“We have a strong schedule that should provide plenty of excitement for fans,” said Outlaws Head Coach Tatu. “We’re looking forward to getting our team finalized and on the field.”

Season tickets are now on sale at mesquiteoutlaws.com. Single-game tickets will be available at a later date.

Centurion American plans to refurbish both the interior and exterior of the 5,500-seat building, which is near LBJ Freeway and Military Parkway. Improvements will include upgraded VIP suites, new locker rooms, a new turf surface for soccer play, roof repairs plus renovations to the parking lots and other outdoor features.

"The city of Mesquite is thrilled to witness the next generation of investment by the leadership of Centurion American into the historic Mesquite Arena," Mayor Stan Pickett said in a statement. "With the introduction of major league soccer [Major Arena Soccer League] and their dynamic entertainment platform, this level of capital investment is phenomenal.

Across the street, a Little Caesars sits with an empty parking lot. You'll find Porky's in the strip mall, with a welcoming, unstressed amount of parking, flanked by a commanding Auto Zone and Dollar General. Ignore the big brand chains — Porky's is a family joint.

Miros Pena is behind the register, next to a towering burger ornament, and she greets each customer who jangles through the door brightly. Behind the register, the griddle gets scraped clean of burned bits. It's a slower afternoon, so there's nothing else hissing on the flattop. One of life's treats as a consumer of burgers is this moment: At an empty restaurant after the lunch rush, you can hear the fresh beef crackle on the griddle.

“We had a record 116 entries this year,” said Kim Phillips, TACVB Chief Operating Officer. “The winners faced stiff competition and these awards are well-deserved”.

Kevin Day is playing the Steinway in Room 132 at Texas Christian University. His eyes are closed and he’s swaying. The music reminds him of the worst time of his life.

At this same piano three years ago, he first played the chords that helped him find his way back.

Day is a 23-year-old composer and multi-instrumentalist from Arlington who has earned considerable success. He received an award from the prestigious Broadcast Music Incorporated Foundation in May and recently became the first composer-in-residence at the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra. { Read More}

Abuelito #2

According to Belknap, he and his wife have friends who are baristas and own other coffee shops in Michigan and Arkansas. From their friends’ experience and training, they began doing pop-ups in the Mesquite downtown square during the city’s winter events.

Everyone loves a comeback.

Antonio Swad, founder of iconic American chains like Wingstop and Pizza Patrón, knows this. After selling Wingstop in 2003 and Pizza Patrón in 2017, he started his newest concept, Porch Swing, back on his home turf and opening sometime early this summer. At 3855 W. Emporium Circle in Mesquite — right across the street from a Wingstop he built — Swad is back in the game.

“I’ve been in this industry [since I was 15],” Swad says. “That’s not to say I still can’t screw it up, because I sure can, but that’s what I like about the restaurant business, because there’s so many ways to fail and I’ve already discovered most of them. So I think I’ve got a real good shot here.”

t’s been 35 years since Don Gay snared a record breaking eighth world bull riding title on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit.

In 1984, the North Texas cowboy broke Jim Shoulders’ then record of seven world titles that was set in 1959, the same year that the National Finals Rodeo was founded.

Today, Gay, 65, who lives near Terrell in the Dallas area, is the general manager of the award winning Frontier Rodeo Co. The company served as the primary livestock producer for the May 3-5 Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days Rodeo.

Gay grew up as the son of stock contractor Neal Gay who produced the renowned Mesquite Championship Rodeo in the Dallas suburb of Mesquite that ran on weekly basis during the spring and summer months for many years.

MESQUITE ARTS CENTER

MESQUITE

The city of Mesquite purchased an old hospital in 1995 and turned it into a performing arts complex. Half of the building was turned into the Mesquite Arts Center, which is home to the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra, and the other half was developed into the Black Box Theater, home of the Mesquite Community Theatre.

When those organizations are not using the space, conference planners use it for concerts, meetings, weddings and parties, fashion shows, trade shows and exhibits. The rehearsal hall, next to the concert hall, is a good location for meetings. {Read More}

DALLAS, TX – March 6, 2019 — Calling all thrill-seekers in Mesquite! Urban Air announced today the opening of a 30,706 square-foot indoor trampoline/recreation and entertainment center where kids of all ages can play, slide, climb, jump, duck, dunk, and bounce! The newest Urban Air Adventure Park will open in Winter 2020 at 3777 Childress Avenue, Mesquite, TX 75150and promises to show local residents why Urban Air is an experience like no other!

