Ogden Pioneer Days events commence; upgrade of stadium coming
-
- Slack events were held Wednesday, July 19, 2023, ahead of the formal start of the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo. This photo shows the south Pioneer Stadium bleachers, to be replaced per upgrade plans.
-
- Slack events were held Wednesday, July 19, 2023, ahead of the formal start of the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo. This photo shows the south Pioneer Stadium bleachers in the background, to be replaced per upgrade plans.
-
- Slack events were held Wednesday, July 19, 2023, ahead of the formal start of the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo. This photo shows the north Pioneer Stadium seats.
-
- Slack events were held Wednesday, July 19, 2023, ahead of the formal start of the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo. This photo shows the south Pioneer Stadium bleachers, to be replaced per upgrade plans.
OGDEN — Cowboys and cowgirls have started descending on the grounds of Pioneer Stadium — among many others — as Ogden Pioneer Days activities commence.
“It appears we’ll have another sellout, 46,000 or so people,” meaning a standing-room only crowd, said Alan Hall, chairman of Ogden Pioneer Days Foundation. “It tells me the community likes what we’re doing.”
For the first time, The Cowboy Channel will be broadcasting Ogden Pioneer Days rodeo events live this year, Hall said, meaning Ogden will be in the spotlight among rodeo fans. The Ogden rodeo is a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event.
“That’s a couple million people watching. Ogden’s getting a lot of exposure right now,” Hall said. He expects the 46,000 or so visitors at the stadium over the course of the varied rodeo events in the days to come.
Formal rodeo events were to start Wednesday and go through Monday, Pioneer Day, with a break on Sunday. The annual Grande Parade in downtown Ogden will be held Monday starting at 9 a.m., going along Washington Boulevard from 31st Street north to 20th Street. The coronation of Miss Rodeo Utah will take place during Monday evening’s rodeo activities.
Highs during the first days of the rodeo are expected to be in the 90-degree range, surpassing 100 degrees over the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. “Come prepared for heat,” Hall said.
On another note, Hall said the funds have been raised — some $4.5 million — to cover the cost of the planned upgrade of Pioneer Stadium at 668 17th St., next to Lorin Farr Park. The upgrade plans have been a topic of public discussion since at least 2020 and Hall had said last year that he thought the work would commence in 2022.
Now he’s saying work should be starting later this fall with the upgrade finished in time for Ogden Pioneer Days events in 2024, which will be the 90th anniversary of the start of the activity in 1934. “It is very solid,” Hall said.
Notably, stadium plans call for replacement of the wooden bleachers on the south side of the facility with aluminum benches with backrests. The western entry is also to be overhauled and upgraded.
The eastern end of the stadium is to be expanded with more seating and the addition of a pedestrian bridge over the open area where rodeo competitors typically congregate with their horses. All told, the changes will boost seating capacity at the stadium from around 9,000 to 11,000.
The 2023 rodeo grand marshals are Troy and Shelly Bullard, who are originally from Roy. The rodeo has been a family tradition for them, according to the Ogden Pioneer Days website.
“Troy and Shelly have lasting memories of friends and fun at the rodeo. Some years, they attended three and four nights. One highlight has been helping to give the children at the Boys and Girls Club the opportunity to attend the rodeo. Another has been getting to know many of the rodeo royalty and their families over years,” reads the website.
Country singer Charley Jenkins will be the featured performer after Saturday’s rodeo.
