This week the Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association instituted some changes in their Bylaws that will essentially end the memberships of many past and present world champions. World Champions like Luke Branquihno, Clay Tryan, Trevor Brazile, Jade Corkill, Tuf Cooper will not be allowed membership to the PRCA for the 2016 season because they have founding and financial interest in the newly established Elite Rodeo Athletes- League of Champions.
The bylaws establish that Competing Rodeo Events are events not sanctioned by the PRCA in which contestants compete in two or more of the following events: bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, and team roping. And go on to add that Conflicting Rodeo Associations are companies, partnerships, and associations or other entities whose direct or indirect purpose is to produce, promote, and/or sanction professional rodeo contest in which contestants compete in two or more of the following events: bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, and team roping.
Here is where it gets interesting with this amendment:
In order to ensure that PRCA members—whose popularity and success are the result of participation in PRCA-sanctioned rodeos and related PRCA promotional efforts and activities (and the associated costly investments the PRCA has made in promoting PRCA events and rodeo sports in general)—are not pursuing interests in Conflicting Rodeo Associations while receiving the benefits of PRCA membership and are putting forth their best efforts on behalf of the PRCA, any person applying for PRCA membership who is an officer, board member, employee or has an ownership or financial interest of any form in a Conflicting Rodeo Association shall not be issued a membership, permit or renewal of membership with the PRCA.
So it is clear that this is a direct reaction to the formation of the ERA. But what has been the source of conversation is that this means that many of the fan favorites will no longer be issued membership to the PRCA. So PRCA events known to draw in thousands of attendees will not get to see the athletes that use those events to catapult them in the standings for world championship.
One of the tenants of the ERA is that you will get to see the cream of the crop at their events. As a fan you will pay your money for your ticket or see it on Fox Sports and know that you will see elite rodeo athletes competing. Besides the world champions you will see other arena athletes that have competed their way into this circuit in hopes of earning money or points that will get them to the championship week in Dallas.
Sound familiar? Of course it does. This sounds like it is built on the order of the Professional Bull Riders Association. The PBR was founded in 1992 under similar circumstances. 20 Bull Riders wanted a better showcase for their sport. They pooled their money and the PBR was born. They have grown from 310,000 to 1.5 million nationwide attendees with circuit levels in other countries like Brazil and Australia.
So what do these rule changes new organizations mean to fans and other PRCA members? Well, it will mean that circuit only arena warriors may have a better shot at winning more money and getting to the WNFR in Las Vegas simply because there is a substantial level of competition being eliminated thus money available. Will it increase the availability of sponsorships that will allow some to travel outside of their circuits to go after the bigger money events? Remains to be seen.
For fans like me, I watch local circuit events for most of the season and enjoy the competition. I take great pride when I see my First Frontier Circuit athletes get to the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo. I do, however,go to the National Finals Rodeo to see the cream of the crop. The reality is that I rarely get to see this level of performance during the season. The Wrangler Champions Challenge is televised, but it is not live. Not the same thing by far. With the exception of Joe Beaver I turn the sound off.
I have a bucket list like many people do. A large part of my list consist of the major rodeos in North America- Cheyenne, Calgary, Reno, Ft. Worth and Denver, New Mexico. I just wonder if beyond the fun that is not related to the actual rodeo performances will I want to reconsider going to these events until I am sure that I will see someone who I know. I guess I won’t be playing rodeo next July for Cowboy Christmas either. No disrespect to the thousands of PRCA card holders that get out there and work hard to excel in their events.
The ERA like the PBR was born out a level of discontent and opportunity. Rodeo has gained tremendous mainstream popularity in the last few years with no sign of it letting up. Just ask the founding members of the PBR that spent $1000 and in return made millions on their investment.
I love the NFR. I love Las Vegas at NFR time. When the ERA announced their format which includes their own tour, to be announced, which concludes with a finals in Dallas in November my first thought was I get to go to the NFR and the ERA finals! Well I guess we know now because the exclusion of my favorite arena athletes like Jade Corkill, Clay Tryan, Cody Ohl, and Trevor Brazile I will not likely be spending next December in Vegas.
So since the PBR is a single event organization they are not considered a Competing Association so at least we will still have such great events like The American that includes both PBR and PRCA athletes. I guess the question I have now is will the ERA excluded athletes be allowed to participate in this event? Will the invitations be extended to the world champions as it has been in the past 2 years or will they need to qualify to get in? Or can a non-PRCA member participate? I have lots of questions because I already have my tickets and would be very displeased if the game changes once the ball is in play.
The future of the PRCA? It will go on as a main sanctioning body for American Rodeo. But with the addition of the ERA and their goal to bring rodeo to a national stage American Rodeo will prosper. Think of what putting this sport on exposure level anticipated will do for the rest of the western industries? Clothing, vacations, event attendance, awareness of farming and ranching issues and it’s impact on Americans.
I am all for the progression of the sport. My son wants to be a bull rider, will he be an Elite Rodeo Athlete, a PRCA world champion or a PBR world champion? No idea, but any of those options sound good wish he could be all three.
cowgirl19114 
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