“At Urban Air, we are constantly creating new ways to thrill and delight our guests,” said Urban Air CEO Michael Browning. “Our indoor parks feature dozens of exhilarating activities from trampolining to dodge ball to rock climbing to obstacle courses and indoor playgrounds for junior adventurers. We have something for everyone and are thrilled to introduce our exhilarating brand of active entertainment to the families of Mesquite” {Read More}

Mesquite Arena and The Mesquite Championship Rodeo

Mesquite Arena is home to big-name events ranging from concerts to the Hip Hop Cowboys Spring Rodeo and Cowboys of Color. The crown jewel is the Mesquite Championship Rodeo, which runs each Saturday evening June through August. Get into the Shark Tank, a cage in the middle of the arena that gets you right in the thick of things (and up close and personal with the bulls) or treat yourself to tickets to the season-opening rodeo with a concert by Mark Chesnutt on June 1, 2019 or the closing concert with Clay Walker on August 24, 2019. [ Read More ]

The small but mighty city of Mesquite is more than a destination; it’s an experience. To make the most of your trip, check out these must-see spots and activities that deliver authentic Texas flavor (figuratively and literally) from start to finish.

The Mesquite Championship Rodeo

What’s better than a great night out with your sweetheart or a fun-filled afternoon with the kids? Doing those things without spending a dime. Life can get expensive, but this list of free things to do in Mesquite will help you keep the family entertained while also keeping your budget in check.

Note: All events offer free admission, but some activities (rides, food, etc) may require a fee.

Mesquite Arts Center

The Mesquite Arts Center is a hotbed of cultural activity, and many of the events are completely FREE. Start by introducing your kids to art, courtesy of the Just for Kids: Canvas Creation Series, an ongoing group of classes that teaches kids how to paint. Once they’ve created their own masterpiece, show them the work of other artists at Mesquite Arts Center Art Galleries, including the Main and Chamber Gallery.. [ Read More]

To visit Mesquite is like traveling back in time. From warm, inviting homesteads that transport visitors back more than a century to a house of worship still finding new ways to bring people together, these historic destinations are also an important part of Mesquite’s future.

Opal Lawrence Historical Park

To see how one of the founding families of Mesquite lived, visit Opal Lawrence Historical Park, a restoration and preservation project overseen by Historic Mesquite, Inc. The Lawrence family originally lived in a lovely but relatively simple farmhouse. That original 1800s structure blossomed over the years; the family continued to expand the home and made additions, including a belvedere, a weathervane, chicken coops, a smokehouse, a curing shed, and a barn built in 1886 that still stands on the property today.

The sprawling property now holds a Texas Historical Marker and is part of the National Register of Historic Places, giving locals and tourists alike a chance to experience a piece of history right here in Mesquite. [ Read More]

You may know Mesquite for its lofty reputation in the rodeo world or its many historical attractions, but Mesquite is a real Texas destination in Northeast Texas for its major retail hub. A place where national and regional brands rule, Mesquite is enhanced by creative local retailers scattered throughout the city, too. More than 18 million visitors a year flock to the Town East Mall and Market East shopping hub, with favorites like Super Target, Home Goods, Kirkland’s, Bed Bath and Beyond, Home Depot, and Best Buy.

Mesquite, Texas, is a town bubbling with activity and excitement. There’s never a bad time to check out the “Rodeo Capital of Texas,” but here are six festivals and events particularly worth traveling for.

Summer Sizzle

Summer in Mesquite doesn’t truly start until Paschall Park transforms into the fun-a-palooza that is Summer Sizzle. Parking and entry are both free (some activities, such as rides and food, require an additional fee), so you can bring the whole family to enjoy everything from a mud volleyball tournament to carnival rides. There are plenty of things for kids to do—life-sized Jenga and carnival rides, anyone?—and a lineup of food trucks to visit when your belly starts to rumble.

Rodeo Season

It’s never truly too hot or too cold in Mesquite. Though summers top out in the mid-90s, early morning and nighttime temps dip into the 70s, and winter rarely hits freezing. All this is to say the city is the ideal setting for beautiful parks and outdoor attractions, and there are certainly plenty to explore with more than 70 parks.

Mesquite Heritage Trail

Though the Mesquite Heritage Trail just opened in 2015, the lush, sprawling expanse is already a hit. The trail encompasses three trailheads and more than four miles of walkways, incorporating an exercise station and a pedestrian bridge. Part of the trail connects to homes, The Mesquite Golf Club, schools, shopping centers, and more.

[ Read More]

“Sedalia loves rodeo and bull riding, and the people here really support the guys who literally put their lives on the line to compete,” says Courtney Fry, events manager for the Missouri State Fair, which stages three nights of rodeo and two nights of bull riding every August during the fair. “Sedalia started as a cow town and was part of the route during the cattle drive of 1895. There are still a lot of cattle ranchers in the area, and rodeo riders can relate to them.”

A community’s local roots play a significant role in its rodeo success. Just ask sports tourism officials in the destinations profiled in this article.