Northlands announced Thursday that Canadian Finals Rodeo will fall on the same weekend it always has: the second weekend in November, but this year, the 44th CFR in Edmonton will have competition from the Professional Bull Riders Global Cup.
Northlands CEO Tim Reid announced the dates Thursday morning.
This year, the CFR will be held from November 8 to 12, while PBR is scheduled for November 9 to 11 at Rogers Place.
When asked if he was concerned over the two major events competing, Reid said he feels they’re two different events that appeal to different spectators.
“When we looked at the risk around this, we certainly see the ‘concrete cowboy’, for lack of a better term, as the person that will probably go to a downtown Ice District event,” Reid said. “In actuality that may be a great product offering for [the Oilers Entertainment Group].
“We target the rural market, and we do think that we may lose some customers because of this, but ultimately I think that if can align a made-for-TV perhaps, traditional downtown entertainment rodeo for PBR for one marketplace, and we can focus on the western culture side around ours, we may have a great win on both sides of this equation.”
The announcement came following a tumultuous year for the CFR. In the spring; officials announced CFR would be moving to Saskatoon in 2017 – but all that changed in October when organizers said the event would stay in Edmonton for two more years.
Between those announcements, the Oilers Entertainment Group struck a deal to bring the PBR Global Cup to Rogers Place.
Reid said Northlands considered moving CFR to another weekend, but felt it would not be fair to fans.
With files from Dan Grummett
