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A ceremony this week celebrated the third phase of a four-phase plan to renovate eight Will Rogers Memorial Center livestock barns originally constructed in 1948.
Mayor Mattie Parker and Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo (FWSSR) officials spoke to the crowd in a ceremony that filled an additional building — the new Arena 1 that complements the renovated Sheep and Swine barns located adjacent to Dickies Arena and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.
“With the Stock Show only one month away, we can hardly wait to see the look on the faces of the thousands of 4-H and FFA youth when they bring their animals into these amazing buildings for competition,” said Stock Show General Manager Matt Carter. “This is truly an exciting day not only for the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, but the City of Fort Worth and the many organizations that utilize our wonderful facilities throughout the year.”
What you’ll see: Improved lighting, air ventilation, livestock washing facilities and other amenities have transformed the buildings to accommodate thousands of youth who compete in the FWSSR’s swine, sheep and goat shows. The addition of Arena 1 allows for a 41% increase in stalling space for the Stock Show’s sheep, goat and swine exhibitors.
While the sheep and swine barns were originally built for a single purpose, all three structures feature a “flat floor” design that makes them useful for a wide variety of purposes that can include banquets, trade shows, receptions, meetings, luncheons and, of course, horse shows held at WRMC during non-Stock Show months.
Why the need? Tremendous growth by equine organizations that lease WRMC has created the need for additional infrastructure for shows and competitions. The three buildings can easily be converted into horse stalls and exercise arenas for use by WRMC tenants, including the National Cutting Horse Association, American Paint Horse Association and the National Reined Cow Horse Association. An additional 320 stalls can now be made available to these organizations and others beginning in 2025.
“Without having to expand our structural footprint, these organizations now have additional stalling capacity and a new climate-controlled exercise arena for their competitors to enjoy during non-Stock Show months,” said Mayor Mattie Parker. “All these projects serve to grow the economic impact of these facilities for the City of Fort Worth, which already exceeds $217 million in direct economic activity.”
Who paid for this? Funding for the project, estimated at $40 million, was borne equally between FWSSR and the City.
More WRMC renovations are forthcoming through a longstanding public-private partnership between the Stock Show and the City.
What’s next? “We’re already working on the conceptual design of Phase Four, which will provide important upgrades to Cattle Barns 3 and 4,” said Stock Show Chairman Philip Williamson. “To date, the Stock Show and the City of Fort Worth have committed $69.24 million in improvements to these important facilities in Phases I through III. This vision has taken time and required patience, but the results are nothing short of amazing. Our decades-long public-private partnership is a shining example of what’s possible when government and the private sector come together in a common purpose.”
Shine up your boots: The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is set to “Hustle and Show,” in 2025 as it welcomes more than 13,000 youth from across Texas competing for more than $7 million in scholarships and auction receipts, along with more than 1.2 million visitors from around the world.
Encounter tantalizing food, shopping, livestock shows, live music, carnival-midway, equestrian competitions, petting zoo and more with a rodeo in Dickies Arena. Make plans today, then get ready for a legendary good time Jan. 17-Feb. 8.
