Explore Edmonton announced yesterday that Edmonton will host the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) over the next three years, October 2024 and in 2025 and 2026.

The joint announcement was made along with the City of Edmonton, the Government of Alberta, the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association, and Edmonton Destination Marketing Hotels.

The CFR got its start in Edmonton in 1974 and became an annual tradition in the region that saw rodeo champions come compete from across the country. In 2018, the CFR moved for the first time in their history to Red Deer as the Northlands Coliseum (most recently known as Rexall Place), the host arena for the yearly rodeo, closed due to financial difficulties affecting Northlands when Rogers Place opened.

According to Explore Edmonton, The Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG) didn't renew their contract with the CFR when Rogers Place first opened, so they moved to the Red Deer Westerner Park, where the rodeo remains today. Fast forward to this year, the interest to bring CFR back to Edmonton became more popular and Westerner Park didn't renew their contract with CFR. OEG decided to bring the rodeo back to Edmonton, where it originated.

Next year will be the 50th anniversary of the CFR, and it will be held in Edmonton under the bright lights at Rogers Place.

Dignitaries from Explore Edmonton, the City of Edmonton, Edmonton Destination Marketing Hotels, the Government of Alberta, and the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association, pose in front of the podium at the Edmonton Convention Centre. Photo by Ryan Hunt.

Traci Bednard, CEO of Explore Edmonton, stated in an interview with CFWE that the time it took to get to this announcement was long, but worth it.

“This community has been advocating, pulling together supporters, attending rodeos, and demonstrating that we are the best opportunity to produce the rodeo in 2024,” Bednard stated.

Bednard herself grew up on a farm near Grande Prairie and was surrounded by Alberta’s signature western culture her entire life. It means a lot to her to be able to bring the CFR back to Edmonton, and to keep the western heritage alive, she says.

“Many of us here in Edmonton certainly have agricultural and rural roots. To be able to deliver that intersection and celebration of both urban and rural, and the tradition of rodeo here in Edmonton, makes so much sense. I’m personally just thrilled to bring it back here,” Bednard said.

Traci Bednard, the CEO of Explore Edmonton, shares her excitement about the return of the Canadian Finals Rodeo. Photo by Ryan Hunt.

The 2023 Canadian Finals Rodeo goes from Nov. 1-5 at the Red Deer Westerner Park.

Listen to the radio feature below: