Mackenzie Stafford
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Chief Marketing Officer for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) confirmed to 13 Investigates that earlier this year, another state expressed interest in having the PRCA and the ProRodeo Hall of Fame relocate.
PRCA says Cheyenne LEADS, the economic development organization focused on bringing business to Cheyenne, reached out to express interest in having the PRCA and the ProRodeo Hall of Fame relocate to Cheyenne, Wyoming.
They said at this point, this is only an exploratory conversation. PRCA tells 13 Investigates that if a relocation were ever to move forward, it would be a minimum of three years away. They say nothing has been decided, and this remains far from certain.
The Cheyenne LEADS organization touts a low cost of doing business, pointing to tax advantages in the state. For tax incentives, Cheyenne LEADS explains that there is no state corporate income tax, no individual income tax, no inventory tax, no sales tax on manufacturing equipment, no sales tax on electricity and gas used in the manufacturing process, no state or local gross receipts tax, low sales tax (4% state + 2% county) and low property taxes.
We reached out to the City of Colorado Springs to see if they would do anything to incentivize the PRCA and the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. They tell 13 Investigates they do not have an answer for us today.
For more than 40 years, rodeo history has been put on display at the hall of fame.
“Everyone knows the ProRodeo Hall of Fame is in Colorado Springs, Colorado,” shared Marlene McRae, “I lived there 50 years. So that’s all I’ve ever known.”
Marlene McRae grew up in Ordway, Colorado.
“I lived 50 miles from Colorado Springs, so that was our main city to to shop in,” said McRae.
She loved visiting the museum and eventually became a part of its history herself as a barrel racer.
“We’d go whenever some one of my friends would be being inducted. I would try to go to the induction and support them. My parents supported the ProRodeo Hall of Fame financially. And then it was nice when I finally got to be inducted into the hall of fame,” explained McRae.
But now she’s confused by the idea of moving to Cheyenne.
“I would personally hate to see it move. I hate to say. I would hate to see it move to Cheyenne. I don’t think that’s a healthy move if it needs to move. I would hope it would move to somewhere like the stockyards in Fort Worth, Texas,” shared McRae.
She says she gets that there could be a financial incentive and ultimately wants to see the museum stay open. PCRA tells 13 Investigates Colorado’s overall costs aren’t conducive to their business. But Marlene says it comes down to the history inspiring generations to come.
“I think there’s a lot of memories there that, that you want to keep going. So generation to generation. Hey, let’s go to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Where’s that? We’ll Colorado Springs, of course. It’s always been there, you know? So, moving it to Cheyenne again. It’s just who knows how much the PRCA would benefit from that,” said McRae.
The next generation tells KRDO13 they have been inspired by the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.
We spoke with the captain of the Pikes Peak Rangerettes, a women’s horse-riding group based in Colorado Springs, who told us how much her organization’s connection to the hall of fame meant to her.
“We as Rangerettes have been inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. We have an exhibit that is combined with the Pikes Peak Range Riders. And it is very exciting. And I love the history that the ProRodeo Hall of Fame has. And seeing all the inductees and how they got there,” shared Hailey Herman, 2026 Captain of the Pikes Peak Rangerettes.
It’s worth noting that the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo would continue in Colorado Springs until at least 2031.
The NFR Open also released this statement:
The NFR Open at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo is set forJuly 14-18, 2026, and will take place at the Norris Penrose Event Center. This will be the85th Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo and the fifth year of a 10-year contract with the PRCA as thehome to the Open.
“We have a strong partnership with the PRCA and look forward to welcoming ourcontestants, regional and national sponsors, and rodeo committees who enjoy traveling to theSprings for this event each year. They will be standing alongside us, our friends & family,neighbors, and local sponsors who have long supported this Rodeo. It makes us proud tohear that we’re the ideal location for the Circuit Finals,” said Pikes Peak or Bust RodeoPresident Laurie Carroll.
The NFR Open is the most prestigious rodeo under the PRCA circuit system and will bring216 of the top cowboys and cowgirls in the world to compete at the Norris Penrose EventCenter. It is also one of the highest paying regular season rodeos in the PRCA and a keystop to propel contestants to the National Finals Rodeo.
Carroll also noted, “We are excited to continue to grow this event each year and celebratingour 85th Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo is an incredible milestone for us. That history and legacyspeaks to our western heritage and our commitment to giving back to our local military andtheir families, something this Rodeo has done since 1946. Watching the Rodeo in person atNorris Penrose is like no other professional sporting event. Come join us!”
Tickets for the NFR Open at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo go on sale online atPikesPeakorBust.org February 3, 2026.
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