CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The eighty third edition of Buc Days next year will see changes to the 11-day, pirate-themed celebration.
The most noticeable change is the location of the Buc Days carnival. It's moving from the Bayfront to the parking lot between Chaparral Street and the American Bank Center, the site of other Buc Days activities including the rodeo.
"It just creates that synergy where a carnival-goer might buy a rodeo ticket, or a rodeo attendee might go to the carnival," Buc Days President and CEO Johnny Philipello said. "It ultimately generates more revenue, and that will return more money for scholarships."
The rodeo is also facing a change. Traditionally it's held at the very beginning of Buc Days. In 2020, the rodeo will take place May 7-10, the last three days of the event.
The Pachanga, that was new to Buc Days this year, will return in 2020 with a major change. It was held in the American Bank Center's exhibit hall this year, and the tickets were expensive. Next year, it will be held in the American Bank Center Arena. The party features the Buc Days Night Parade parading through, and the larger space will make it open to more people and at a lower price.
"It's going from about a 500 person event to 6,500 person event by moving into the arena," Philipello said. "Where it was kind of VIP-only last year, It's ten-dollar tickets general admission to go to it (in 2020)."
The final change is a new addition. The Bank Center's exhibit hall will be known as Treasure Island during Buc Days. Dozens of vendors will rent-out booths and sell all sorts of products.
"If you come attend and support those vendors, you're ultimately helping our mission as well," Philipello said of his organization's awarding of scholarships to high school students in the Coastal Bend.
Change can be scary, and initially, lifelong Buc Days attendees Francis Anguiano and Hector Rodriguez were skeptical upon hearing news of the 2020 plans Tuesday.
"I just think they should stick to tradition," Anguiano said. "The way it's been set up, they should just leave it alone."
But after considering the ease of not having to change locations to enjoy all that Buc Days has to offer, the couple came around.
"We'll definitely be there again (next) year," Anguiano said.
