Cheyenne residents are bracing for the start of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo next week and the influx of more than 100,000 visitors.
Frontier Days officially launches on Friday, July 19, and a study of the impact of the 2018 event shows that some 105,000 people from outside Laramie County traveled to the Capitol for the event, where they spent $27.1 million on lodging, food, entertainment and other purchases.
The study prepared by Dean Runyan Associates showed that once the “multiplier effect” is factored in, Frontier Days resulted in about $35 million of business activity in Cheyenne.
All told, the 2018 rodeo saw a total of more than 247,000 tickets sold for rodeo events and nightly concerts.
The 2019 Frontier Days celebration begins at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 19, with the Opening Day Celebration, followed by the opening of attractions such as the Indian Village, the carnival midway and the Buckin’ A Saloon.
The rodeo itself, the world’s largest outdoor rodeo, will begin Saturday.
Just in time for the rodeo’s opening, a new Cheyenne Frontier Days headquarters opened on the grounds, equipped with an area for the rodeo’s sponsor’s to watch the rodeo.
“This building has been a dream of Cheyenne Frontier Days for many years,” said Tom Hirsig, president and CEO of Frontier Days. “Sponsors expect to have nice areas, air conditioned areas, places where they can get out of the weather here at Frontier Park.”
The new building also houses CFD’s corporate offices and offers event space that can be rented by groups, he said.
“We’re excited about this.” he said. “There’s really a need for a year-round facility that will generate income and make this facility live throughout the year. This really puts us in a year-round venue that we’ve never been in before.”
The building’s construction is a needed step as Frontier Days moves into the future, Hirsig added.
“I believe we’re moving in the right direction with this building,” he said. “We’ve been in existence for 123 years and we need at least 123 more. With that comes change. Sometimes change is difficult, but I really do believe we’re on the right path.”
