What does the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association’s move mean for Colorado Springs?
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - The ProRodeo Hall of Fame sits on ProRodeo Drive in Colorado Springs. So now that the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Board of Directors has voted to relocate the organization’s headquarters, along with the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy, from Colorado Springs to Cheyenne, what will be left behind in Colorado Springs?
PRCA officials shared this statement that reads in part, "The process was thorough and included productive conversations from multiple locations and a proposal from Colorado Springs leadership." We asked the City of Colorado Springs about what exactly was offered to PRCA to stay.
A spokesperson from Mayor Mobolade's office tells KRDO13 the City of Colorado Springs and community were willing to partner with PRCA, through private capital and public sources, to help renovate and promote the Hall of Fame to increase foot traffic and membership. Paul Woody, the PRCA Chief Marketing Officer, tells KRDO13 the City of Colorado Springs made a compelling offer that made their decision difficult.
"It was about helping us market for visitorship and trying to increase foot traffic, and working with the LART fund and figuring out how we could partner and be able to get dollars out of that. But, it was a significant offer that we had to seriously consider," explained Paul Woody.
Woody says PRCA considered it, but it wasn't enough for the long-term plans for PRCA and to get people in the door of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.
"It does not matter whether it is marketing efforts or special events. It's maintained at about a flat number of 12,000 [visitors]. And when you look at what it costs to keep the doors open, it just didn't make sense to continue to lose money," said Woody.
Ultimately, PRCA says the numbers involved swayed them to Cheyenne.
"We were not looking to move. We're happy with where we've been, and this has been home. But at the end of the day, the numbers spoke for themselves, and the business climate in Wyoming is attractive to what we do. And when the legislature and the state got behind the city's effort in Cheyenne, it made it pretty difficult for us to make any other decision than what we did," shared Woody.
Here is a letter the Governor of Wyoming sent to the Joint Appropriations Committee, asking for approval of $15 million in funds to help move PRCA to Cheyenne.
Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade released a statement that reads in part, "We will continue to work with the PRCA, and we continue to embrace our nearly-century-long tradition and partnership with the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, to include hosting the NFR Open through at least 2031."
PRCA also hopes to continue with the NFR Open in Colorado Springs.
"Colorado Springs is a tourist destination, and the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo is still going to be in the PRCA family. What we've built with the NFR open in July is special, and it will continue to be one of the rodeos that we sanction and partner with, and we hope that as long as they will have us, it will still be a championship event. And we're not going away from partnering with Colorado Springs, we will be here every day for a week, every July," explained Woody.
The PRCA still needs to secure the land and funds from Wyoming before the cowboy association can officially make the move.
"The non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) allows us to have about 120 days to secure the land, and for the Wyoming Legislature to codify the funding. And if those two things don't come to fruition, then we're able to continue to stay here or explore other opportunities. But right now, that's the next two steps are the acquisition of the property and the codifying of the funding," said Woody.
KRDO13 requested a copy of the MOU; however, it was denied by PRCA and Cheyenne LEADS.
As for the building where PRCA and the ProRodeo Hall of Fame are located, on 101 ProRodeo Drive, PRCA says that if all goes according to plan, they will sell it. The city also could consider changing the name of the street; however, city officials say that is far down the road.
"Renaming a road has its own process involving many people. If this deal is finalized and stakeholders think a road name change is required we will engage in that process at that time. (For instance it would include the US Postal Service, Emergency Management / 911 Dispatch, CSFD, CSPD, etc.) but that is very far down the road," explained a City of Colorado Springs spokesperson.
We first broke the news that PRCA was in talks with other states in November. Another city in Wyoming tried to throw its hat in the ring to be the next spot for PRCA, but it appears that is not where the association will be heading. KRDO13 spoke with a Cody Stampede Board Member who says he is just grateful PRCA is coming to Wyoming. They say they were late in the talks and that they could not put together a full, comprehensive offer for PRCA.
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