We are just one day away from the start of the 93rd annual Reno Rodeo. The 10-day event kicks off the special event season in the Truckee Meadows, with 150,000 people attending, bringing in about $42-million in economic impact. But it's not all spent on hotels, restaurants, and taxis. A lot of it is spent behind the scenes.
"To be able to open the chutes, back out the first bull, the national anthem, it's just the pride, the energy, the fun," Steve Schroeder said. "It's on."
Of course, putting on this event costs money. Steve Schroeder is the director of communications for the Reno Rodeo Foundation. He says all money is spent locally on many supplies. Hay is needed to feed more than 1,000 large animals.
"If you can think about how much they eat, in a day, times a thousand, there's a lot of hay going through this facility," Schroeder said. "Hundreds of tons."
Castaway is a local recycling company that partners with the Reno Rodeo.
"They'll be recycling all shavings, the hay, and all the manure out of the rodeo, here, during the ten days, and there's a lot of it," Schroeder said.
They also donate 10% of their profits back to the Reno Rodeo Foundation.
The rodeo also means an uptick in business for western clothing places. The Boot Barn has even hired three temporary employees to help handle extra customers that buy things like cowboy hats, jeans, and boots.
Jon Greundmeyer is the event manager and says the rodeo means more sales with some people spending hundreds of dollars.
"You'll have the traditional cowboys," Greundmeyer said. "Guys that work on the ranches. Then you'll have the people that come from all over that just want to be a cowboy for the weekend or maybe just for the day."
Shoppers like Taryn Johnson say the Reno Rodeo is the best event of the summer but she says she can't go unless she looks the part.
"No, no, because that's part of the fun of the rodeo is getting dressed up for it," Johnson said.
Along with money spent, the Reno Rodeo donates $500,000 to charities, every year.
Reno Rodeo attendees are encouraged to use alternate routes to get to the Livestock Events Center during construction on I-80. The I-80 eastbound Wells Ave. on and off ramps and the Fourth St. off ramp are closed as part of the I-80 Design Build Project. Drivers are encouraged to use the following alternate routes. Click here for detailed maps.
I-80 heading east (from Truckee)
Use exit 10 (North McCarran Blvd.)
Turn left at North McCarran Blvd.
Turn right at Sutro St.
Turn right at Wells Ave.
or…
I-80 heading east (from Truckee)
Use exit 15 to US 395 North
Use exit 69 (Oddie Blvd.), turn left on Oddie Blvd.
Oddie Blvd. turns into Wells Ave.
US 395 heading south (from Susanville)
Use exit 70 (North McCarran Blvd.)
Turn right on North McCarran Blvd.
Turn left at Sutro St.
Turn right at Wells Ave.
or…
US 395 heading south (from Susanville)
Use exit 69 (Oddie Blvd.)
Turn right on Oddie Blvd.
Oddie Blvd. turns into Wells Ave.
I-80 heading west (from Sparks, Fernley)
Use exit 15 (US. 395 North)
Use exit 69 (Oddie Blvd.)
Turn left on Oddie Blvd.
Oddie Blvd. turns into Wells Ave.
US 395 heading north (from Carson City)
Use exit 69 (Oddie Blvd.)
Turn left on Oddie Blvd.
Oddie Blvd. turns into Wells Ave.
