Courtesy Ute Stampede
NEPHI, Utah — The Ute Stampede Rodeo held in Nephi has one of the state’s longest-running and nonprofit rodeos, and organizers say they’re ready to welcome rodeo goers in July.
Ute Stampede Rodeo president, Chris Memmott, says they will follow not only state guidelines for social distancing but also recommendations from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCP) to keep staff and contestants healthy.
Memmott says, “We are working lock-step with the CDC, Utah Health Department and the PRCP. Specifically, we will have hand sanitizing stations, more regular cleaning of facilities — including restrooms — and extra staff to monitor crowd control.”
Organizers will also have masks on hand for visitors and encourage everyone to wear a face covering.
For those who are in high-risk categories for COVID-19, Memmott says they are “looking at displaying a large screen in an overflow parking lot so people can watch the events from their cars.”
Vice-president of the Ute Stampede, Wade Garrett, says this is a family event and they want to do everything possible for all generations to feel safe and have a good time at the rodeo. So, there will also be a car parade and booths along with the rodeo events.
Garrett also says this annual rodeo is their only one which raises money for the community. “We give much of the proceeds to organizations like breast cancer awareness,” he says.
The capacity of the Nephi arena is 12,000. But, they will be following Governor Gary Herbert’s recommendation of only 50-percent ticket sales. So, Garret says it will be a struggle to help the community like they usually do.
“Ticket prices,” says Garrett “are reasonable – $15.00 on their most popular night, Saturday. And less on the other days.”
Organizers are still trying to settle on a price for the overflow parking lot with a big screen, but Garrett says it may be around $15.00 per carload if they decide to do this.
The Ute Stampede Rodeo runs from July 16th through July 18th in Nephi.