Ticket sales for the 2009 Dixie National Rodeo are up 3 percent over last year and organizers are pleased that the troubled economy hasn’t hurt attendance.

The rodeo is being held Feb. 5-11 at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds in Jackson.

Michael Brinkley, the director of the Mississippi Coliseum, estimates that rodeo events have an economic impact of $25 million.

Brinkley says 11,000 people have come to rodeo events since they began last month. The events, including horse shows, an equine expo, and a parade.