(beaver) trail rider

Buc-ee’s founder saddles up as 2024 Downtown Rodeo Parade grand marshal

Arch “Beaver” Aplin III is this year's rodeo parade Grand Marshal.

Photo courtesy of Buc- ee’s

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo 2024 is just 53 days away until opening day, but fans have some dam good Texas news to kick off the new year. This year’s 2024 Downtown Rodeo Parade grand marshal will be none other than Buc- ee’s founder and CEO, Arch “Beaver” Aplin III.

Aplin will be joined by his iconic, beloved brainchild Beaver, the Buc-ee’s mascot, who will walk the parade route with fellow beloved mascot, the rodeo’s Howdy. Fans can line up and wave to Aplin and Beaver on parade day on Saturday, February 24.

A tradition since 1938, marks the beginning of rodeo season and celebrates Texas and Western heritage.

“Buc-ee’s is one of Texas’ most notable brands and we are honored to have Arch Aplin III help kick off our historic event,” said Chris Boleman, Rodeo president and CEO, in a statement. “As many of our attendees travel long distances for our annual event, Buc-ee’s is part of the Rodeo experience for many already.”

Since 1982, the landmark has grown from a simple, 3,000-square-foot store at 899 Oyster Creek Dr. on the border of Clute and Lake Jackson, Texas, to a treasured Texas institution. Fans from around the globe flock to the locations to stock up on brisket and BBQ, snacks, the famed Beaver Nuggets, gifts and goods, and enjoy — of course — the greatly appreciated clean bathrooms. As of 2023, Buc-ee’s now has 47 locations nationwide‚ with 34 in Texas alone.

So prolific is Buc-ee’s reach and brand presence that it received the CBS Sunday Morning treatment in January 2022, as well as myriad national media pieces.

Aplin’s is a passion for giving back to Texas and his cherished alma mater, Texas A&M. He has previously served as chairman of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, is a board member of The Association of Former Students at Texas A&M, and a member of the Lieutenant Governor’s Transportation Advisory Board. He was also longtime board member of the Brazosport Independent School District.

A rodeo/Buc-ee’s parade theme is notable, as both cultural institutions started in the Houston area.

As for parade day, the annual Rodeo Run will get things moving, with the follow parade/run schedule:

9:10 am 10K Wheelchair
9:20 am 5K & 10K Corral A, 10K Time
9:35 am 5K Timed
9:35 am Untimed 5K (line up behind timed 5K participants)
10 am Downtown Rodeo Parade begins

One burning question: Will Aplin and Beaver toss out thousands of Beaver Nuggets on parade day? No telling, but fans can find more parade information here.

stadium switcheroo

Houston's NRG Stadium returns to reliable original name

Courtesy of NRG

NRG Stadium will return to its original name this fall.

Everything old is new again, they say. That’s about to be particularly true for a much-loved Houston venue.

NRG announced today that NRG Stadium and the surrounding buildings that make up NRG Park will be renamed Reliant Stadium and Reliant Park. The change takes effect this August, coinciding with the Houston Texans’ – and the stadium’s – 25th anniversary.

The change has already been approved by the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation.

“Houston is Reliant’s home, and a name Texans know and trust,” said Brad Bentley, head of NRG Consumer and Reliant. “For more than two decades, Reliant has powered the moments that bring our community together—from the Texans’ first game and hosting two Super Bowls to every unforgettable RodeoHouston performance in between. Fans have told us what this place means to them. For many, it’s always been Reliant Stadium. We heard them loud and clear. Reliant Stadium is back.”

Those fans have been particularly vocal. Recent survey results show 90 percent of Houston-area customers support the return to the Reliant Stadium name. When the arena made its debut in 2002, it carried the name Reliant Stadium. It was renamed NRG in 2014 following that company’s acquisition of Reliant’s consumer business.

Current NRG signage is already coming down, as the city prepares to transition to “Houston Stadium” ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Prior to the August renaming, several of the stadium’s partners are cheering the move.

"As a founding partner of the team, Reliant has been a part of our Houston Texans family from the very beginning," said Mike Tomon, Houston Texans president. "Reliant Stadium has been our home since our first game in 2002 and we can't wait to celebrate 25 seasons of Texans football back where it all began."

Tomon noted that the team’s connection to the Houston community is deeper and more extensive than its home turf in the stadium. The Texas are responsible for a variety of community initiatives, including the Scholarships for Champions Program, which has recognized and awarded scholarships to deserving student-athletes across the greater Houston area over the last two decades.

Another scholarship-granting organization, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, is also synonymous with Reliant Park.

"For more than two decades, Reliant Stadium, Reliant Center, and Reliant Arena have been at the heart of everything we do, serving as the home of our livestock and horse events and the heartbeat of RodeoHouston,” said Chris Boleman, president and CEO, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. "These venues are more than just a name; they represent a feeling, a tradition, and a shared experience we’re incredibly proud to call home.”

NRG Stadium isn't the only Houston sports arena to get a rebrand. Last year, the Houston Astros changed the name of Minute Maid Park to Daikin Park, thank to a naming rights agreement with HVAC manufacturer Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc.

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