Fair officials oppose new Bigfork rodeo

A plan to hold a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo in Bigfork in early July has been met with opposition from the Flathead County Fair Board and Fairgrounds Manager Mark Campbell.

Campbell, who said the Fair Board concurs with his viewpoint, contends the proposed Bigfork rodeo on July 6-7 is too close to the dates of the Northwest Montana Fair PRCA Rodeo in mid-August and would affect the marketing and ticket sales for the fair rodeo.

The PRCA board of directors will decide this weekend whether the Bigfork rodeo can be held. According to PRCA rules, an existing PRCA rodeo in the market area of a proposed rodeo has the ability to formally oppose it. The Northwest Montana Fair has been holding a PRCA rodeo during fair week in August for 64 years. The dates for this year’s fair PRCA rodeo are Aug. 16-18.

The Bigfork Summer Rodeo would be staged at a site near the intersection of Montana highways 35 and 82 in Bigfork. A professional mobile arena and bleachers would be brought in and erected on site, according to Rob Brisendine of Road Creek Events, which is handling the marketing for the proposed rodeo

“Road Creek Events organizes some of the largest events and rodeos in the country and was asked to help put a team together to bring professional rodeo to Bigfork,” Brisendine said.

New West Rodeo Productions of Browning would be the stock contractor.

Brisendine said Bigfork businesses and organizations such as the Bigfork Chamber of Commerce have been talking about the idea of a rodeo in Bigfork over the past four years, and the event finally was solidified for this summer. The idea is to offer another event in Bigfork close to the popular Fourth of July celebration that brings in thousands of spectators.

“We felt being a month and a half earlier, and being in a different community” wouldn’t negatively affect the fair rodeo, Brisendine said, adding that Bigfork is willing to help cross-promote the two rodeos.

“It’s really unfortunate it’s come to this,” he said. “We’re not going to take anything away from the fair.”

Campbell sent an email to the PRCA on Dec. 5, outlining his reasons for opposing the Bigfork rodeo.

“Our rodeo marketing and ticket sales begin in early May each year, continuing with increased levels of promotion in early July,” Campbell wrote. “Two events, less than 30 days apart, would be confusing the market and only degrade the market.”

Campbell further asserted that sponsorships would be split and diminished for both.

“If the delivery of expectations to sponsors is not met by the new event, this sponsor is lost long-term for both rodeos,” he said.

Campbell told the Daily Inter Lake he doesn’t object to Bigfork holding a rodeo; he objects to the Bigfork event being a PRCA-sanctioned rodeo.

“We’re just seeking a little protection in our market,” Campbell said.

He added that he and the Fair Board supported a PRCA rodeo held in March a couple of years ago at the Majestic Valley Arena near Kalispell.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.