Get yer' spurs on as the Cow Palace Arena Hosts the 70th Grand National Livestock Expo, Horse Show & Rodeo over two October weekends
For 70 years the iconic Cow Palace Arena & Event Center has been celebrating the old west and inspiring youth to take part in the agriculture industry through their annual Grand National Livestock Exposition, Horse Show and Rodeo event. From top to bottom the Cow Palace is filled with the ultimate western experience including an agriculture exhibition, a professional Rodeo in partnership with the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association), and a classic western marketplace - including mechanical bull rides, live music, BBQ, shopping, and more. The family-friendly event takes place all day over two action packed weekends on Oct. 14-15 and Oct. 21-22, 2016. Although tickets must be purchased for the Grand National Rodeo in the main arena, the Livestock Exposition, Horse Show, Interactive Agricultural Area, and Marketplace are FREE to the public.
During the livestock exposition, real farm equipment and animals are on site with interactive displays to learn about how food is grown. Exhibitors will show cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and rabbits, along with photography and fine art inspired by agriculture and western lifestyle.
Schools are able to bring students to the agriculture fair for "Kids at the Palace", a free event during the day on Friday, October 14 and must reserve their spot ahead of time (contact media@cowpalace.com for reservations). Space is still available for vendors in the Western Marketplace, and businesses interested in becoming an event sponsor can contact the Cow Palace for more information. Pre-sale tickets to the rodeo are now on sale and range from $12- $42. Tickets can be purchased on the Cow Palace website (cowpalace.com). For more details contact info@cowpalace.com or call 415-414-4100.
FULL EVENT SCHEDULE:
Friday Oct. 14 - Opening Day
Kids at the Palace (scheduled school tour)
Open/Junior Livestock Show
Color Guard & Drill Team
PRCA Rodeo
Saturday Oct. 15 - Cattleman's Day
Open/Junior Livestock Show
Classic Barrel Racing
Lunch At The Palace - Cowgirl Luncheon
Livestock Person of the Year Banquet
PRCA Rodeo
Sunday Oct. 16
Open/Junior Livestock Show
Classic Barrel Racing
Monday Oct. 17
AQHA Ranch Horse
Versatility & Ranch Riding
Thursday Oct. 20
NCA Dog Trials
Friday Oct. 21 - Tough Enough to Wear Pink Day
NCA Dog Trials
PRCA Rodeo
Saturday Oct. 22 - Military Day
Team Penning Super Stakes
ASBA Rabbit Show
PRCA Rodeo
Cow Palace Burger Eating Contest w 7 Mile House
Sunday Oct 23
RSNC Ranch Sorting & Championships
ARBA Rabbit Show
October 2016
For 70 years the iconic Cow Palace Arena & Event Center has been celebrating the old west and inspiring youth to take part in the agriculture industry through their annual Grand National Livestock Exposition, Horse Show and Rodeo event. From top to bottom the Cow Palace is filled with the ultimate western experience including an agriculture exhibition, a professional Rodeo in partnership with the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association), and a classic western marketplace - including mechanical bull rides, live music, BBQ, shopping, and more. The family-friendly event takes place all day over two action packed weekends on Oct. 14-15 and Oct. 21-22, 2016. Although tickets must be purchased for the Grand National Rodeo in the main arena, the Livestock Exposition, Horse Show, Interactive Agricultural Area, and Marketplace are FREE to the public.
The Rodeo, produced for the past 47 years by Cotton Rosser and the Flying U Rodeo Co., features traditional rodeo events, including bronc riding, bull riding and barrel racing to name a few. An annual highlight for the rodeo community is the contest for 'Miss Grand National Rodeo Queen', a title that is held for one year to serve as a good-will ambassador for the sport of Rodeo.
During the livestock exposition, real farm equipment and animals are on site with interactive displays to learn about how food is grown. Exhibitors will show cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and rabbits, along with photography and fine art inspired by agriculture and western lifestyle.
Schools are able to bring students to the agriculture fair for "Kids at the Palace", a free event during the day on Friday, October 14 and must reserve their spot ahead of time (contact media@cowpalace.com for reservations). Space is still available for vendors in the Western Marketplace, and businesses interested in becoming an event sponsor can contact the Cow Palace for more information. Pre-sale tickets to the rodeo are now on sale and range from $12- $42. Tickets can be purchased on the Cow Palace website (cowpalace.com). More: info@cowpalace.com or call 415-414-4100.
About the Grand National Rodeo:
The Cow Palace was created in 1941 as the 1-A District Agricultural Association, and as part of its mission produces the annual 'Grand National Livestock Exposition, Horse Show and Rodeo'. It is the West's most prestigious western lifestyle event attracting thousands of participants and fans from seven western states.
