(Editor's note: WCRA media release)
AUSTIN, TEXAS - The World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA) has announced what it calls the most athlete-friendly incentive in the history of rodeo: the WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeoä (TCR). The TCR is an annual bonus that will pay $1,000,000 to any one athlete or collection of athletes whom win first place in any three consecutive WCRA $1,000,000 Major Rodeos. Two of the $1,000,000 WCRA Major Rodeos next year will be coupled with a Professional Bull Riders (PBR) elite series event in a major U.S. market while three TCR events in 2020 will be broadcast on CBS Sports.
“We endeavor to lift the entire sport of Rodeo,” said WCRA CEO Gary McKinney. “The WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeo is another tremendous advancement for all stakeholders; the athletes, the rodeos and the fans. Historically, outside of the road to the finals there has been no platform or continuity to align major rodeos – the TCR provides that vehicle.”
The current 2020 schedule includes three major rodeos where athletes can qualify for the TCR $1,000,000 bonus, beginning in Kansas City, Missouri for the Royal City Roundup on February 28. The Kansas City event will be followed by the May 17 Stampede at The E in Guthrie, Oklahoma. The 2020 series is scheduled to wrap-up in Tacoma, Washington on August 28 with the Puget Sound Showdown. The Kansas City and Tacoma events will be paired with the 2020 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Unleash The Beast tour with all WCRA majors airing on CBS Sports. (The full CBS broadcast will be set and released at a later date and is subject to change.)
“The three rodeos CBS Sports brought to fans this past summer from Green Bay, Salt Lake City and Calgary, reached more than 3.1 million unique viewers, proving a strong market for major rodeos in mainstream media,” said Sean Gleason, CEO, PBR. “The WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeo is an exciting addition that will bring more drama, news value and fan buzz to major high-payout rodeos.”
The TCR bonus will be available to all athletes who nominate their current rodeo efforts through the WCRA Virtual Rodeo Qualifier (VRQ) and are crowned champions at three consecutive WCRA Major Rodeos.
This revolutionary annual incentive is not limited to just the WCRA 2020 season, rather, it allows athletes to rack up wins on a rolling calendar basis. This means athletes’ three consecutive wins can cross calendar years, however, the $1,000,000 bonus will only be paid one time annually. If two or more athletes achieve this milestone at the same time, the bonus will be split.
“Our 2020 WCRA Major Rodeo Event Series is already scheduled to pay over $5.1 million,” said WCRA President Bobby Mote. “The TCR is the platform that links this on-going series of events together from a media and public relations standpoint – with athletes in pursuit of the $1,000,000 bonus at every event. This is a big damn deal.”
Athletes from around the globe have the opportunity to compete in the WCRA Major Events Series and compete for the TCR after qualifying through the VRQ. Qualifying for the Royal City Roundup is currently underway and athletes can continue nominating until December 1. All rodeo athletes interested in learning more about the VRQ should be directed to wcrarodeo.com while those inquiring more about the TCR may visit triplecrownofrodeo.com.
Fans will be able to witness the first Triple Crown of Rodeo stop at the Royal City Roundup at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri February 28. Tickets for the one-day $1,000,000 major rodeo go on sale Monday, Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. CT and start at $10. All tickets for the event can be purchased at the Sprint Center Box Office or by visiting sprintcenter.com.
Since launching in May of 2018, the WCRA and its partners have awarded more than $5,600,000 in new money to rodeo athletes. All rodeo athletes interested in learning more about the WCRA or the VRQ should be directed to wcrarodeo.com.
