Not their first rodeo

“This ain’t my first rodeo.”
That’s a saying area residents shouldn’t have trouble being able to utter. That’s because they don’t have to go very far to experience bull riding.
All they need to do is take a trip into Ohio, a few miles east of Jay County. There they will find Mack Arena, 1001 Ohio 29, Celina, Ohio.
The rodeo has been in operation for more than 20 years, said owner Joe McQuillan.
“All this was was a machinery shed,” said McQuillan, as he stood outside the arena near a group of bulls.
When he opened Mack Arena, McQuillan thought he’d give running a rodeo a shot and see if it worked out.
“I used to ride bulls when I was younger,” said McQuillan, who operates the venue with his wife Amy. “I don’t know. It just seemed like it was starting to become popular again.”
Two decades later, the former shed is still full of bulls, riders and spectators on Saturday nights.
Mack Arena’s season runs from the first Saturday in October to the middle of May. Doors open at 6 p.m. on Saturday evenings with the competition beginning at 7:30 p.m. Admission costs $8 for adults and $2 for children (ages 6 to 13).
Riders come from all over to compete in the small arena, which includes three sets of metal bleachers that surround the bull riding ring.  
On a Saturday evening in early November, there were riders from Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Illinois.
The number of riders come through Mack Arena each week depends on what other competitions are taking place, McQuillan indicated.
“It’s hit or miss. Some weekends you’ve got a lot of riders. Some weekends you don’t and it also depends on what else is going on around the states,” he said.
Riders compete in two divisions: novice and jackpot. It costs $45 to enter the jackpot division and $25 to compete in the novice division.
The least experienced and younger riders occupy the novice division, McQuillan said.
On a recent night at the rodeo, there were about two dozen novice riders, many of which were middle and elementary school age.
McQuillan said Mack Arena is known as a place for young riders to compete.
“And to come pick up girls, or try to,” he joked. “There’s a boatload of them that come in.”
On a recent Saturday evening, most of these “novice” riders lasted only a few seconds on the bull and did not record a score.
One of the riders was Tyler Manor, 12, of Jay County. It’s his grandparents who own Mack Arena.
He’s been bull riding for most of his young life and hopes to one day ride in the  Professional Bull Riders circuit.
Why does he like Mack Arena?
“It’s fun,” he quipped.
Riding in front of the crowd can nerve-wracking for Manor at times.
“Sometimes. Sometimes not,” he said when asked if he gets nervous.
Watching the young riders interact at Mack Arena makes clear that these youngsters aren’t just riding bulls but also making friends.
For McQuillan, it’s fun to watch them progress.
He also enjoys interacting with the crowd. There are regulars.
“There’s people out here every week … every week they’re here,” he said.
A bond has formed with some.
“After a while you get to know them and stuff,” he said.
Like any sporting event, the number of spectators at Mack Arena differs each night.
On a warm Saturday evening in early November, McQuillan noted that turnout was down.
For Mack Arena, inclement weather is actually a draw. On rainy and snowy nights, the rodeo offers the opportunity to do something other than curl up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate.
“If it would’ve rained, they would’ve been lined up trying to get in,” McQuillan said. “Then, if the snow starts to fly, they’ll increase.”
In a rural area, Mack Arena offers a professional sports-like atmosphere. The venue sells merchandise and has a concession stand (spectators can bring their own alcoholic beverages, but glass is prohibited).
There is even a T-shirt toss. During intermission, dozens of kids danced and played in the riding area.
And for those young kids, the next time they come to Mack Arena they can say “this ain’t my first rodeo.”