Organizers of a longtime Coast Coliseum event, the Professional Cowboy Association rodeo finals, are looking to beef up their event, maybe even attracting a new herd of visitors to the Mississippi Gulf Coast in January.
For two decades, the Professional Cowboy Association finals have been held at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, attracting about 8,000 people over four days, but organizers look to the national finals in Las Vegas as an example of what the event could be. More than 175,000 fans attended the finals, with country music concerts and special attractions at venues throughout the city. In the end, the effort generated a $93 million impact.
Cowboy Association marketer Renita Gordon told a group of tourism marketers during a meeting at Biloxi City Hall this week that the key to success is marketing the Mississippi Gulf Coast to the 127,000 rodeo fans who attend the 47 Southeastern rodeos that lead up to the Biloxi finals.
“By showcasing a Coast hotel or casino, or the community in general, you could entice these rodeo fans to come to the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast to see these finals,” Gordon said. “The rodeo audience is already there. We just need to make sure that they know Biloxi and the Mississippi Gulf Coast are the place to be. We want to generate heads in beds for a typically slow time of year.”
The Biloxi finals are scheduled for Jan. 11-14, 2018.
See images from the gathering
See a handout presented during the gathering
News and notes
Play ball: The Biloxi Shuckers look for their third straight win as they take on the Jackson Generals tonight at 6:05 in Jackson. For more information about the Biloxi Shuckers and to purchase tickets for a 10-game home stretch that begins Monday at MGM Park, click here.
Movie night: The Parks & Recreation Department will hold its Summer Movie Series event on Friday at the Biloxi Town Green with the showing of the Disney movie “Finding Dory.” Concessions begin at 5:30 p.m., games at 6 p.m. and the movie at dusk. To see the flyer, click here.
Dance night: The Parks & Recreation Department will hold its annual Special Needs Back-to-School Hoorah Dance on Friday at the Donal M. Sndyer Sr. Community Center from 6 to 9 p.m. The free event is sports themed and open to all children and adults with physical or mental disabilities. To see the flyer, click here
