Another year of the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) is here and with it comes a variety of rodeos and entertainment.
Taking place through Jan. 26 at the traditional National Western Center, the events draw hundreds of thousands of people to the area.
Paul Andrews, the CEO of the National Western Stock Show, said this is a year of new beginnings.
“We’ve got about maybe a dozen, maybe a little more than that, new vendors in the trade show hall that have some really interesting products that people will enjoy,” Andrews said. “It’s kind of the year of the baby around here. We’ve got lots of baby animals that have been born, and in fact one is the baby Scottish Highland cows that will be here up in our expo hall, and they’re going to be available to take pictures with.”
Andrews said there is also a new baby Clydesdale horse that will be at the stock show. The Clydesdale horses are large creatures who pull the wagons during the rodeos. Andrews said there will be about 130 rodeos throughout the stock show.
So far, Andrews said the early indicators, including ticket sales, show there could be as many as 700,000 people who visit the Stock Show. In addition, there are participants from all 50 states and other countries who will participate in stock show events. This contributes to what the NWSS estimates is a $171-million economic impact in the Metro-Denver area during the 16-day event.
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“That’s only the second time in my tenure that I can say that, and I’ve been here for 15 years,” Andrews said. “Our ticket sales are significantly ahead of any other year on this same date. If Mother Nature holds up on the weather for us, and we don’t get some 20-inch snowstorm or something of that, yeah, that will impact ticket sales. We’re feeling very good about (ticket sales).”
A full schedule of events can be found at nationalwestern.com/schedule/.
The NWSS also redid its menu in the steakhouse this year, including the addition of a 48-hour braised short rib “that is as big as my arm,” Andrews said.
“Like always, there’s something new at the Stock Show. But there’s also the same great traditional things that people love,” he added.
About 600 temporary workers were hired this year to enhance the events. Many have been on site since December, and some will work into February.
CEO change coming
Andrews has been a stalwart of the NWSS for decades. Having been its CEO for 15 years, he’s finally ready to pass the torch to another person.
However, the NWSS has not named a replacement at this time. The organization is going through a national search to find someone who can fill Andrews’s boots. Andrews said he will stay on as the CEO until the NWSS can find a replacement.
“I’ll be down here all the time at the next year’s show, and the show after that, and the show after that, God willing,” he said.
Andrews has sentimental value in the things he will miss most as CEO of the NWSS.
“Really, it’s been the smiles that I get to see every day in January,” Andrews said. “I so look forward to watching all the families coming through the exhibits that we have here, seeing the animals in the petting farm where the kids are actually in there with animals.
“I’ll also miss the staff,” Andrews continued. “I’ve become very close to both our staff and our volunteers, and I can tell you that our staff and our volunteers and our committees and our board are some of the best people on planet Earth, and I will miss them.”
The good news, Andrews said, is that he lives in nearby Arvada, so popping over to the NWSS is just a short drive.
National Western Center upgrades
The National Western Center is in the midst of its largest overhaul since the Stock Show came to Denver in 1906. Although no new buildings are open for this year’s events, the Sue Anschutz Rogers Livestock Center will be open for the 2026 National Western Stock Show.
“We are currently working with the (National Western Center Authority board) and a development partner to build out an equestrian center, hotel and parking garage,” said Marcy Loughran, the chief communications officer for the Denver Mayor’s Office on the National Western Center. “The current timeline for that is anticipated for either Stock Show 2028 or 2029.”
There’s also the land known as the “triangle,” an area that includes the Denver Coliseum and several other buildings. Discussions with local organizations that want to see the land repurposed for housing and other community uses are ongoing. The GES Coalition, a nonprofit that works with the Globeville, Elyria and Swansea neighborhoods, has been trying for years to make use of the land that would benefit the neighboring communities.
Loughran said the city is planning to meet with the coalition and community members in the near future to determine the best uses of the land.
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