The short-lived Denver Stars were the first and only champions of Major League Rodeo, a controversial 1978 start-up that sought to impose the conventions of American team sports leagues onto the rugged individualism of professional rodeo competition.
The Kansas City Trailblazers were a co-ed team rodeo promotion that took part in Major League Rodeo during the summers of 1978 and 1979. Major League Rodeo contests consisted of seven skills: bareback bronc riding, barrel racing, team roping, saddle bronc riding, calf roping, steer wrestling and bull riding. Each team sported a roster of 12 cowboys & 3 cowgirls. The Trailblazers’ disastrous second season was ruined by the collapse of Kemper Arena’s roof and the midseason closure of Major League Rodeo itself.
The Texas Rowels were a co-ed professional team rodeo outfit that played in various cities around Texas in 1978 and 1979. The Rowels were one of six franchises in Major League Rodeo. They competed against rival teams from Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Tulsa. Major League Rodeo contests consisted of seven skills: bareback bronc riding, barrel racing, team roping, saddle bronc riding, calf roping, steer wrestling and bull riding. Each team sported a roster of 12 cowboys & 3 cowgirls. Three team members competed in each of the seven events, which were contested twice separated by a 20-minute halftime.
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