SAN ANGELO, Texas — The San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Association has big plans for expanding the Foster Communications Coliseum in the near future.
The coliseum was built more than 60 years ago, with only one prior renovation in the lobby area. An expansion will allow thousands more to enjoy rodeo performances.
“Our rodeo has grown so much over the years and it’s heartbreaking at times when we sell our tickets out so fast and there’s so many people that are upset that they couldn't make it to the rodeo,” San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Association Executive Director, Justin Jonas, said.
Rodeo tickets sold out fast this year on the first day of sales with many people waiting in long lines for hours at the coliseum box office just to make sure they got their seats before tickets sold out.
Jonas said with the expansion of the coliseum, capacity will grow from 5,000 to 9,500. He explained what the plans are to raise the funds to cover the costs of the expansion.
“We’re a nonprofit and we have a foundation and we do have some loyal donors that do donate to us. It will probably be some of our money, some of the city’s money, might be some of a venue taxed there’s so many different options out there. I just know that the city is 100 percent behind us, the county is 100 percent behind us, they all know that it needs to be done and we’re just trying to get the ball moving,” Jonas said.
He said the association is teaming up with an architect firm in Dallas to help plan the expansion to the existing building, not a new building.
“There’s no way that we would expect to try to knock this Coliseum down and build a brand new one for 150 to 200 million dollars is what the estimate that we had if we ever did that, we don't want to do that to the taxpayers at all,” he said.
Jonas said there needs to be a rodeo every year and with the expansion, they will need to make sure nothing is damaged in the renovation process, or will be fixed by the time rodeo comes around again. He goes on to say the organization is not alone in the process.
“We’re teaming up with the city, we’re teaming up with the county and association and we’re in the early stages of this,” Jonas said.
The San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Association expects to have a cost estimate for the expansion in the next month.
FOX West Texas reached out to San Angelo Civic Events Manager Sidney Walker for an interview, but he was not available Thursday.