Richest Rodeo East of the Mississippi to Take Over the Carolinas and Tryon International Oct. 6-8
Tickets for Rodeo Carolina are on sale now
TRYON, N.C. – This October, the WCRA (World Champions Rodeo Alliance) will make history in the Carolinas, bringing the richest rodeo east of the Mississippi to the Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort. Part of the groundbreaking $1 million Triple Crown of Rodeo series, Rodeo Carolina, Oct. 6-8, caps the 2023 trilogy of events when dozens of accomplished Western sports athletes will compete for their share of the $400,000 purse and shot at the life-changing $1 million bonus.
Tickets for Rodeo Carolina are on sale now and start at $20, taxes and fees not included. They can be purchased at the Tryon International Box Office or online at Tryon.com, PBR.com, and wcrarodeo.com.
A first on multiple fronts, not only is Rodeo Carolina a groundbreaking event in the Mid-Atlantic region, but also marks the inaugural Western rodeo at Tryon International, a state-of-the-art venue built for the FEI World Equestrian Games. Rodeo Carolina will mark a merging of disciples like never before as some of Western sport’s preeminent talents compete at the same facilities that have hosted Olympic contenders in show jumping, dressage and more.
Held in the picturesque Blue Ridge Foothills, Rodeo Carolina follows in the footsteps of the now annual PBR (Professional Bull Riders) event held in mid-June at Tryon International, which has worked to build a burgeoning fan base in the region.
Rodeo Carolina, the richest rodeo east of the Mississippi, will begin on October 6 showcasing more than 200 athletes competing in each of the nine rodeo disciplines: bareback riding, women’s breakaway roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping (heading and heeling), tie-down roping, barrel racing, and bull riding. A collective $400,000 will be on the line, with each champion leaving North Carolina with a $15,000 check.
The groundbreaking event will be the final of three Major events comprising the 2023 WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeo, presented by Lazy E Ranch and Arena. The WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeo is a trilogy of Major rodeos offering a $1 million bonus to any one athlete or collection of athletes who win first place in any three consecutive Major events.
In 2022, RC Landingham (Hat Creek, California) made history, becoming the first athlete to win the $1 million bonus after winning the bareback discipline at three consecutive WCRA Major rodeos.
Looking to become the second athlete in history to win the bonus, Issac Diaz (Stephenville, Texas) will ride an incredible wave of momentum into Rodeo Carolina.
Diaz, a 36-year-old saddle bronc rider, is fresh off his win at Rodeo Corpus Christi; his second consecutive WCRA Major victory, putting him in contention to become a millionaire this October in North Carolina.
The landmark Rodeo Carolina will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 6, and Saturday, Oct. 7, concluding at 2:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 8.
Up to 11 athletes per discipline will go head-to-head in the long rounds (Oct. 6-7), with the Top 8 best runs and rides advancing to the Triple Crown of Rodeo Round on Oct. 8.
Since launching in May of 2018, the WCRA and its partners have awarded more than $16 Million in new money to rodeo athletes. All rodeo athletes interested in learning more about the WCRA should be directed to wcrarodeo.com.
Media Contacts:
Kyle Jones, kjones@wcrarodeo.com
Sarah Madden, smadden@tryon.com
About WCRA (World Champions Rodeo Alliance):
WCRA is a professional sport and entertainment entity, created to develop and advance the sport of rodeo by aligning all levels of competition. In association with the PBR, WCRA produces major rodeo events, developing additional opportunities for rodeo-industry competitors, stakeholders, and fans. To learn more, visit wcrarodeo.com. For athletes interested in learning more about the WCRA Virtual Rodeo Qualifier (VRQ) system, visit app.wcrarodeo.com.
About Tryon International:
Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (Tryon International) is the ultimate destination for all who love horses, outdoor living, and an active lifestyle. We offer first-class facilities for equestrian events of all levels and disciplines, located in the Blue Ridge Foothills of Mill Spring, NC. Diverse onsite restaurants, a variety of shops, relaxing lodging getaways, family entertainment, and more make Tryon International an ideal destination, any time of year. Learn more at www.Tryon.com.