How an upstart Black rodeo found a home in Philly
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Ivan McClellan. Photo: Courtesy of Ivan McClellan
When Ivan McClellan was looking for a new stable to take his foal of a production to the next level, it took him eight seconds to realize where he needed to go.
Why it matters: After nearly three decades, Philly's getting a Black rodeo — and this one's here to stay.
The big picture: Home to a century-old tradition of Black cowboys, Philly is the perfect place to make 8 Seconds Rodeo's new home base, McClellan tells Axios.
- But first, he must dazzle the city, which he calls "the grittiest, most soulful place on the planet."
Driving the news: McClellan is bringing cowboys from across the country to compete at the Liacouras Center this Saturday.
- The action is happening not far from North Philly's famous Fletcher Street stables, where a group of Black riders has taught kids the ropes of horsemanship for decades — inspiring the Netflix show "Concrete Cowboy."
What to expect: A full slate of events ranging from mutton-busting (kids riding sheep) to bull-riding with $60,000 in prize money on the line.
- The pre-rodeo festivities kick off at 3pm with mechanical bull riding, line dancing and roping lessons for the kids.
- The bull-riding event will include a dozen of the country's best Black riders, including defending champ Malachi Anderson, trying to hold on for eight seconds.
How it works: To transform the Liacouras Center, McClellan's team is hauling two million pounds of dirt in dump trucks down Broad Street.
- The dirt, the lifeblood of any rodeo, must be screened for debris and carefully raked over so it's safe for horses and competitors — who will whir around the arena at 50 mph during barrel races.
Catch up quick: Philly hasn't hosted a Black rodeo event since 1994, McClellan tells Axios.
- But the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club has been an enduring presence in the region since its founding in Strawberry Mansion in 2004.
- Two years ago, the club moved into a new $1.5 million stable, The Cliffs, in East Fairmount, while maintaining its original headquarters.
- This year, the youth development program Work to Ride opened a $15 million equestrian facility, one of the largest in the tri-state area, in Fairmount Park.
Zoom in: That's the rich soil on which McClellan has chosen to build up his Black rodeo, which he launched in Portland in 2023.
- McClellan, a 43-year-old photographer who started out his journey by documenting Black cowboys and cowgirls, had "never planned a birthday party" before launching the show. But with three under his belt and sold-out crowds, he says it's time to "swim in a bigger pond."
- McClellan and his family relocated to Chester County last October, where they now live on 3 acres of land atop a hill.
What's ahead: The rodeo plans to host a series of events year-round, and McClellan is working on a new photo book — plus a possible documentary — about cowboy culture.
- McClellan aspires to tour the country, producing six to 10 rodeos a year with stops in Charlotte, Memphis and Kansas City.
What they're saying: When he reflects on the ride to Philly, McClellan remembers his own "eight seconds of hell" moments when he didn't "know if this was gonna happen."
- "And every single time I've committed and I've jumped," he says, "I've been caught."
If you go: Tickets are $45+