Carbon County officials are trying to lasso the State High School Rodeo Finals for 2017 through 2022. The County has a first class venue at the fairgrounds, and has put together a bid for the event, which has been held in Heber City for the past 20 years.
The five-year proposal, as developed by a committee and presented by Recreation Director Frank Ori, would require an investment by the county of about $50,000 per year. “We need a commitment from the County in order to hold this and it’s a monetary commitment,” Ori told Commissioners during their regular meeting Wednesday, February 17. He said, “I think we have as good a shot as any other community to bring this to Carbon County.”
Proposed costs
The commitment from the county as proposed would include:
$20,000 for academic scholarships on an annual basis;
Providing 10 hotel rooms for 10 to 12 days at a cost of about $11,000;
$5,000 for the junior high division finals;
$2,500 for marketing and advertising campaigns;
delivery of six major sponsors of $2,000 each or a guarantee of $12,000.
The State High School Rodeo Association also requires an area that can guarantee at least 300 hotel rooms, and plenty of restaurants.
Positive impact
Ori said corralling the event would mean thousands of visitors over the week-long event and result in an economic impact to the area of $1 million to $2 million. “We’re talking about 700 participants and their families- it’s a big deal,” he stated.
Carbon County proposed hosting the Rodeo Finals in 2012 and did not get the bid. Commissioner Jae Potter noted, “It went back to Heber City, but we were encouraged this year by the Association that they are going to move that. We hope that they do, but I think it’s well worth the application and the time that has been put in there.”
The application with the commitment by the county was unanimously approved. Officials will be informed by early June if Carbon County is awarded the bid.
The State High School Rodeo Finals event is held annually from the last weekend in May through the first Saturday in June.