BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN PRORODEOBRETT
The Cinch Playoffs have a new home and an increased payout for the 2023 season, the PRCA and Cinch announced on Monday afternoon.
In partnership with the State of South Dakota and Experience Sioux Falls, the Denny Sanford Premier Center will host the Playoffs and pay out more than $1 million, making it the richest rodeo in state’s storied history.
The event will take place Sept. 28-30, 2023.
“It’s going to decide not only World Championships, but who goes to to the National Finals Rodeo,” reigning PRCA Announcer of the Year Garrett Yerigan said. “Our sport has never seen anything like this before, truly the last day of the regular season. It just gives me chills just thinking about it.”
In addition to the champions receiving a payout north of $10,000, they will also be vying for the newly created Governor’s Cup.
Three-time World Champion Tim O’Connell added that he’s happy that there is one big rodeo to end the season with the best of the best all in one place.
“It’s a do or die situation,” he said. “We have this Tour, Fort Worth San Antonio, Cheyenne, all of these rodeos you dream of winning. Now you have to take into perspective, you have to show up and do your job to the best of your abilities so you can get to the Playoffs and you can get to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.”
The Cinch Playoffs will feature just 12 contestants in each event in 2023. The field will be made up of the Top 4 in each event from the 2022 Playoffs in Puyallup as well as the Top 8 in the Playoff Series Standings. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem believes the state is a perfect fit to host such a prestigious new rodeo.
“We’ve seen the last couple of years, all of America be proud of rodeo,” Noem said. “Sioux Falls is our largest city and they host amazing events on the world stage.”
The Cinch Playoffs will air on The Cowboy Channel and PRCA on Cowboy Channel+.