The Mesquite Championship Rodeo reopens this weekend with new owners, new features and a new mantra: It's more than just a rodeo.
LOUIS DeLUCA/DMN
Rodeo bullfighter Clay Collins of Garland swung into action Wednesday as bullrider Josh Cole of Athens was thrown off 'Bubba' during a demonstration ride at Resistol Arena.Mike McCall, managing partner of Camelot Sports and Entertainment, the new owner, calls it "a rebirth."
"We want to take the heritage and build on it," McCall said at a sneak preview event Wednesday at Resistol Arena. "We have a lot of plans, a lot of visions."
Part of that vision was a $2 million remodeling that included upgraded suites, a party suite that can accommodate up to 80 people and two scoreboard-size video boards. Camelot also replaced pens, chutes and stock pen dirt and is adding a club that will open next month.
Another goal was making entertainment more affordable, meaning cheaper ticket, parking and concession prices. A general admission ticket is now $11 for adults.
Organizers are hoping the new features can help reverse the fortunes of the Mesquite Championship Rodeo, which had fallen behind the standards of other venues. Attendance has been in decline 1992.
Last month, Hicks Sports Group sold the 50-year-old cowboy cathedral to a group of investors led by McCall, former Frisco RoughRiders president. McCall's group then shut down the rodeo for a month while updates took place.
Camelot's renovations will be paid back by with revenue from a city and school district tax-increment financing zone that includes the arena.
The revamped rodeo will still feature Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association competitors. But it also will feature music, lasers and "more of a Broadway stage" approach to opening ceremonies, said Rorey Lemmel, general manager of Smith Pro Rodeos, ownership partner and the stock provider for the rodeo.
"It's going to be a little over two hours of man-vs.-beast with a little bit of rock 'n' roll," he said.
The rodeo season will run into August. Then, for the first time, the Mesquite rodeo will reopen for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. When there's no rodeo, the new crew plans a variety of mixed martial-arts events, concerts and trade shows.
Wednesday's event featured a display of professional rodeo performers, horses big and small and demonstrations by bull riders and a bull named "Bubba."
Dianne Petty and husband James of Frisco are among the rodeo's new owners. Neither has ever participated in a rodeo before, though James Petty came close a few years ago when he was a rider for the Frisco RoughRiders.
In those days, James Petty was known as "The Chief" and he rode in full regalia on his own black horse, named Thunder. It was there that the couple met McCall, Dianne Petty said.
"James almost had to beg me to do it," McCall said, remembering those days. "But we developed a beautiful relationship."
Camelot and Smith Pro Rodeos also have a nice relationship, by all accounts.
Stace Smith said he was alarmed to hear rumors that the rodeo might close and looked into bidding for it. In the process, he met with Camelot representatives and they reached an agreement.
"It's better," Smith said. "They know how to market and I know how to put on rodeos."
