Earlier this week, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo announced updates to its dress code for guests at NRG Park.
Many rodeo-goers seem to welcome the decision.
The rodeo on Tuesday released an updated version of its guest code of conduct. The revised requirementsinclude no "inappropriate" clothing and no “visible tattoos or any other attire bearing the name, insignia, colors, or other indicia of affiliation to a criminal street gang.”
Sandra Moreno and Lori Johnson attended the rodeo on Thursday afternoon, and both agreed with the new dress code.
Johnson said people can still have fun dressing up without taking attention away from the rodeo itself.
"You can still be kind of sexy, spicy, but you can keep it modest," Johnson said. "There are things on display, cattle and other [things] excitement-wise. We don't need to have that as another excitement to see for the night."
A spokesperson for the rodeo toldHouston Public Mediaon Wednesday that it did not yet have numbers to report on how many people had either been denied access to the rodeo grounds or asked to leave due to violations of the new dress code. The spokesperson also would not say whether any visitors had been denied access or removed because of their attire.
"The policy went into effect Monday night at 10:30. We are abiding by all guidelines laid out in them," the spokesperson said.
The new dress policy was implemented shortly after the carnival section of the event was closed early on Saturday, March 14, due to several fights breaking out. As a result, the rodeo announced it would beincreasing security.
Moreno said visitors need to keep in mind that the rodeo is a family-friendly event, with many people bringing their children.
"And I think it goes back to it being a family event," Moreno said. "Let's continue keeping it that way."
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Rickelle King also attended the rodeo Thursday afternoon. King said she had been earlier in the rodeo season with her two children, who are 5 and 8 years old.
"I am actually a fan of the dress code," King said. "I have come to the rodeo about two or three times already before the dress code got put in place, and the outfits were outrageous. We even had our kids with us, and I didn't even want my kids to see the things that we were seeing that particular day."
King's husband, Anthony Crabtree, agreed with his wife and said he hoped the dress code would help keep the annual event more orderly.
"I think with this being a family event and so many different cultures and people coming together, I appreciate that the rodeo is kind of getting back to its ways, and I think we kind of lost our way quickly with the spring break crowd,” he said. “And maybe so many out-of-towners coming in and not knowing how we approach the rodeo. Come out and have a good time."
This year’s rodeo concludes Sunday.
Houston Public Media’s Natalie Weber contributed to this report.
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