Sioux Falls to host ‘the richest rodeo’ in S.D. history

Sioux Falls will host a rodeo that decides who makes it to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo next year and provides a payout of more than $1 million.

The Cinch Playoffs will have athletes competing for the Governor’s Cup and vying for the more than $1 million purse Sept. 28-30, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center. It will be the richest rodeo in South Dakota history.

“The event rodeo fans will see in 2023 in September is like the AFC, NFC championship games in football or the pennant race in baseball,” said Rorey Lemmel, the general manager of the Cinch Playoffs in Sioux Falls. “It will change the landscape for who is the world champion.”

The Cinch Playoffs provides a last opportunity for ProRodeo athletes to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. At the Sioux Falls rodeo with athletes competing for the Governor’s Cup, the contestants will include the top four finishers from each event at the Cinch Playoffs in Puyallup, Washington earlier in September and the top eight out of the standings of the Playoff Series presented by Pendleton Whisky.

“Rodeo tradition runs deep in South Dakota; some of our biggest legends in the sport are from South Dakota, and some of our oldest rodeos are in South Dakota,” said Tom Glause, CEO of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. “But we are super excited to bring the biggest rodeo in terms of payout to Sioux Falls in September of 2023.”

In addition to bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding, breakaway roping will be held at the Cinch Playoffs.

The 2023 ProRodeo season concludes Sept. 30. The Top 15 athletes in the PRCA Ram World Standings in each event will qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

The Cinch Playoffs will air on The Cowboy Channel and stream on the PRCA on Cowboy Channel Plus App.