Rodeo ropes in revenue — and ruckus

The San Diego Rodeo ahead of its third year at Petco Park has become a massive January draw — a balm to businesses and the tourism industry which would otherwise be reeling after the end of the holiday season. But it’s also become a persistent source of controversy, as animal injuries and deaths have hardened opposition from animal rights activists.

Our Drew Sitton broke down how the opposition is changing its tactics and gaining momentum, even as the event keeps selling tickets.

But the economic boom isn’t the only argument that can be made for the rodeo. Previous proposed rodeo bans have raised issues around cultural significance and tradition, and who is allowed to decide what constitutes entertainment and what is cruelty. It’s a difficult balance to maintain, and it may be moot in any case, because the annual San Diego Rodeo may be here to stay — the crowds just keep getting bigger.

We’ve also got an update on the rain finally giving way to sunshine (hopefully) by this weekend, a heads up about weekend coastal rail services this month, a look back at the wildfires that ravaged the Los Angeles area a year ago and something I thought was particularly interesting: A shop for non-alcoholic drinks, including beer, wine, and spirits opening in Ocean Beach. 

What’s interesting to me about it is what it says about the tastes that San Diegans have developed over the years and how culture changes. Just fifteen years ago, San Diego had set itself apart as a “beer town,” the place to go to get the best beers you would find anywhere. These days, I would be hard-pressed to name a single zythophile, though that might be a function of my advancing age more than anything else.

Thoughts? Opinions? Let us know what you think by emailing news@timesofsandiego.com.