Alcohol Sales at Rodeo Eclipsed Local Bars in February

San Angeloans consumed over $1.9 million in alcohol in February, nearly one-tenth of which was sold in beer at the Stock Show and Rodeo from Feb. 13-28.

The two-week event brought in some $174,168 in beer and mixed drink sales this year, topping the charts in alcohol sales and beating out the top-ranking bar, Shenanigans, by approximately $45,000.

Carlo Campanelli, General Manager for San Angelo Host Events, said that the rodeo is the largest event of the year for the concessions company, who contracts with the city to provide alcohol and concessions at city-owned venues.

“It’s strictly rodeo, nothing else,” Campanelli said of the hefty alcohol sales. “There were regular events we do every month—some weddings, some quniceaneras. Actually, we did a tattoo convention in February also. That wasn’t that big though because they were quite a bit down on their attendance this year. [Rodeo is] the only reason [we topped the sales]. We don’t do much alcohol sales throughout the year, but the one time a year is when we basically sell a lot of beer.”

Campanelli said that sales this year were roughly the same as last year, noting that regardless of duration, the coliseum’s capacity remains the same year round.

“The food, we sold a little more this year because it was so cold outside that people did not go to the midway as much the last two days, so our food sales were a little bit better,” he said.

With the exception of a few venues that are BYOB, San Angelo Host Events provides concessions for all city events on a contract made with the city council years back, Campanelli explained. The main venues the company services are the convention center, the River Stage and the coliseum.

Below are the alcohol sales for the top 25 San Angelo venues for the month of February.