Months after Northlands and the Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG) made an unsuccessful bid to host the Canadian Finals Rodeo, it was announced that the massive event would be heading to Saskatchewan for three years starting in 2017.
In a press release, The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) and the City of Saskatoon signed a memorandum of understanding to host the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Saskatoon from 2017 to 2019.
The move came after CPRA did not accept a joint offer to host the CFR from OEG and Northlands back in March, 2016. That proposal would move the Canadian Finals Rodeo to Rogers Place, and keep Farm Fair International at the Northlands Expo Centre.
A release sent out at the time by the CPRA said they planned to start a request for proposal process with several cities interested in taking over CFR in 2017 – but a 60-day grace period was offered to OEG and the City of Edmonton in October 2015 to submit a proposal for CFR.
That grace period was honoured, CPRA said, and extended in an attempt to come up with an agreement. However, the offer was voted down by the Board of Directors.
The event will be held at Northlands in November, 2016 – marking its 43rd year in Edmonton.
