Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker and City Council to Recognize 2023 PBR Teams World Champions, Ariat Texas Rattlers on September 17
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker and City Council to Recognize 2023 PBR Teams World Champions, Ariat Texas Rattlers, as Fort Worth’s First Professional Sports Team to Win a National Title on Sept. 17
Texas Rattlers Co-Owner Leonard Firestone and General Manager Chad Blankenship to present Mayor Parker with an exclusive Fort Worth City Jersey, symbolizing the city’s competitive spirit and honoring “Panther City’s” proud legacy
WHO: Reigning PBR Teams World Champion, the Ariat Texas Rattlers, Fort Worth’s Professional Bull Riding Team; Visit Fort Wort; Mayor Mattie Parker
WHEN: Tuesday, September 17, 2024 During Fort Worth City Council Meeting | 6:00 pm
WHERE: City Council Chamber in Old City Hall; 100 Fort Worth Trl, Fort Worth, TX 76102
TIMELINE: 6:00 pm – Special Recognition + Jersey Gifting to Take Place at the Top of the Meeting
WHAT: The Ariat Texas Rattlers, reigning PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Teams World Champions, will be honored with a Special Recognition Presentation by Fort Worth City Council and Mayor Mattie Parker as Fort Worth’s first professional sports team to bring home a national title. As the only PBR team undefeated on home soil, the Rattlers have gained national recognition, becoming cultural and civic icons in the city.
In partnership with Visit Fort Worth, team co-owner Leonard Firestone, co-founder of Firestone & Robertson Distilling Company, and General Manager Chad Blankenship will present Mayor Parker with an exclusive Fort Worth City Jersey. The gifting of a city jersey—a major trend among professional sports franchises like the Texas Rangers and Dallas Mavericks—marks the Texas Rattlers’ rising status within Fort Worth’s major sports landscape. The jersey’s Panther City design honors Fort Worth’s resilience, a city once mocked as “sleepy” by a Dallas columnist in the 1870s. Today, the Rattlers stand as a symbol of the city’s transformation into a thriving, dynamic metropolis with a competitive spirit.
This special recognition comes just ahead of Rattler Days, a three-day bull riding competition on September 26 at Cowtown Coliseum and September 27-28 at Dickies Arena, where the Rattlers will compete against nine other teams from across the country. The event also features the Stockyards Alley Rally, presented by Community Coffee, a free fan festival at the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards offering live music, parades, autograph signings, and more, celebrating the hometown champions.
Photo + B-Roll Opportunities:
- Mayor Mattie Parker presenting the Special Recognition
- Official reveal of the city jersey and presentation to the Mayor
- Rattlers ownership and staff members onsite and receiving recognition/presenting the city jersey
- “Fang,” the team’s beloved rattlesnake mascot interaction with Mayor, City Council, team staff
- Notable City Council members interacting with Fang and Rattlers representatives
Interview Opportunities:
- ● Leonard Firestone – Co-Owner of the Ariat Texas Rattlers (Limited Availability)
- ● Chad Blankenship – General Manager of the Ariat Texas Rattlers
- ● Additional interviewees can be arranged upon request
What is Rattler Days?
Rattler Days is the Texas Rattlers’ annual three-day homestand as part of the 2024 PBR Camping World Team Series. From September 26-28, the Rattlers will return to Cowtown Coliseum and Dickies Arena for the first time since their 2023 world championship win, facing off against the other PBR teams on their home turf. The weekend includes a vibrant fan festival featuring rallies, food competitions, and parades, making it a thrilling and family-friendly event.
