Ongoing discussions in San Diego about banning rodeos became more urgent Monday when the Padres announced Petco Park will soon host an expanded version of the January 2024 rodeo that sparked the controversy.
The announcement comes with Councilmember Kent Lee, who proposed a ban shortly after last January’s Petco rodeo based on animal rights concerns, still pursuing some sort of legislation — but on the retreat.
Lee has backed away from a complete ban because of backlash from Native American tribes and others who say rodeos are a cultural practice long intertwined with Black, Indigenous and Mexican American communities.
Hammering out some sort of compromise proposal didn’t seem particularly time sensitive until the Padres announced Monday that Petco will host a second annual rodeo Jan. 10, 11 and 12.
The event, which would be just the second time a rodeo has been staged within San Diego city limits since the 1980s, would feature expanded seating to boost attendance beyond last year’s 45,580.
Food and entertainment options would also be expanded to include nightly concerts, larger spaces for vendors and additional family-friendly entertainment focused on rodeo cultural traditions.
“This is one of the higher-profile events in rodeo that contestants look to be a part of,” said Josh Shockey, one of the event’s lead organizers. “Last year we had over 45,000 people and this year it’s our intention to increase that significantly.”
It’s not clear what the impact would be if the City Council, before January, approves a ban or compromise legislation that cracks down on certain events or the use of equipment like bucking straps or shocking devices.
The San Diego Rodeo Alliance, a diverse coalition of local tribes and small businesses, said the event at Petco — dubbed the San Diego Rodeo — is a leader in animal welfare with the highest industry standards for animal care, transportation and gear.
“All events are audited by onsite veterinarians and the San Diego Humane Society, whose audit of the 2024 San Diego Rodeo found no animal welfare violations,” the group said Monday.
The Humane Society issued a statement Monday saying it is “deeply disappointed” Petco will host a second rodeo.
“This new announcement only strengthens our commitment to protecting animal welfare and banning rodeos in San Diego,” said Dr. Gary Weitzman, the nonprofit’s chief executive. “Rodeos often involve practices that cause unnecessary harm, fear and distress to animals, violating the basic principles of humane treatment.”
Some rodeo supporters have said they are skeptical Lee can get the five votes necessary on the nine-member City Council for a ban or partial crackdown.
Lee said Monday that he will continue pursuing legislation.
“The city should not be in the business of profiting from inhumane animal practices, and I was disappointed to learn that this event has been scheduled at Petco Park,” he said by email. “The timing of our proposal will not be decided by any one event, and we continue to work collaboratively with the San Diego Humane Society, animal welfare advocates and other civic leaders to bring forward an animal welfare ordinance this year.”
Lee said the ordinance will focus on preventing animal abuse.
“Once in effect, this ordinance will help to prevent the continued mistreatment of animals for entertainment, a practice we should not encourage or promote in city-owned facilities such as Petco Park” he said.
John Christman, chairman of Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, said local tribes and the San Diego Rodeo Alliance will fight hard against any legislation.
“Any proposal to ban or curtail our cultural practices is deeply concerning for us,” he told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “We feel strongly there is an opportunity to join together with the city decision-makers to advance our shared values, especially when it comes to animal welfare and our shared respect of cultural heritage.”
While the ban wouldn’t apply to local tribes because their land is outside the city limits, they’re fighting it because they believe bans proposed recently in San Diego and Los Angeles could quickly spread statewide.
“People sometimes ask why it’s important for us to practice rodeo beyond our tribal lands,” Christman said. “It’s because performing at a venue like Petco Park in the city of San Diego, which sits on Indigenous land, empowers us to share our skills, our history with tens of thousands of people who might otherwise never learn our stories.”
Los Angeles leaders kicked their own proposed ban back to a City Council committee last winter, based on similar concerns related to tribal groups.
A revised Los Angeles proposal unveiled in July would ban “bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping, or any other activity that involves physically wrestling an animal to the ground, roping an animal, or attempting to ride and remain mounted on a bucking animal.”
But the proposed Los Angeles law also makes an exception for cultural traditions. It says “this section shall not be construed to prohibit an equestrian, cultural, or other event, including an event described as a rodeo, that does not include any of the activities prohibited.”
A spokesperson for San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said the permit for the second Petco rodeo will include conditions preventing animal cruelty that the mayor supports. The mayor declined any further comment.
Monday’s announcement came during the first pitch of the Padres game at Petco versus the Houston Astros. Rodeo representatives lined the field dressed in traditional attire and explained that rodeo is an important cultural practice that stretches back over a century.