River City Roundup officials announced recently the return of the ProRodeo Summer Tour finale to Omaha, Neb., Sept. 28-30, at the Qwest Center. As one of the premier rodeos of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy's Association (PRCA), the event showcases 96 of the world's best athletes as they compete for a $395,000 purse. The event will be televised on CBS.
The 2006 ProRodeo Summer Tour finale showcases a dozen contestants in each event who have qualified as a result of their performances during the Wrangler ProRodeo Summer Tour rodeos throughout the United States. The three-performance finale includes two preliminary rounds leading to a semifinal round, where the top eight advance and all previous scores and times are thrown out.
Following the semifinal round, the top four will advance to the championship round. Scores and times are erased again before the finals, and the finale champions are determined by final-round scores and times.
Each performance includes a two-hour rodeo and a concert. Hot country duo Big and Rich, with special guest Cowboy Troy, will get the crowd rocking after the preliminary performance on Friday, Sept. 29. Thursday and Saturday concert artists will be announced at a later date.
Tickets for the event will go on sale May 15, 2006, at all Ticketmaster locations. Prices range from $15 to $50, depending on location. Group, season and corporate discount packages are available. Visit www.rivercityroundup.org for more details.
The 2005 Pace Picante ProRodeo Challenge event drew more than 29,000, and nearly one million households tuned into this unique sporting event on CBS Sports.
The River City Roundup Fair and Festival is a family celebration of agriculture and Western heritage. It is managed by the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation, which has been a sponsor of the PRCA sanctioned Ak-Sar-Ben Rodeo in Omaha for more than 55 years. The Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation was established in 1895 with a mission of building a more prosperous heartland where communities can flourish and every child can succeed.