Again, state overlooks Gallup
Money for indoor arena will most likely go to PRCA, Albuquerque

By Bill Donovan
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Hopes of local officials that the state would provide seed money for an indoor arena in downtown Gallup may have been squelched with a decision by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy's Association to move its headquarters to Albuquerque.

PRCA officials announced their plans this week to move from Colorado Springs, Colo., where they have been since 1979, to Albuquerque after the state offered to pay the organization $17 million.

This includes $12 million for a new headquarters as well as a $5 million cash grant, according to the association, which has been struggling of late. PRCA had to close the organization's Hall of Fame after reporting losses this year of $3.5 million.

All of this comes a month after state officials were saying that the state had $12 million from gasoline tax revenues that Gov. Bill Richardson wanted to use to build an indoor rodeo arena (or possibly two) somewhere in the state.

Richardson said he wanted to use the money to make the state of New Mexico a "world-class state for rodeo and equestrian sports."

As a result, local officials from Mayor Bob Rosebrough, Chamber of Commerce Director Herb Mosher and County Commissioner Billy Moore were all encouraging Richardson to use part or all of the funds to build an indoor arena in Gallup.

John Goldstein, a spokesman for Richardson, said Wednesday the deal the state made with the PRCA is not connected to the $12 million Richardson talked about a month ago.

He said that the state rodeo committee had been the first to promote the idea of an indoor rodeo arena, and Richardson had decided to support the proposal.

But the PRCA is proposing to build a $30 million equestrian center next to its headquarters and Richardson has said that "it makes sense" for the state to use the $12 million to build an indoor arena near the PRCA headquarters.

Richardson is now waiting for the state rodeo committee to make its recommendation on where the $12 million should go, and Goldstein said that should come in by April or May.

But even if Gallup doesn't receive the state funds, area residents are still saying that efforts still should be made to find funding to build an indoor arena.

Former County Commission Chairman Harry Mendoza is still seeking money from national corporations and foundations and Dudley Byerley, who has spurred the growth of rodeo in recent years in Gallup, said Wednesday that if the community wants to continue to see the sport grow in this area, an indoor arena will be a necessity.

Red Rock Park just isn't big enough to meet all of the demand that exists today, he said, pointing out that the city will have to spend $40,000 to $50,000 this summer to rent some 600 stalls to add to the 550 it built last year for $700,000 to meet the needs of the Wrangler junior high rodeo.

If the city is serious about an indoor arena and Byerley thinks that the idea has been catching on because of the increased rodeo activity this past summer, he said the city should be prepared to spend whatever is necessary to make the center as attractive as possible to those who sponsor events.

This includes a building where trade shows can be held along with the rodeos to maximize the number of people and organizations that attend.

The city and the Chamber of Commerce formed a rodeo committee last year. Members of the committee, whose backgrounds range from rodeo fans to engineers, are expected to be getting more and more active in the coming years.

Land has already been set aside at Red Rock Park as a possible site for an arena and Byerley said he feels confident that if the city and others continue to push for an arena that will not only host rodeos, but also showcase other types of events, it will become a reality.

"One of these days, someone is going to get it done," he said.

At Wednesday's city council meeting, Rosebrough and members of the council talked about the need for state funding for an indoor arena and how the area's legislators could steer that indoor arena money to Gallup.

It was also brought up that the city should try to get the support of Cibola County and the Navajo Nation since both entities would benefit if Gallup had an arena.

Councilor Frank Gonzales said he thinks the state usually puts its money in the southern part of the state. The people here, he said, should contact the governor's office with the message: Do something for this part of New Mexico.