San Diego Rodeo Set to Return to Petco Park Amid Animal Welfare Concerns

Scheduled from January 15 to January 17, the rodeo will showcase top rodeo athletes competing for a total prize pool of $750,000, culminating in Championship Sunday, during which event winners will be announced.

Following the nightly rodeo events, attendees can enjoy a drone show. Saturday's lineup includes a DJ party with line dancing in Gallagher Square, while Sunday will feature a country concert at the same venue.

Tickets for both the rodeo and the concert will go on sale to the public on September 18 at 10 a.m. via the Padres website.

The rodeo will highlight 12 participants in each timed event, which includes barrel racing and bull riding, with preliminary rounds occurring on Friday and Saturday. The Championship Sunday semifinals will narrow the competition to eight athletes vying for one of four spots in the finals.

Rodeo organizers emphasized the event's historical significance, stating it acknowledges a rich rodeo heritage tied to Indigenous, Hispanic, and Black Hispanic traditions, and celebrates participants from various Sovereign Nations such as the Kumeyaay and Sioux.

A vendor village will feature Western apparel, crafts, and artwork, along with concessions throughout the venue. A BeerFest, with $5 beer specials from local and national breweries, is also set for Friday and Saturday, and a Western-themed KidsFest will cater to families on Sunday.

Last year, the rodeo faced heightened protests from animal rights activists, leading to a lack of funding from the San Diego Tourism Marketing District for the first time; previous years had seen allocations of $150,000. Some sponsors, including Monster Energy and Diageo, chose to withdraw from the event.

Concerns regarding animal welfare were amplified after the death of an 11-month-pregnant horse, Pearl Necklace, following a saddle bronc event during the 2025 rodeo. While the horse showed no visible injuries, it collapsed shortly after competing, leading to a San Diego Humane Society investigation. The investigation revealed the horse died from a ruptured uterine artery and found no legal violations against the owner or organizers.

Despite the findings, the Humane Society continues to oppose rodeos, citing the inherent risks and stress they pose to animals. Previous incidents, including the death of a bucking horse, have contributed to ongoing scrutiny. Notably, after an unsuccessful proposal by San Diego City Councilman Kent Lee to ban rodeos, a judge ruled that rodeos at Petco Park must enhance veterinary care and bar pregnant horses from participating.