Key facts
- The Gooch family owns a 12-acre property in Eagle Rock, North Carolina, which has been in their family since 1944.
- The property features the Gooch Sports Arena and Eagle Rock Downs racetrack.
- The arena hosts concerts by touring bands from Mexico, attracting thousands of attendees.
- Caitlin Gooch runs equestrian programs for children and promotes horse culture.
- The land serves as a cultural hub for both the local Black community and the growing Hispanic population.
- Concert promoter Cuco partners with Donal Gooch to organize Mexican cultural events.
The Gooch family has transformed their ancestral 12-acre property in Eagle Rock, North Carolina, into a vibrant cultural hub that serves both the local Black community and the rapidly growing Hispanic population.
Donal Gooch, the patriarch, established the Gooch Sports Arena and Eagle Rock Downs racetrack on the land, which the family has owned since 1944. The arena hosts regular concerts featuring touring bands from Mexico, drawing thousands of attendees and significantly boosting the local economy. Donal measures the success of these events by the amount of trash left behind, indicating high ticket sales, which can range from 1,500 to over 5,500 tickets, with prices typically starting above $70.
Caitlin Gooch, Donal's daughter, focuses on preserving and passing down the family's equestrian heritage. She runs a summer camp teaching horse care and leads a non-profit, Saddle Up and Read, which uses a miniature horse to help children learn to read. Despite her visibility in media and online, Caitlin faces financial insecurity, often relying on crowdfunding for farm repairs and operational costs.
Donal revived the family's horse traditions and, after a period of personal struggle, envisioned using the land for "cowboy entertainment." Recognizing the growth of the Latino population in North Carolina, he partnered with Mexican concert promoter Cuco in 2003. Together, they brought Mexican cultural events, including charrerías (Mexican rodeo) and various music genres like cumbia, mariachi, norteño, and banda, to the arena.
Daniel Ponce, Cuco's nephew and co-worker, views the events as a crucial "de-stressor" for the community, allowing people to unwind after long work weeks. However, recent increases in ICE arrests in North Carolina and difficulties in securing visas for touring Mexican bands have led to concert cancellations and increased ticket prices. The cost to produce a concert can range from $180,000 to $300,000, with security alone exceeding $25,000 per show. Ponce also noted that broader economic factors, including gas prices and global conflicts, contribute to the challenges faced by promoters.