Amarillo Convention and Visitor Council
1000 S. Polk St. * Amarillo, TX 79101
October 28, 2015
Eric W. Miller * Director of Communications
World Championship Ranch Rodeo Renews
Its Contract With Amarillo
The signature event for the city of Amarillo, the World Championship Ranch Rodeo (WCRR) produced by the Working Ranch Cowboy Association, has renewed its contract with the city for the next three years, from 2016 through 2018.
Future dates covered by this new agreement are Nov. 10-13, 2016; Nov. 9-12, 2017 and Nov. 8-11, 2018.
This major event has grown with Amarillo for its entire life, from 1996 to today, despite intense bidding competition from several major American cities. This new contract ensures that Amarillo remains the home of the World Championship Ranch Rodeo.
"This is a home-grown success story. The World Championship Ranch Rodeo started small but with dedication and determination has grown every year. It is a great example of working together to build an event that benefits the entire city," Dan Quandt, Vice President of the Amarillo Convention & Visitor Council, says.
"Cowboys are loyal. They honor their commitments and sign their deals with a hand shake. This hand shake with the City of Amarillo continues our partnership. The WRCA Board of Directors likes having all our events under one roof at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex. We trust and appreciate the friendly and hard-working staff at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex. We are excited about the future of downtown Amarillo. And we love the citizens of Amarillo," Randy Whipple, a member of the WRCA Board of Directors, says.
"Amarillo is our headquarters home and we are excited about its future," Whipple concludes.
The WCRR total attendance is 40,000 each year for four days of rodeo action and top-notch trade shows. It represents direct visitor spending of $6 million with most of that from out of town guests. Those dollars reach our hotels, restaurants, attractions, gas stations, retails shops, dry cleaners, stock suppliers, veterinarians, feed supply shops and many more businesses and people.
Perhaps most important, the World Championship Ranch Rodeo is the major fundraiser for the Working Ranch Cowboy Foundation, an arm of the WRCA that provides funds for cowboy families in need. The proceeds and donations to the WRCF pay for tuition, medical bills, housing needs and other crisis situations faced by working cowboys and their families on ranches across the U.S.
The 2015 edition of the WCRR features 23 ranches from across the U.S., each one qualifying at a regional ranch rodeo during the summer and early fall. The WCRR has attracted attention from around the world, this year hosting a top-notch photographer from the UK as he starts a comprehensive project on rodeo and the ranch culture in the US.
Friday and Saturday are sold out for this year's rodeo but lots of great seats remain for the Thursday night (November 12) and Sunday afternoon (November 15) performances. The Sunday show is especially fun as the awards ceremony crowning the world championship ranch, top hand and top ranch horse, follows the performance.
Guests get a lot more than just a rodeo. The event features a trade and trappings show with both the best of tack and supplies for cowboys as well as bling and accessories for everyone wanting to live the cowboy way. Pokey the Clown returns with his Junior Ranch Rodeo and a crowd favorite, the Budweiser Clydesdales, will perform during breaks in the rodeo. Don't miss the cowboy art show and several top cowboy entertainers will be here for all four shows as well.
The World Championship Ranch Rodeo is the real deal, and it remains in Amarillo through 2018.
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The Amarillo CVC mission is to positively impact the economy and image of Amarillo through destination marketing and related support programs.
Visit the Amarillo CVC website at www.visitamarillo.com