The 2021 Fort Worth Stock Show and rodeo has officially been canceled.
The executive committee of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo voted unanimously yesterday to cancel the 2021 Show scheduled for January 15 through February 6.
President and General Manager Brad Barnes says in a press release the committee could not find a safe way to hold the event for its nearly 1.2 million guests, exhibitors and competitors.
This is one of the biggest events of the year for Fort Worth. The only other time the show was cancelled was in 1943 near the height of World War II.
"This is a heartbreaking decision for our leadership and was not made lightly," said Barnes. "Unfortunately, the challenges we face to create practical and enforceable protocols and procedures to comply with COVID-19 guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are extremely daunting. The uncertainty of the virus potential spread across Texas and the nation during the upcoming flu season was another major factor weighing on our decision."
No tickets had gone on sale yet, so there are no refunds to process. Brockman says the Stock Show looks forward to returning in 2022.
"The health and safety of our community is of the utmost importance," said Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja. "We support the Stock Show's executive committee in making this difficult decision."