What Is the Rodeo Road Trip?

By Alice Nichols

Are you a fan of the NBA? Then you may have heard of the Rodeo Road Trip, an annual tradition for the San Antonio Spurs. This road trip takes place every year when their home arena, the AT&T Center, is unavailable due to the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.

The Rodeo Road Trip typically lasts around three weeks and consists of eight to nine games played on the road. The trip is notoriously grueling for the Spurs as they travel across the country to play in different cities. But why is it called the Rodeo Road Trip?

The Origins of the Rodeo Road Trip

To understand why it’s called “Rodeo” Road Trip, we need to go back to 1985. Back then, The Spurs’ home arena was known as HemisFair Arena, which was located downtown. However, in 1985, HemisFair Arena could not host any games during February due to its use as a venue for the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.

As a result, The Spurs were forced to hit the road for an extended period during February and play all their games away from home. This marked the birth of “Rodeo” Road Trip.

Why Is It So Challenging?

Playing on the road is always challenging in professional sports. The travel schedule can be taxing on players who spend long hours on flights and buses traveling from city-to-city. Additionally, playing in unfamiliar arenas can take some getting used to.

The Rodeo Road Trip takes this challenge up a notch with its length and timing. Playing eight or nine consecutive games away from home is physically demanding on players’ bodies as they adjust to different time zones and climates across multiple cities.

Successes on The Rodeo Road Trip

Despite its challenges, The Spurs have had a good deal of success on the Rodeo Road Trip over the years. In fact, they have used the trip as an opportunity to build momentum and climb in the standings.

For example, during the 2011 season, The Spurs went 8-1 on the Rodeo Road Trip and followed it up with a 20-game win streak. That season ultimately culminated in an NBA Championship.

Conclusion

The Rodeo Road Trip is a unique tradition in professional sports that tests teams’ endurance and resilience. For The Spurs, it has become an opportunity to build momentum and climb in the standings. So, next time you hear about The Spurs hitting the road for an extended period, remember that it’s all part of “Rodeo” Road Trip!