What To Expect At The Atlantic City Rodeo

In more than 2 ½ hours of non-stop rodeo action, fans will witness all the events of the rodeo scene. From the thrilling bareback, tie down and team roping events, to the electrifying saddle bronc, steer wrestling, barrel racing and bull riding events, the action takes place from one end of the arena to the other.

A breakdown of these events (taken from the Atlantic City Rodeo main website) are:

Bareback Riding

Contestants must ride a bucking horse for eight seconds, holding nothing but a single handhold rigging cinched around the horse’s girth. Half the cowboy’s score comes from his spurring technique and “exposure” to the strength of the horse; the other half is determined by the bucking strength of the horse. A cowboy is not allowed to touch his equipment, himself or the animal with his free hand.

Tie-Down Roping

A tie-down roping run begins with a mounted cowboy giving a head start to a calf of about 250 pounds, then giving chase down the arena. After roping the calf, the cowboy dismounts, runs down the rope (which is anchored to the saddle horn), lays the calf on its side and ties any three of its legs together with a “piggin’ string” he carries clenched in his teeth.

Saddle Bronc Riding

Atlantic City Rodeo ‘s classic event matching a cowboy’s will against the rankest of unbroken horses. A bronc rider must begin the ride with his feet placed over the bronc’s shoulders, then synchronize his spurring action with the animal’s bucking style in order to receive the highest score possible after the eight second trip.

Team Roping

Atlantic City Rodeo team roping requires precise timing and anticipation between header and heeler, making it rodeo’s only true team event. The header’s job is to rope the steer around the horns, neck or a horn-neck combination, then turn the steer to the left so that the heeler can ride in and rope both of the steer’s hind legs. The clock is stared when the ropers leave their respective boxes, and it stops when their ropes are taut and their horses are facing each other. If a heeler catches only one leg, a 5-second penalty is assessed; if the header fails to give the steer its allotted head start, the team receives a 10-second penalty.

Barrel Racing

A skilled rider and her well-trained horse must work as one to complete the cloverleaf pattern around the three barrels and cross the finish line. Women are allowed a running start before entering the arena and may begin their run on either front barrel. Time is marked when the rider breaks the starting line and recrosses it for the finish. When one or two hundredths of a second can separate the final standings, precision teamwork between the horse and rider is imperative.

Steer Wrestling

The concept seems straightforward enough – drop from a horse, grab a steer by the horns and wrestle it to the ground, stopping the clock as quickly as possible. Timing, technique, strength and the horsemanship of the hazer, who guides the steer in a straight path for the cowboy, are the primary necessities of this event.

Bull Riding

Perhaps the easiest event to understand, a cowboy tries to ride a bull for eight seconds while holding a simple rope looped around the bull’s midsection. The rules aren’t complicated: don’t use your free hand and don’t fall off. Scoring is based on a possible perfect score of 100 points, with half deriving from the contestant’s efforts and half coming from the bull’s action.

Where and How To Get Your Tickets

Tickets for the Atlantic City Rodeo are on sale now and are priced at $16, $31, $51 and $102. Family four-packs are available for $79 and include 4 tickets; 4 hot dogs and 4 soft drinks (must be purchased in advance). There is a $5 discount on $31 and $51 seats for groups of 10 or more. Two complimentary tickets are available for each block of 40 tickets sold.

• Atlantic City Rodeo Dates: Mar 30 – Apr 1, 2012
• Location: Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall
• Address: Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall: 2301 Boardwalk
• Phone: 609-348-7000

• Friday, March 30 7:30 PM
• Saturday, March 31 7:30 PM
• Sunday, April 1 1:00 PM

What is March Madness? March Madness in Las Vegas brings NCAA college basketball fans and sports bettors in droves for game viewing parties, dining and drink specials, and one big hoopla of a good time during the last two weeks of March and into the final games in early April. One of the major centers of activity surrounding the March Madness basketball tournament is of course the Las Vegas Strip.

