It seems as though every major rodeo event has been in the headlines recently with announcements for a new location. Why has this been happening with increasing regularity?
It’s no secret to rodeo fans that there has been a large number of major rodeo events that are finding new homes to host them. Just recently PBR announced that the 2027 PBR World Finals will be split between two locations; the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, TX and the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ.
This change in location was a surprise to many because the PBR World Finals have historically been held in a myriad of different arenas in both Nevada and Texas, but the PBR World Finals have never ventured into Arizona.
Furthermore, the PRCA recently announced that both the PRCA Headquarters and the ProRodeo Hall of Fame will be relocated from Colorado Springs, CO, to Cheyanne, WY, with the relocation expected to be complete by 2029. This is a major change for the PRCA, as it has been in Colorado for nearly 50 years.
With mixed reactions from the rodeo community, this change in location will take some time to assess whether the projected benefits listed by the PRCA will be reaped. However, there is historically a major rodeo-rooted community in Cheyanne, and it’s clear why this choice was made.
Subsequently, the WPRA announced a major change to both the name and location of the Wrangler WPRA National Breakaway Finals, formerly known as the National Finals Breakaway Roping. This event has historically been held in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the same arena as the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR), which has continually excluded breakaway roping from its list of featured events.
Due to a three-year contract, the recently re-named Wrangler WPRA National Breakaway Finals will be held in the newly remodeled Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth, TX. The Lone Star State is no stranger to major rodeos, as it has been the host of the PBR World Finals for the past four years.
However, there has been some controversy surrounding this move as many rodeo fans are frustrated that breakaway roping is still excluded from the NFR, which is still held in Las Vegas, NV, arguing that the move is keeping these outstanding female athletes from the bright lights of the revered NFR.
Continuing, Nashville, TN has also recently been a part of major rodeo change with the addition of the Music City Rodeo, which has quickly become one of the most-anticipated ProRodeos of the year, often drawing the biggest names in rodeo. All of these changes bring the question: Why have there been so many major changes in rodeo locations?
Financial Incentives Play a Big Role
A major reason for these location changes and adjustments is the financial incentive of different demographics. Phoenix, Arizona, has hosted the famed Hondo Rodeo with growing success, even expanding to a second performance in New Orleans, LA, in 2026. This continual success shows a large audience and strong demand for major rodeo entertainment in Arizona, making it a prime location for the finale of the PBR World Finals. Furthermore, Cheyanne, WY has already built a history as a major rodeo-centered community. Together with the absence of state income tax, this makes the PRCA headquarters location nearly ideal, with a projected multi-million-dollar benefit from the relocation.
Although each group has a myriad of different reasons for their relocations, there are three major reasons that seem to be the pattern behind these major changes.
First, the community of different locations. Each location for these major changes has a history of being a rodeo-centered community, giving a reasonable financial incentive for these events to be hosted in their new locations.
Second, financial benefits are a huge indicator of the reasons behind the decision to move these events. With different taxing systems, crowd interest, and the expense for fans to visit the hosting town are all benefits of a location change. Across the board, the lightening of the financial burdens for both attendees and producers seem to be a clear reason for the adjustments.
Location and Logistics
Finally, the technical ease of the new locations is a major factor in the new decisions. As a whole, the cities now hosting these major events offer larger arenas, easier access for fans, and cheaper overall travel for both competitors and spectator.
Overall, the rodeo community has become all too familiar with headlines boasting a major change or addition to their favorite events. Although these changes have caused no end of controversy and complaints, the benefits of these relocations will cause more good than harm to the rodeo industry, even if it does feel uncomfortable at first.
Nostalgia is a bittersweet thing, but we cannot let our love for the past keep us from growing rodeo into a more successful and visible sport. These changes will not forsake the respect and honor we have for rodeos in the past. Still, they would rather allow the love ingrained in the community to be shared with more people whose love for the beautiful sport of rodeo is only growing.
