FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, rodeo’s largest organizing body, has all but decided to move its headquarters from Colorado to Wyoming, the state with its stallion logo, the University of Wyoming Cowboys and the world’s largest outdoor rodeo.
There’s just one possible obstacle: Wyoming’s conservative state lawmakers are hesitant about government funding for private industry. If there were enough of them, it could derail the state’s $15 million temptation to do a deal with the PRCA.
Like professional rodeos, when Wyoming lawmakers debate the state budget during the four-week legislative session that begins Feb. 9, the funding at stake will likely go all the way to the final round.
Wyoming Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams said Wyoming loves rodeo, which is the state’s official sport. She chairs the powerful Freedom Caucus, which counts nearly a quarter of the Wyoming House of Representatives as a member and has many others voting as allies.
“Wyoming does not like it when multi-million dollar companies try to rip off taxpayers for relief funds,” Williams said in a text message Thursday. “We are excited to welcome the PRCA to the Cowboy State, but hope they do it the Cowboy way — with their own money.”
Williams is from Cody, which lost to Cheyenne last week when the PRCA board voted to “seriously consider” moving its headquarters there. The PRCA’s ProRodeo Hall of Fame and American Cowboy Museum will also be located in Colorado Springs, the organization’s headquarters since 1979.
Every July, the Wyoming capital of 65,000 people attracts more than 100,000 visitors for Cheyenne Frontier Days, a Western-themed festival and rodeo billed as the largest of its kind in the world. Approximately 3,000 volunteers participate in the event, reducing costs and increasing civic pride.
Plans to move the PRCA to Cheyenne also rely on philanthropy. Wyoming’s $15 million will be matched by $15 million from the city’s economic development organization, Cheyenne LEADS.
That’s pocket change compared with publicly funded incentives elsewhere, which are not always approved.
In Wyoming, Freedom Caucus lawmakers also recently supported defunding the Wyoming Business Council, a state agency that provides loans for business development. They seek deep cuts in state spending in the upcoming budget.
Gov. Mark Gordon, a Republican like Williams but at odds with the Freedom Caucus, supports retaining the Business Council and state help for PRCA initiatives.
“Rodeo has been a part of Wyoming long before Wyoming became a state. It’s in our DNA,” Gordon said in a statement announcing the PRCA vote.
But while Republican Freedom Caucus Rep. Scott Heiner, R-Green River, said he loves the rodeo and is excited to bring the PRCA to Wyoming, he doesn’t think the state should “pick winners or losers” by giving money to private businesses.
“Businesses and industries should be able to be self-reliant,” Heiner said. “If they have a valid reason to come to Wyoming and a way to do it, I welcome them with open arms.”
Wyoming officials began pushing for PRCA action last year. From now on, the move will be formalized by the Legislature, said Paul Woody, PRCA chief marketing officer.
“This is not a short-term decision. This is where we need to be in 50 years,” Woody said.
Meanwhile, the city of Colorado Springs decided to cease operations after the city and community organizations offered to help renovate and promote the PRCA Hall of Fame and Cowboy Museum.
“We did our pitch, we did our presentation. We waited for anything to happen,” city spokesman Jason Strickland said.
Rachelle Zimmerman, director of corporate recruitment and retention for Cheyenne LEADS, said a study showed that obtaining the PRCA would provide Wyoming with a net economic benefit of $253 million over ten years.
“We felt like this was the perfect project,” Zimmerman said. “I think most people in Wyoming support this.”
