The American Rodeo will move from AT&T Stadium to Globe Life Field in Arlington next year. Teton Ridge Sports acquired the rodeo last year. The event in 2023 will mark its tenth anniversary.
"What we like to say is you ain't seen nothing yet," said Teton Ridge President Joe Loverro. "To provide this sort of venue for our athletes and our fans is going to provide a whole new experience for both."
Loverro says the rodeo will expand to cover four days from March 8-11, 2023. The event will also include a festival in Arlington.
"We inherited The American as it was. I've been part of eight of the nine prior Americans, and I'm super proud of the part I played," he said. "But the opportunity to stop, to take a look at what's good, what could be better, what can be next level was an opportunity we couldn't pass on."
Loverro says moving to a baseball stadium will open up more space. This year, fans will be able to buy field level tickets.
"You're close enough to the action, the dirt can hit you," said Jackie Crawford, a 20 time breakaway roping champion. "You can feel the electricity from the competitors and the animals."
Matt Wilson, vice president of sports and events at Arlington CVB, says growth around The American will bring more crowds to the Entertainment District after the Cowboys' season and before the Rangers start.
"The whole goal is we want to program this city 365 days out of the year," he said. "We have an entertainment district that's coming together."
The Entertainment District has grown with the opening of Texas Live! in 2018 and Live by Loews Hotel. Wilson says that growth will continue with the 888 room Loews Arlington hotel that will be connected to the city's new convention center.
"Western sports culture may not be for you, but this is a great place to catch a ballgame, watch something on TV, get something to drink, something to eat or catch a concert," he said. "We do concerts very well here in Arlington, so there's something going on at all times."
The American is using a new format to appeal to a larger base. Loverro says athletes will compete in one of three regional brackets: east, central and west.
"We designed a tournament that creates brand new paths," he said. "The big idea here is to engage athletes from all parts of the country who have felt like The American is a Texas rodeo."
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