Houston's Go Tejano Day Attendence At NRG Arena Low For Mexican Genre Venue

Local Houston KPRC 2 News reported that Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo had a record attendence of more than 75K at the event, but photo from inside the arena and a worker's posting on Facebook indicate low turnout for the arena concert.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

March 17, 2015

Houston, Texas - Some Houston residents are questioning the news coverage about last Sunday's record breaking attendence at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) event. Houston KPRC 2 News reported that about 75,357 people attended Sunday's Go Tejano Day at the HLSR event, according to organizers. But the news cast failed to show any crowd at the arena from Sunday's headliner show featuring the Máquinaria Norteña and Arrolladora Banda El Limón.

A leaked photo by Melissa Flores on Facebook (FB) that is circulating on the social network and a FB posting by a worker from inside the NRG arena showed the arena seating sections mostly empty. The HLSR has been experiencing low attendence to the event since it began during the 19-day event.

On Sunday, Tejano music enthusiasts were out protesting with signs against the HLSR's continued practice to keep Tejano bands or conjuntos from sharing the stage with Mexican music genre bands on Go Tejano Day. Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) was unable to get additional photos or video from those attending the NRG arena concert to confirmed that the Mexican music venue was sold out. HNNUSA learned that the HLSR handed out thousands of complimentary tickets to Houston area rodeo attendees.

If KPRC 2 News who had access to the venue didn't show a packed show at the arena, it is most likely the arena event bombed-out. Hopefully, next year Tejano bands can share the stage with Mexican music genre bands to pack the concert and bring in the revenue needed to fund the event and hefty salaries for the HLSR organizers.

KHOU 11 News posted photos of the Mexican music genre on GO Tejano Day, but the photos on their FB page when enlarged show the first level of the NRG arena barely full and the two upper levels mostly empty, including the ground level for standing room was even empty at the 71,500 capacity stadium. Lesson learned for the HLSR that Tejanos were needed to attend on Sunday to pack the arena.
HNNUSA has learned that the non-profit HLSR actually even discriminates against DREAMers, they expected for Mexican nationals to attend the Go Tejano Day venue and the 19-day event to generate revenue for scholarships and they don't award scholarships to the children of the people they expect to spend money at the HLSR. The HLSR has for years expanded their Mexican music venue at their event, but only award scholarships to U.S. citizens and not to DREAMers or undocumented students whose parents have been supporting the rodeo and do spend money at the HLSR event.
The HLSR 19-day rodeo event ends on March 22.

Only U.S. Citizens can apply for scholarships with the HLSR, according to their discriminatory guidelines and requirements of exclusion.