One night, three competitions and a midnight pyro show
Buckin' New Year's Eve returns to Cowtown Coliseum on Thursday, December 31, 2026. The venue publishes the run of show in its event record: bronc riding, bull riding and American freestyle bullfighting, with live sets from David Lewis, Shelby Stone and Chancey Williams. A pyrotechnics display in the arena marks midnight.
Tickets sell through AXS. The coliseum states that box office prices and service fees match the online prices.
Cowtown Coliseum sits at 121 East Exchange Avenue, Fort Worth 76164, inside the Historic Stockyards. The building holds 2,400 arena seats.
Two private suites, 36 guests each
The coliseum sells two named suites. The American Hat Suite carries a capacity of 36, with high and low top seating, a custom bar, large windows and a view of the arena. The Busch Light Suite carries a capacity of 36 and sits on the east side of the arena floor with an open floor plan.
Both suites include a designated usher, upgraded seating, privacy and a private VIP entrance. Each lists three optional add-ons: catering, a private bartender and pre-event activities. The two suites hold 72 guests.
The Platinum Deck sells to a group at 75 to 80
The Platinum Deck is the coliseum's third premium product. Capacity reads 62 when seats sell individually and 75 to 80 when a group buys the deck. The deck is a standing section with open seating available, and mounted screens carry the view for guests who sit. The venue puts seating at up to 65 guests with standing room.
Four conditions sit on the same page. Stairs are required and there is no elevator. Guests must be 21 or older for alcohol service, with ID. The deck is open to all ages. No refunds are issued.
The all-inclusive package carries a VIP entrance, a lanyard and credential, an in-arena photo, an open bar with the bartender tip excluded, an onsite concierge, upgraded restrooms and an elevated view over the bucking chutes.
The photo window carries a clock. The coliseum asks guests to arrive before 6:45 p.m. for a 7:30 performance and before 12:45 p.m. for a 1:30 performance. Arena floor access ends 30 minutes before showtime.
The second purchase: a private rodeo on another date
The coliseum rents the arena floor for private events on non-event days. The floor measures 93 feet by 152 feet, or 14,136 square feet, under a ceiling of 62 feet 9 inches. Seating capacity on the floor is set by the layout, and the arena holds 2,400 fixed seats.
Visit Fort Worth's venue listing publishes the banquet figure at 600 for the largest room and the reception figure at 1,000. The coliseum publishes the same space as suitable for banquets, galas, graduations and award ceremonies, with climate control, premium seats, a removable arena fence, a concert grade sound system and 16 digital screens.
Four terms govern the rental. The floor arrives as dirt for rodeo events and converts to a roller-packed surface for a fee with notice. A closed-door private event carries an additional fee, and the building may otherwise stay open to the public depending on the rental type. Outside catering is permitted with a catering buyout fee, and in-house partners offer set menus and bar packages. Events can be booked up to three years ahead.
Private rodeo exhibitions, trick ropers, live music and line-dance lessons sit on the venue's own list of bookable entertainment. Kelly Tarter holds the Director of Sales seat and answers at kelly@cowtowncoliseum.com.
What each purchase carries
The coliseum publishes entitlements, capacities and terms on both routes, and holds the rate for a quote. Neither the suite page nor the private events page publishes a price.
A December 31 purchase buys a fixed room and a fixed date, with the published run of show and the midnight close. A floor rental buys the arena on a date the client picks, with the guest count set by the layout and catering added as an option. Both routes end at the same sales contact.
Five hotels in the Stockyards
The coliseum publishes five preferred hotels, all inside 76164. Hotel Drover at 200 Mule Alley carries 200 rooms and suites, (817) 755-5557. Hyatt Place sits at 132 E Exchange Ave, (817) 626-6000. The Stockyards Hotel is at 109 E Exchange Ave, (800) 423-8471, and returns in 2027. SpringHill Suites is at 2315 N Main St, (682) 255-5100. Courtyard Fort Worth Historic Stockyards is at 2537 N Main St, (817) 624-1112.
No nightly rate and no block code appears for any of the five. The bookMyTeam Fort Worth directory lists 255 hotels. bookMyTeam publishes a group rate as a rate negotiated for a block of 10 or more rooms, typically 15 to 40 percent below the Best Available Rate, with no booking fee.
Requests route through the RFP form, and the city list sits at the Fort Worth directory.
What to ask before either date
Ask for the suite rate and the deck rate in writing. Ask how many guests each holds after staff and catering are counted. Ask whether the December 31 date carries a minimum spend. Ask what the catering buyout fee covers on a private date. Ask for a Stockyards block with a cut-off date and one invoice.
New Year's Eve sits on a Thursday. A client group leaves the office on December 31 and returns on January 1 or January 2. Price the block before the suites are signed.