FULL EVENT SCHEDULE
Friday Oct. 14 - Opening Day
Kids at the Palace (scheduled school tour)
Open/Junior Livestock Show
Color Guard & Drill Team
PRCA Rodeo
Saturday Oct. 15 - Cattleman's Day
Open/Junior Livestock Show
Classic Barrel Racing
Lunch At The Palace - Cowgirl Luncheon
Livestock Person of the Year Banquet
PRCA Rodeo
Sunday Oct. 16
Open/Junior Livestock Show
Classic Barrel Racing
Monday Oct. 17
AQHA Ranch Horse
Versatility & Ranch Riding
Thursday Oct. 20
NCA Dog Trials
Friday Oct. 21 - Tough Enough to Wear Pink Day
NCA Dog Trials
PRCA Rodeo
Saturday Oct. 22 - Military Day
Team Penning Super Stakes
ASBA Rabbit Show
PRCA Rodeo
Cow Palace Burger Eating Contest w 7 Mile House
Sunday Oct 23
RSNC Ranch Sorting & Championships
ARBA Rabbit Show
September 2016
Revitalization hopes for both the Cow Palace and Surrounding Community Sometimes it takes throwing cold water on our face to bring things into focus. This is certainly the net result of the legislation proposed by State Senator Leland Yee. His bill, SB1527, backed by Daly City, proposed to sell the Cow Palace as surplus State property and clear the way for a massive condo and commercial development project. This bill brought into sharp focus the fact that many people believe both the Bayshore Community and the Cow Palace can and should be revitalized.
Due to an overwhelming public outcry, and a shared desire to see the Cow Palace continue as a Bay Area icon, Senator Yee amended his bill to spare the Cow Palace. The legislation, now on the Governor’s desk, calls for the sale of only 13 acres of Cow Palace overflow parking lots adjacent to the old Geneva Drive-In movie theater. The goal of this sale is to provide land desperately needed for a local grocery store and retail center.
The problem is, the Cow Palace Board of Directors has been working on exactly the same goal for over a year. However, it appears they have a better way to achieve it: a long term lease to a commercial developer who will build the retail center and pay the Cow Palace rent for 50 years.
With income from a long-term lease, and a retail center for the community, the Cow Palace and the local community both win. Supporters of this plan hope that the Governor will veto the sale of the 13 acres and allow the long-term lease to move forward. In a down real estate market, it is clearly a better choice to lease than to sell.
With income from the lease, the Cow Palace will begin to fund a long overdue revitalization, completing seismic and ADA projects and beginning a beautification, community outreach, and marketing process that will usher in a new future for the Bay Area icon. This will support local businesses, which in turn will encourage job growth, and hopefully begin an upward trend for an area.
“We love the Cow Palace, and so do many thousands of citizens from the local community and throughout the State”, says Steven Jonson, School Teacher from Pacifica. “I attend the Great Dickens Christmas Fair at the Cow Palace every year and believe that educational and family oriented eventslike the Fair bring culture and the arts to the area. We need to help bring more events like this to the Cow Palace. Especially with the high price of gas, having an accessible community event center is increasingly important. We need to come together as a community and make sure the Cow Palace can continue to make a valuable contribution for another 60 years.”
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, takes place for 4 weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas. With an aggressive new marketing plan and the momentum of the strong outcry from thousands of Bay Area citizens in support of saving the Cow Palace, it appears we are on the verge of an exciting new era for the iconic venue.
Mara Kopp, Cow Palace Boardmember and wife of former State Senator, Judge Quenten Kopp, had this to say: “The Cow Palace’s original mission as a venue for State agricultural community events like the Grand National Rodeo held each Spring, is naturally evolving to provide much more than a venue for rock concerts and conventions. It is now beginning to serve as a celebration center for our multi ethnic population, and along with many other future benefits, will serve as an educational center for inner city youth. When it was threatened with destruction, the outpouring of enthusiasm and creative ideas for the future showed us that the Cow Palace is not only loved for nostalgic reasons, but people feel that it can change with the times and become an ever more valuable resource to the community.”
Senate Bill 1527 is still pending, which would sell the 13 acres of Cow Palace parking lots instead of the long term lease in process. The threat that the Cow Palace could be torn down is still real, especially if the funding for its revitalization is cut short by a sale instead of a lease. The future of the revitalization of the local community is also tied to the fate of the Cow Palace. With over 650,000 people attending Cow Palace events last year, and the potential of significantly increased numbers after it’s revitalization, the success of any new retail center on Geneva Avenue will certainly be tied to the success of the Cow Palace. You do the math.
