MARCH 2 2014
THE HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN RODEO It is believed that rodeo was born in 1864 when two groups of cowboys from neighboring ranches met in Deer Trail, Colorado to settle an argument over who was the best at performing everyday ranching tasks. That gathering is considered to be the first rodeo and it started the evolution of the true American sport. Through these daily chores, the sport of rodeo evolved. It can be said that rodeo is the only sport derived from an industry, and probably the only one that ever will. Today s professional rodeo cowboy is a bit different from his 1800s predecessor, but the ideals and showmanship of long ago are still valued by today s competitors. A cowboy s standing in the rodeo community is still dependent on his skill with a rope or his ability to ride a bucking animal. The cowboy code still dictates that a man help his fellow competitors, even though they might be competing for the same paycheck. And while some things have managed to stay the same after all these years, there s an event coming that will revolutionize rodeo
A NEW RODEO IS BORN... The stage is set for THE AMERICAN to become the largest, richest one-day rodeo in the history of the sport. Each one of these world-class athletes will compete for their share of the largest single day payout in the history of the sport.$2,000,000. Be a part of history as the Top 10 contestants in the world from each event battle it out but wait a minute we are not done Anyone else out there that thinks they are better than the world s best gets their shot at part of $2,000,000. There will be five qualifiers sanctioned by the Professional Bull Riders, Pro Roughstock Series, United States Team Roping Championships, Better Barrel Racers and the Ultimate Calf Roping for each event around the country for those that want their chance to beat the world s best on March 2, 2014. Out of that $2,000,000, each event will pay $100,000 for first and $25,000 for second. Then there will be a $1,000,000 side pot set aside for the qualifiers. If a qualifier can beat all the best and win his/her event, then he/she is entitled to that $1,000,000. RFD-TV and these sanctioning bodies are looking to revolutionize the sport of rodeo for the better. There are many rodeo events that are great attractions for fans; however, there has yet to be that one-day rodeo that has been able to pay out this sum of money. THE AMERICAN will open the door to a competition much like golf and tennis, where mediocrity will not be welcome for the price of victory. Every sport needs a large impact moment, and this will be that defining day for the best rodeo athletes in the world. So.BUCKLE UP
BAREBACK RIDING Sanctioned by: October 19, 2013 Salina, KS Bicentennial Center November 2, 2013 Tulsa, OK November 15-16, 2013 Rapid City, SD December 31, 2013 Gillete, WY SpiritBank Events Center Rushmore Plaza Civic Center CamPlex Wyoming Center TBD SATURDAY (13 of 25) SUNDAY (12 of 25) ADVANCE
BRONC RIDING Sanctioned by: October 19, 2013 Salina, KS Bicentennial Center November 2, 2013 Tulsa, OK SpiritBank Events Center November 15-16, 2013 Rapid City, SD Rushmore Plaza Civic Center December 31, 2013 Gillete, WY CamPlex Wyoming Center TBD SATURDAY (13 of 25) SUNDAY (12 of 25) ADVANCE
TEAM ROPING Sanctioned by: November 15, 2013 Fort Worth, TX December 27, 2013 Scottsdale, AZ January 7, 2014 Odessa, TX January 10, 2014 Waco, TX January 17, 2014 Kinder, LA Will Rogers Coliseum Westworld Equestrian Center Arena TBD Heart of Texas Coliseum Coushatta Pavilion TEAMS TEAMS TEAMS TEAMS TEAMS FRIDAY FIRST ROUND (50) SATURDAY SUNDAY ADVANCE
TIE-DOWN ROPING Sanctioned by: September 27, 2013 Stephenville, TX Lone Star Arena October 25-27, 2013 San Angelo, TX November 15-17, 2013 Amarillo, TX January 31/February 1-2, 2014 Graham, TX San Angelo Fairgrounds Tri State Expo Young County Coliseum TBD FRIDAY FIRST ROUND (50) SATURDAY SUNDAY ADVANCE
