all the calves got caught in a reasonable amount of time. The other night they had to get the rodeo clowns involved to help the out-of-shape high school students wrangle them.

3) The entire scene is WAY over-crowded. They should honestly put a cap on how many tickets they sell to the grounds on any given day. Standing shoulder to shoulder in the carnival or in the food tents isn't safe and I bet actually leads to less money being spent.

4) Americans are fat and weak.

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Pedi cabs turning into a bunch of aggressive aholes!