To every opportunity there is a possible cost and a possible gain, correct? And opinions are like belly buttons, no doubt! I rarely share mine in depth via Facebook but the spirit moves me today so I will dive right in! It may be long so sit back, read a spell and if you find it uninteresting Im ok with that! Rodeo in Las Vegas, yep its a positive! Did the PRCA turn down bigger money elsewhere? Social media buzz would say yes and this is where the naysayers dive in with all of the negatives, positives, and more opinions! Now let me say first that this post has no opinion in it regarding the association, the new association or any specific organizations. Im just thinking opportunity. Some great cities bid on the finals and came forth with spectacular offers Im told. Las Vegas wins as we all know. Its those other offers that seem to be plaguing people and causing a stream of posts. Consider the backside non contracted income and blue sky income by holding the finals in Vegas. Yes, roughly 180,000 people come to sin city to walk through the gates of the Thomas & Mack but thats a small percentage of the 90 million dollar economic impact on the city. OR the economic impact on the industry. Spectacular hotels, world class shows, shopping as far as your feet will take you and the dream of hitting the big jackpot draw countless people to the city. This creates opportunity gain for our contestants and the entire sport which benefits the western industry. Think of how much backside economic impact this has on our cowboys. Major Vegas hotels with more disposable income to utilize in sponsoring our rodeo athletes. All that foot traffic shopping in Vegas has created countless cowboy Christmas type shopping experiences creating more visibility for more businesses as well as more revenue opportunity for them all. What do they do in turn? Provide more product sponsorships at the very least to our contestants and rodeos. How many people fly to Vegas to play and gamble specifically during the finals and yet do not even attend a rodeo? Each time they spend $ pulling a slot or drawing a card, the promotion of rodeo grows because they are there for the rodeo! How much social networking is done at a black jack table?? No, you may not have sold a 1000 feeder calves or purchased a brand new LQ trailer right then but the chatter of who had great ones will stick in your mind or the chance meeting will be remembered and contact made. All over a deck of cards. Ok, I will stop although Im certain I could go on awhile. Think about the economic impact to our sport in its entirety above and beyond the simple contractual figures provided to the top 15... The location of the finals has an economic impact on the entire arena of western life not just the Thomas & Mack!
Posted on: Sat, 25 Jan 2014 14:51:55 +0000