Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede is ready for their annual Broncs & Honky Tonks Pro Indoor Rodeo at the Cypress Centre Field House April 19-21. (Kevin Kyle/CHAT News)

By Jesse Gill

‘We fill it up and that’s the way to have it’: Stampede’s spring rodeo this weekend

Apr 18, 2024 | 5:35 PM

The Cypress Centre Field House will continue to be the host venue for the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede’s annual Broncs and Honky Tonks Indoor Spring Rodeo for the forseeable future.

With the event being well attended each year, Edwards said the desire to consider moving to a bigger venue like Co-op Place isn’t something they are considering at this point.

“We’re full with the maximum contestants we can have, so we’re very fortunate that way,” Edwards said.

“The size for the people, yeah, we fill it up and that’s the way to have it. You know, if you have too big a venue and it’s half empty, that’s not good either, so we’re very pleased to have it in here,” he added.

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“It’s springtime and so it’s ours and we know what we’re doing here, so we can fill it up.”

The three-day event kicks off this weekend as preparations to create the indoor rodeo space with dirt and gates brought in and bleachers set up began Monday.

Indoor Rodeo arena set up at the Cypress Centre Fieldhouse for the Broncs & Honky Tonks Pro Rodeo. (Kevin Kyle/CHAT News)

General Manager Ron Edwards said Thursday some of the best cowboys and stock will be at the event with participants from across Canada and the United States, and will include some locals.

Events include bull riding, saddle bronc, bareback, steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, barrel racing and boys steer riding.

Tickets are still available for the Friday and Sunday shows, and Saturday is nearly sold out.

Edwards expects the remaining tickets to sell.

“We’ve done really, really well. We’ll be sold out Friday, Saturday. Sunday they’ll sell a few tickets left, but you know, Sunday will be almost filled up as well,” Edwards said.

“We have a big walk-up traffic here as well, so you know that’s going to be a good thing for us.”

Friday night will be Military Night, the crowd is encouraged to dress in red in support of Canada’s Armed Forces.

The Down In The Dirt Dance will follow the Friday and Saturday rodeo.

For tickets visit the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede website.