Bucking the cold

Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo rides on through weekend winter storm

Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo doesn't cancel for weather.

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The 2026 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo will ride on, through what forecasters have been calling a "potentially catastrophic" weekend winter storm - but a big concert connected to the event is canceled.

In a news release sent at 2 am Friday, January 23, FWSSR officials say, "All scheduled events at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo (FWSSR) will occur as planned during the weekend of Jan. 23-25. FWSSR management is working closely with the City of Fort Worth’s Transportation and Public Works Department, staff at the Will Rogers Memorial Center and Dickies Arena to take measures to remove ice from streets and pedestrian walkways. FWSSR committed to public safety and ensuring the safety and well-being of livestock, guests and participants."

They further explain that, "Due to the nature of our event and the coordination required across multiple pre-booked venues, including the Will Rogers Memorial Center and Dickies Arena, as well as the scheduled PRORODEO Tournament, we are unable to reschedule performances or competitions."

Police officers and traffic staff will be ready and willing to assist, they say, with the prime objective to get patrons parked "as safely, easily and efficiently as possible."

Rodeo tickets cannot be refunded or exchanged, and are valid only for their scheduled performances. Officials encourage ticketholders to plan accordingly and allow additional travel time.

"We appreciate the continued support of our guests, exhibitors and fans and look forward to a safe and successful weekend at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo," they say.

Canadian country music crooner Colter Wall's shows at Will Rogers Auditorium have been canceled due to weather. Katie Zimmerman

There is, however, a big cancellation of an FWSSR-adjacent event: The Colter Wall and Friends concerts, scheduled for January 23 and 24 as part of the FWSSR's Auditorium Entertainment Series at Will Rogers Auditorium, have been called off both nights. Those tickets will be refunded.

In a Facebook post, Wall says, "Fort Worth, TX shows canceled due to weather. Refunds automatically processed from point of purchase."

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for all of North Texas, lasting from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning.

"The latest data still points toward a winter storm that will bring significant impacts to North Texas over the weekend, including slick roads and a few power outages. Ice, sleet and snow accumulations are expected," says WFAA.

As of Friday morning, the WFAA meteorologists' timeline and travel advisories are as follows:

Friday: Cold rain (just regular rain) with falling temperatures.

Friday night: Rain turns to wintry mix as dangerous cold moves in. By Friday night, many locations will transition from freezing rain to sleet.

Saturday: Widespread wintry weather (sleet mixed with freezing rain) "Travel conditions will be hazardous," they warn.

Sunday: Drier, bitter cold air. "Travel conditions will remain hazardous," they say.

Sunday night - Monday morning: The coldest point. "Travel conditions will still be dangerous as temperatures keep icy roads in place," they say.

Monday: Dry and frigid, with high temperatures still below freezing. "Unfortunately, it does mean that roads may still be icy and dangerous to navigate," they say.

Tuesday: Finally above freezing. "The afternoon will be dry and above freezing. This will help road conditions improve area-wide."

Warming centers are opening across North Texas to bring people in from the cold.

weather cancellations concerts fort worth stock show & rodeo

Movie Review

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck team up for Netflix crime caper The Rip

Photo by Claire Folger/Netflix

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in The Rip.

For as closely tied together as Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are, it might come as a surprise how few times they’ve led a movie together. They’ve appeared alongside each other in Good Will Hunting, The Last Duel, and Air, but the only time they were on equal footing in a story was Kevin Smith’s Dogma. So the fact that they are the two true stars of the new Netflix movie The Rip makes it a rare opportunity for the longtime friends to square off against each other.

Damon and Affleck play Lt. Dane Dumars and Detective Sgt. J.D Byrne, respectively, the two highest ranking members of a Miami police department squad that specializes in drug and drug money raids. A tragedy to begin the film already has the team - which includes Detectives Mike Ro (Steven Yeun), Numa Baptiste (Teyana Taylor), and Lolo Salazar (Catalina Sandina Moreno) - on edge, with the FBI and DEA breathing down their neck.

Going off a tip, Dumars gathers the team to raid a house in nearby Hialeah that is supposed to have a stash of a relatively small amount of money. But when they get to the house occupied only by Desiree Molina (Sasha Calle), they soon discover that there’s close to $20 million there instead. The team, required by law to count the money on site, must not only fight the urge to skim a little off the top for themselves, but also worry about the Cartel and other agencies that might want a slice of the pie.

Written and directed by Joe Carnahan, the film is a surprisingly effective crime thriller made even better by its high-quality cast, which also includes Kyle Chandler as a DEA agent. The story is designed for the audience to not know who’s trustworthy until the last possible second, and the various twists and turns it takes are well done, with barely a hint of narrative cheating.

Taking place entirely at night, the mood is set right from the start, with the only surprise being that Carnahan didn’t add in rain for extra effect. He keeps things tense with a number of subtle elements, including having the house located in a seemingly deserted cul-de-sac. This allows for the characters to remain on high alert at all times, with anything out of the ordinary - an unexpected noise, a flashing light, etc. - adding to the stress of the situation.

The only element that could have used a bit more of a punch-up is the characterization. The story is set up to cast suspicion on almost everybody, making it tougher to understand exactly what type of person each of them is. As the two leads, more time is spent with Dumars and Byrne, leaving everyone else with slightly underwhelming arcs. It’s to the credit of the actors that everyone else below Damon and Affleck is still compelling.

Damon and Affleck play their sometimes friendly, sometimes adversarial roles well, showing an ease together that’s a result of their friendship and the acting skills they’ve honed over 30+ years. Taylor, an Oscar hopeful for One Battle After Another, and Oscar nominee/Emmy winner Yeun have a pedigree that elevates their supporting roles. Chandler, Moreno, and Calle each get just enough to demonstrate why they were cast in their respective roles.

Damon and Affleck have had their individual ups and downs throughout their careers, but when they choose to work together, the results are usually good-to-great, as they are in The Rip. It’s a different take on a crime thriller that features a story that will keep viewers guessing until the very end.

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The Rip is now streaming on Netflix.

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