U of R Rams season ends in Mitchell Bowl to Laval
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The Rams last appeared in the Vanier Cup in 2000.
The Canadian Finals Rodeo is moving to Saskatoon after more than 40 years of steer wrestling and calf roping in Edmonton.
The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association says it has signed an agreement with the Saskatchewan city to host the national championship for three years starting in 2017.
“We’re very excited,” said Scott Ford with Sasktel Centre, adding it is the largest rodeo in Canada next to the Calgary Stampede.
“It’s massive. It draws 15,000 fans every performance.”
Landing the rodeo will also be a big boost for city’s economy, said Ford.
“Its in that range of $10 to $15 million. It’s comparable to a Brier.”
The rodeo association in March rejected a proposal from Edmonton and the Oilers Entertainment Group, which owns the city’s new downtown arena, to hold the event after this year.
Months of talks over ticket costs, prize purses and corporate sponsorships ended with Edmonton deciding not to put in a new bid.
The Canadian Finals Rodeo, which offers one of the richest purses in Canada, will take place one more time in Edmonton Nov. 9-13.
-with files from Canadian Press.