The Canadian Finals Rodeo goes back to Alberta’s capital city for 2024, following a successful five year run in Red Deer.
Also changing for the CFR are the dates when it will take place. In the past, it had ordinarily been held in the first week in November.
This year’s dates are from October 2nd through the 5th at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
What does that mean for the Oldstoberfest Pro Rodeo which is set to run this year from Thursday, September 12th until Sunday, September 14th?
Gillian Grant with C5 Rodeo says, typically, the Oldstoberfest Pro Rodeo has been a game changer for competitors in the race to make the Canadian Finals Rodeo.
With this change for the CFR, Grant notes the Canadian Professional Rodeo season will actually be ending on August 31st. She says “So Oldstoberfest for the Canadian rodeo season will actually be the first rodeo out there along with Hanna, I believe, for the 2025 rodeo season. It will be very interesting to see what our entry and contestant numbers are because, however, there will still be races and some contestants that are gunning for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. We will still be a part of the 2024 season for the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) schedule. However, for the Canadian Pro Rodeo schedule we will be counting towards 2025, a fresh slate for the new season.”
Grant adds, that it is going to be very interesting to see what happens here this year at the Oldstoberfest Pro Rodeo. She says “Contestants are still fresh and strong, so it kind of gives them a really great head start for the 2025 season. Very interested to see what players we attract during that weekend.”
The Canadian Finals Rodeo started in 1974 and the first 44 editions were held in Edmonton. Last October it was announced that the CFR will be moving from Red Deer back to Alberta’s capital city for 2024 to 2026.