BARREL RACING Sanctioned by: September 28, 2013 Loveland, CO Ranch-Larimer County Fairgrounds Indoor Arena October 12, 2013 Lincoln, NE Lancaster Event Center November 9, 2013 Alvarado, TX Diamond W Arena November 23, 2013 Jackson, MS Kirk Fordice Equine Center January 18, 2014 Buckeye, AZ South Buckeye Equestrian Center Arena FRIDAY FIRST ROUND (50) SATURDAY SUNDAY ADVANCE
STEER WRESTLING TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD FRIDAY FIRST ROUND (50) SATURDAY SUNDAY ADVANCE
BULL RIDING Sanctioned by: October 19-20, 2013 Little Rock AR Barton Coliseum TOP CONTESTANT October 24, 2013 Las Vegas, NV ABBI Wildcard Southpoint Hotel and Casino TOP CONTESTANT December 28-29, 2013 Fort Worth, TX January 14-16, 2014 Denver, CO January 17-18, 2014 Pueblo, CO Cowtown Coliseum NWSS Coliseum State Fair Events Center TOP CONTESTANT TOP CONTESTANT TOP CONTESTANT TOP 6 ADVANCE TOP CONTESTANT
RODEO LEGEND QUOTES Where else but TEXAS - where we are living the life & loving the lifestyle- could an event of this magnitude take place? Grab your best hat, dust off your boots and come help us celebrate our fabulous western culture. Witness history as the Best of the West compete for an unprecedented $2,000,000. LARRY MAHAN - 8 Time PRCA World Champion An event like this makes me think about coming out of retirement. I believe it has all the elements to being the greatest rodeo ever, you will see the world s greatest, yet have the opportunity to see an underdog come in and win more money than what most professional cowboys can make in a year. Its definitely great for the sport, the contestant, and especially the fan. JUSTIN MCBRIDE - 2 TIME PBR WORLD CHAMPION & ALL TIME MONEY EARNER IN BULL RIDING & RODEO WITH $5,200,000 This is huge. It has the potential to be the biggest thing that has ever happened to rodeo. I think that it is the biggest thing to come along since the NFR. My favorite part of watching sports is when you see the best going up against the best. Sprinkle in a few of the all-time legends of the sport and put it on at the greatest most modern sports venue ever, and you will have THE AMERICAN. CODY LAMBERT - 10 TIME NFR QUALIFIER & PBR CO-FOUNDER What excites me about this rodeo is not just the huge opportunity for the contestants, but for the amazing opportunity that it is going to be for the fans of the sport. TY MURRAY - 9 TIME PRCA WORLD CHAMPION & PBR CO-FOUNDER It is awesome to see that these kind of things are being thought of for the sport of rodeo. Its amazing that a man can make more in this one day rodeo than most rodeo guys make over the course of their careers. CODY CUSTER - 1 TIME PRCA WORLD CHAMPION I think that this has been a long time coming. It is the future of rodeo without a doubt. This should raise the level of rodeo as a whole. This is one of the best ideas ever created. FRED WHITFIELD - 8 TIME PRCA WORLD CHAMPION I really believe THE AMERICAN will be the single biggest thing that s happened for rodeo in its history. It is exciting to see this type of money for the people that deserve it most the rodeo contestants. CHARMAYNE JAMES - 11 TIME PRCA WORLD CHAMPION Anytime that there is innovation in the sport of rodeo, that is used to make it more exciting and relevant for the fans in today s world is great, and that is what this event is. DAN MORTENSEN - 7 TIME PRCA WORLD CHAMPION
FAST FACTS THE AMERICAN Date: Location: Est. Attendance: Athletes: March 2, 2014 AT&T Stadium 75,000 Best in the world in each event SEMI-FINALS Date: Location: February 21-23, 2014 Mesquite Resistol Arena, Mesquite, TX QUALIFIERS RFD-TV in conjunction with the rodeo sanctioning bodies will conduct 5 qualifiers in each rodeo event. Each event has the right to two exemptions chosen by THE AMERICAN management. An exemption may be used in any way THE AMERICAN management chooses in order to make the event more successful. TICKETS ON SALE SEPTEMBER 16, 2013 AT&T Stadium Box Office All Ticketmaster Locations www.ticketmaster.com Ticket Prices: $150, $100, $60, $40, $20 SOCIAL MEDIA RFDTVTheAmerican RFDTVAmerican www.rfdtv.com/theamerican