Check out the Strip options below for March Madness viewing parties and events that have already tipped off in Sin City.

Las Vegas Strip 2012 March Madness Mini-guide

Aria’s Deuce Lounge

Aria’s Deuce Lounge offers an all day buffet with an open bar for $60 on game days.

Stratosphere

Stratosphere offers game viewing in the new Stratosphere Theater that has nine theater style screens. Breakfast specials will be available from 8 – 11 am for $3 and $6. A make – your – own taco/nacho bar opens at 11 am, with $5 Bud and Bud Light pitchers, live betting stations, and blackjack.

Caesars Entertainment

Caesars Entertainment offers Man Cave Packages at Caesars Palace, Imperial Palace, and Planet Hollywood. This package offers premium seating, an all – game – viewers – can – eat – and – drink spread, and four private screens. Additionally, visits from the Coors Light models are provided in the package deal.

Planet Hollywood also hosts Hoops on the Mezz featuring an all you can eat buffet and an open Miller and Coors Light beer bar. Pricing for general admission to this party start at $49 plus taxes and fees.

Caesars Palace is also hosting the second annual Hoops and Hold ‘em Poker Tournament. Harrah’s offers drink specials at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill for the duration of the tournament.

The Rockhouse Bar at Imperial Palace offers 2 for 1 beers on Fridays and Saturdays and beer pong during the games.

The Cosmopolitan

The Cosmopolitan offers Hoops and Hops. The gig involves numerous big screen TV’s, two sports betting stations, and an open bar. Wristbands for the event are $50 per day, with the party staged in the Brera Room. Stadium food items such as hot dogs, nachos, and pretzels are for sale separate of the event entry charge.

The Society Cafe at Encore

The Society Cafe at Encore kicks off new happy hour specials for the basketball frenzy. From 3 – 6 pm Monday through Friday, gamers can select food entrees for $7 each or 3 for $19.

Blondie’s Sports Bar and Grill

Blondie’s Sports Bar and Grill in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood will offer five – beer buckets of domestic beer for $20. Other food and drink specials are available. PBR Rock Bar and Grill in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood will have over one hundred HDTV’s for game viewing. Gamers can purchase $19 beer buckets for the duration of the tournament.

Rhumbar at Mirage

Rhumbar at Mirage will host a tailgate party with Coors Light bottle buckets with a souvenir cooler for $25. Bloody Marys and margaritas will sell for $6 and the venue will sell stadium food such as chili, nachos, hot links, and pork sandwiches during the wing – ding.

Lagasse’s Stadium

Lagasse’s Stadium sportsbook at the Palazzo will offer appetizers such as quesadillas, sliders, pretzels, and jalapeño poppers for $4 – $7 on Mondays – Fridays from 11 am – 4 pm. Game enthusiasts can get $4 beers and $5 well cocktails during the same times.

The Riviera

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s BBQ and Beer at Excalibur is offering reserved seats for $20 with happy hour food and drink specials including $4 drafts, $5 wine and well cocktails, and $15 domestic beer pitchers.

Minus5 Ice Bar at Mandalay

Minus5 Ice Bar at Mandalay Bay offers a March Madness viewing party with HDTV’s. Specials include $3 PBR beer, $3 house wines, and $7 martinis.

Las Vegas Hilton

Though located just slightly off the Strip, the LVH (formerly the Las Vegas Hilton) is hosting Hoops Central at the LVH Theater. It features free entry with $2 beers, $2 hot dogs, big HDTV screens, and over 1500 seats in a smoke – free environment. The LVH also boasts one of the largest and most popular Vegas sportsbooks as well.

Great atmospheres and a ton of March Madness fun can always be found at any of several Vegas Strip sportsbooks (in addition to those mentioned above). Popular mega sportsbooks at Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, Caesars Palace, Mirage, Wynn, Bellagio, and Venetian always fill up early, particularly during the later – round games. The key factor to get seats at these mega books is to arrive early on game days.

The Celebration of Tastes Schedule

Friday night starts off with a Celebration of Tastes welcome reception held in the resorts main lobby at 7:00pm. This is the time to meet fellow attendees and try some wine from the food and wine stations littered around the room. After everyone has time to mingle a silent auction will be held. Last years prizes went quick so make sure you don’t “taste” too much wine at the Celebration of Tastes before the auction. The events for this night wrap up around 9:00pm.

Saturday is the Celebration of Tastes day you don’t want to miss. It starts at 10:00am with a culinary demonstrations that lasts 50 minutes. Then at 11:00am is the hour-long wine tasting hosted by the winemakers of Rodney Strong Vineyards. Events are put on hold for everyone to adjourn to their respected rooms for lunch and relaxation. Wine-enthusiast: there will be a seminar at 2:15pm-4:00pm just for you. To end the night there will be a reception and dinner in the reception hall that starts at 6:00pm and ends at 10:00pm. Dinner is $165 per person. The evening includes a five course meal with a pairing for each course.

Bellow is a shortened version of the two day event: Celebration of Tastes. The Celebration of Tastes is always a favorite of our owners and comes highly recommended.

The Celebration of Tastes Events

March 2 – 3, 2012

Rodney Strong Vineyards

Celebration of Tastes Welcome Reception & Silent Auction: Friday, 7:00pm – 9:00pm; $110 per person

The evening will be highlighted with food and wine stations around the room and great silent auction items.

Culinary Demonstration: Saturday, 10:00am – 10:50am

Wine Tasting Hosted by the Winemaker: Saturday, 11:00am – 12:00pm

Wine Seminar for the Enthusiast: Saturday, 2:15pm – 4:00pm

Wine Lovers Reception & Dinner: Saturday: Reception, 6:00pm – 7:00pm and Dinner, 7:00pm – 10:00pm; $165 per person

The evening includes a five course meal with a pairing for each course.

The Kozak the Magician Show

Here is a quick breakdown of the show itself:

• Event Type: Family
• Dates: Jan. 1- Dec. 31, 2012.
• Location: Atlantic City
• Address: Tropicana Casino and Resort Atlantic City, NJ 08401
• Phone: 609-340-4020
• Admission: $23 for the show and $32 for dinner and the show
• Hours: Open daily, show time 5:00 pm for dinner and 6:00 pm for the show
• Description: A comedic night of magic is what one can expect from Kozak the Magician, who performs at the Tropicana Casino and Resort’s Comedy Stop for an extended engagement. “Magic is a blend of art, science, history, philosophy, theology and psychology.” says Kozak the Magician. “I bring these things to the table along with a razor-sharp wit honed from years of impovisational experience in comedy clubs.”

Kozak the Magician has won the 2007 and 2005 Merlin award for International Comic Magician of the Year and International Entertainer of the Year. He has also appeared on the following television shows:

• “COMMAND PERFORMANCE” for Prince Charles & Princess Diana
• The Prince’s Trust Foundation London Weekend TV TV-WTBS
• The World’s Greatest Magicians…at The Magic Castle CBS
• The Comedy & Magic Club’s 10th Anniversary Show Showtime
• Comic Strip Live (numerous appearances) Fox Network
• Evening at the Improv (numerous appearances) A&E Network
• The Late Show Fox Network
• George Schlatter’s Comedy Club Schlatter Productions
• Comedy Club’s Favorite Show Schlatter Productions
• Beadle’s Box of Tricks London’s #1 Variety Show
• HBO’s Magic Moments HBO
• VH1′s Stand-up Spotlight VH1
• MTV’s Half Hour Comedy Hour MTV

If you decide to try this show out on your next visit to Atlantic Palace in Atlantic City, NJ then you are in for quite a treat. Just make sure to make your reservations ahead of time as his shows have a tenacity to sell out fast!