Info: www.savethecowpalace.com or email info@savethecowpalace.com Sept. 2008
California boasts (yes, boasts) one of the largest agricultural and husbandry fair systems in the world. The State Department of Food and Agriculture manages 54 district agricultural associations which sponsors fairs and entertainment events throughout the year, conferring joy and pleasure upon millions of Californians and even out-of-stators.
One of those “Ag” associations is District Agricultural Association 1-A, commonly known as the Cow Palace. Opened in 1941, after a long period of development in the aftermath of the enormously successful 1915 Pan Pacific International Exposition, with its livestock show, the Cow Palace reposes regally off Geneva Avenue on 70 acres of land in Daly City and San Francisco.
Every year the Cow Palace hosts events such as the Grand National Rodeo, and Junior Livestock Show, the Garden and Landscape show, the Dog Show, the Dickens Christmas Faire, the Harlem Globetrotters, Jehovah Witnesses, the Home Improvement Show, the trains exhibit, and Latin, Chinese, and Filipino musical concerts and many more. It hosts high school productions, Daly City school safety patrol programs, the Daly City Police Academy, San Mateo County law enforcement forums, sports shows, and many more.
Its rich history includes two national political party conventions, professional basketball and hockey games, college basketball tournaments, ethnic celebrations, Beatles concerts, and even Mick Jagger strutting on the stage! In 2007 alone over 550,000 people attended 60 different Cow Palace events. Since it’s opening, more than 30 million visitors have enjoyed Cow Palace performances, exhibits, and offerings.
Now Daly City and a shadowy, unidentified developer have attacked this ADA compliant landmark, which housed troops in World War II, in an old-fashioned land grab. Having suspended negotiations to lease for 60 years 13 Cow Palace acres of prime value, Daly City acting through Senator Leland Yee, sponsored a bill (SB 1527) to force the State to declare all 70 Cow Palace acres, evaluated as worth $100,000,000 to $150,000,000, to Daly City. Where will Daly City find that money, for this land grab you ask? The answer: the aforementioned, undisclosed (and unexposed) developer, fronted by lobbyists and a willing Senator Yee.
In the process of trying to rob us of our historical landmark, Cow Palace attackers have purveyed stunningly incorrect data and other misinformation, such as falsely accusing the Cow Palace of draining $1,000,000 from California’s general fund each year. The truth?
The California State Fair and Exposition Fund allocates $145,000 per year from the horseracing license fees to the Cow Palace for the Junior Livestock Show and has loaned it a total of $336,000 from those license fees for operational shortfall over several years. Another falsehood? Daly City stirs uninformed area sentiment by alleging the Cow Palace thwarts a long desired grocery store in the neighborhood. The truth is that the contemplated 13-acre, 60 year lease to Daly City would accommodate a supermarket and other retail stores.
While Daly City’s City Manager asserts to the Chronicle reporter, “the Cow Palace has outlived its usefulness” and “contributes nothing to the community”, she requested event tickets from Cow Palace staff for council members and herself just six weeks ago! Moreover, the Cow Palace pays Daly City $125,000or more annually for police services and charges Daly City but $1.00 per year for a substantial parking lot at its nearby community center and nothing for Daly City police training. When greed raises its head, past gratitude disappears. Make no mistake – SB 1527 represents greed, not good government or community service.
We must preserve this historic agricultural, economic, and social institution, upon which small businesses; event attendees and hundreds of jobs depend. The San Francisco County Fair closed because it possessed no property like the Cow Palace. To allow the Cow Palace demise by neighboring politicians and stealthy private development operators contradicts our proud heritage. Tell Mr. Yee to drop SB 1527 and send Daly City back to the negotiating table for the development of the 13-acre lease of Cow Palace land for the good of Daly City, San Francisco, and other Bay Area residents. The bill is unnecessary because the “Thirteen Acre Solution” provides Daly City with acreage for a supermarket and retail center, (the pretext of the bill), and allows the Cow Palace to remain in service to the community, the Bay Area, the State of California and beyond.
Note: the Senate Agricultural Committee on April 1 refused to vote on SB 1527, despite Senator Yee’s request and retained the bill for possible future action. Vigilance is needed.
Information at: www.leginfo.ca.gov and www.savethecowpalace.com
And the Cow Palace hosts the 2008 Grand National Rodeo April 4-12. Go to www.grandnational.com for information and tickets.
Mara S. Kopp – Cow Palace Board of Directors and Good Government Alliance