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Top entertainers boost ticket sales for Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo
SIKESTON — Haven’t got your tickets yet for the Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo? You might want to make that purchase now.
According to Ross Merideth, general chairman for this year’s Aug. 8-11 event, tickets are selling fast.
“Overall sales are up and we are excited about that,” said Merideth. “We are looking at close to a 10 percent increase over sales compared to this time last year.”
Merideth said the sales increase is due to the quality of entertainment featured at the 2018 Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo. This year’s entertainers are: Chris Janson, Aug. 8; Brett Young, Aug. 9; Justin Moore, Aug. 10; and Travis Tritt, Aug. 11.
“We increased our budget toward entertainment this year. With more buying power, we got acts we couldn’t get in the past. … The ticket sales’ increase show we were correct in doing that,” Merideth said.
Leading the four acts in ticket sales is award-winning country music singer Travis Tritt, according to Merideth. Tritt’s ticket sales are closely followed by those of Justin Moore.
Many of the younger country music fans are purchasing tickets for Thursday’s performance by Brett Young, who was nominated for the 2018 Academy of Country Music New Male Vocalist of the Year award, and received the Association of Independent Music Publishers awards for Writer of the Year and Song of the Year.
“The in-the-dirt band sales for him are high,” said Ross. “He is rising star so we caught him at just the right time.”
The sale of the in-the-dirt bands for Perryville native Chris Janson are going well, too, he added. Merideth said the Jaycees are also working closely with the Perryville Chamber of Commerce to bring Perryville residents to the rodeo to watch the high-tempo show Janson is known for.
The In-the-dirt bands are an extra ticket which rodeo fans can purchase. The bands enable buyers to stand in the area in front of the stage while the entertainer performs.
“The in-the-dirt bands are very popular, especially with the younger crowd, who want to get down there for the concert,” Merideth explained. “That is where the true fans go. They are down there in the middle of it and having a big time.”
Ticket prices remain the same as last year, $25 for bleacher seats and $35 for box seats.
This year, Merideth said, the Jaycees have added another seating option — the all-inclusive Chute Club. For $75, a Chute Club ticket provides the buyer with all their food and drinks, access to an air-conditioned tent throughout the evening and live-stream viewing of the rodeo action.
Merideth said the word is just now getting out about the Chute Club tickets.
“It is a different concept and some are still hesitant,” he acknowledged. “But it is an all-inclusive ticket and when you figure it includes an air-conditioned tent with all-you-can drink and eat plus still watch the rodeo, it is well worth the deal.”
All tickets can be purchased online by going to the Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo’s website, sikestonrodeo.com.
Also tickets are available through the ticket office at the Sikeston Jaycee Rodeo grounds on Ingram Road. Office hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.
The telephone number for the ticket office is 1-800-455-BULL (2855).
With tickets going fast, Ross added, “we are expecting a big show every night.”