Palomino Horse Breeders of America World Show Moving to the Tunica Arena and Expo Center

By Travel Tunica on Thursday June 14, 2012

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The Tunica Arena and Expo Center will be the new host of the Palomino Horse Breeders of America World Show through 2015. The first PHBA World Show will be held at the arena in July 2013.
“Getting this event is huge, because it’s a world-level event,” said Rebecca Fyfe, administrative manager at Tunica Arena and Expo Center. “It’s here for two weeks, and extended events are good for the Tunica economy. The World Show is a longer, more efficient event that supports our ideas for growth.”

The World Championship Horse Show is PHBA’s largest annual event, and more than 850 Palomino horses compete in World Championship Classes, futurities and maturities. The PHBA decided to move the World Show to Tunica after a series of visits to the arena during the association’s national convention.

“The package we were presented was very impressive,” said Terri Green, PHBA general manager. “The arena was able to give us our ideal dates so we could best fit our exhibitor’s needs.”

The Tunica Arena and Expo Center itself was the centerpiece of that package. The facility hosts a variety of events, including equine shows, rodeos, livestock events, sporting events and trade shows.

The arena and adjacent expo center include 48,000 square feet of climate controlled floor space, 236 exposition booths and has a seating capacity of 5,500. Guests at the Tunica Arena can utilize the newly renovated 1,250-square-foot hospitality room, 83 RV hookups and ample parking. In 2011, more than 200,000 people attended events at the facilities.

In addition, the offerings of the Tunica destination as a whole helped to set the Tunica Arena and Expo Center apart. While visiting Tunica, PHBA guests can also take advantage of the town’s gaming and entertainment destinations. Attractions include nine casino resorts, championship golf courses, numerous dining options and museums.

Fyfe said the on-site visit and her group’s enthusiasm about bringing the show to the arena worked greatly to their advantage. Bringing the PHBA World Show to Tunica fits into plans for growth and bringing national level shows to the arena.

“The show is going to set a good precedent, because other organizations will see what we can do,” said Fyfe. “The quality of this event puts us out there on a different level. It’s proof that the longer and larger events we can support are out there.”

The PHBA World Show had previously been held in Tulsa, Okla. for three decades, but scheduling conflicts necessitated the move. At the Tunica Arena, show exhibitors will have an additional two days for move in.

“Moving in a day or two early is unheard at some arenas, but we’re always as accommodating as we can be,” said Steve Sosebee, executive director of the Tunica Arena and Expo Center. “Letting someone come in early is second nature to us.”

Dates for the Palomino Horse Breeders Association World Championship shows at the Tunica Arena and Expo Center:

• July 10-21, 2013
• July 9-20, 2014
• July 8-19, 2015

For more information about the Tunica Arena and Expo Center, visit www.tunicaarena.com. For more details about the PHBA World Show, visit www.palominohba.com. To learn more about all the attractions Tunica has to offer, visit www.tunicatravel.com.