Attendance Steady at 114^th Annual Cheyenne Frontier Days
Susan Kanode

 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. --- The 114^th Annual Cheyenne Frontier Days was once again a rousing success. The 10-day celebration of the Western lifestyle came to a conclusion on Aug. 1.

                The opening Saturday rodeo was attended by 13,800 fans, the largest number on record since the 100^th celebration in 1996. It was the second highest opening rodeo since 1988. Total ticketed attendance for rodeos and concerts was 183,486. Those fans were among the nearly 550,000 estimated people who also attended pancake breakfasts, parades, the Indian village, the art show and museum, and Thunderbirds.

                This year’s rodeo featured nearly 1500 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association competitors vying for championship buckles and saddles along with prize money. Money and prizes worth over $1 million was awarded to contestants at the rodeo and the Professional Bull Riders.

                Throughout the 13 days of competition including slack and the rodeo, over 5,000 animals were used. Rodeo officials reported 11 animals with potential injuries. Four are being rehabilitated and three  were treated and released. 

                The Justin Sports Medicine Team saw over 500 athletes. Two contestants were transported to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. A bareback rider had a fractured clavicle and leg and was treated and released. A bull rider had a fractured nose and nasal cavity. Both were treated and released. There was also a bull rider with broken ribs and a steer wrestler with an injured knee. 

                The Pancake Breakfast, held downtown on Monday, Wednesday and Friday had 29,513 patrons enjoying a free meal put on by Cheyenne Kiwanis and local Boy Scouts and the CFD Indian Committee. breakfast. Over 50,000 people toured the Indian Village with the largest group of 8,496 coming through on opening Saturday. 

                 “Our volunteers work so hard to put on this event,” said Rod Hottle, General Chairman. “We think this has been a huge success and has brought a lot to our community. It’s very rewarding to see the history and tradition of Cheyenne Frontier Days continue. We had great crowds with a lot of energy and excitement. We love seeing the kind of support that we have had and are looking forward to 2011.”