Our Future Plans

The Reno Rodeo Legacy Committee is Moving Forward

Despite multiple challenges dating back to the poor economy of 2008 and the most recent health pandemic, the committee continues to move forward with projects that will benefit the Reno Rodeo Association and the entire Northern Nevada community.

In 2019, after months of meetings, planning, and design, a concept was presented to the Nevada legislature. The committee obtained a $1M grant that the Reno Rodeo matched to develop our current 30% schematic design plans and estimates. This became known as the “Legacy Project” or the Nevada Western Heritage Center.

Recognizing that this project would flourish with greater community involvement, the Legacy Committee, established a 501(c)(3) organization, titled the Nevada Western Heritage Center Alliance (NVWHCA). This team, led by a cross-section of local leadership, has its own board of directors and was charged with facilitating a funding campaign and for the project. Additional goals for the Alliance include promoting agriculture to the next generation, preserving the Northern Nevada Western Heritage, and diversifying agriculture and equine events for the region.

After several years of trying to kick-start our very elite project plans, particularly the massive new outdoor arena facility with parking garage and overhead walkway, we decided to re-think the project.  In doing so, we also reassessed our priorities and phasing.  Reno Rodeo is by far the premier event on the site.  Reno Rodeo is in dire need of additional seating, particularly facilities and seating for our generous sponsors, who keep our event viable, and other guest facilities such as plumbed restrooms.  Thus, meeting Reno Rodeo’s need became priority #1.

Last year Reno Rodeo engaged Priefert Complex Design and their planning team to develop “Legacy Reimagined”.  The first phase of Legacy Reimagined is to replace grandstands #3, #4 and #5 in their current location with restroom, concession and storage facilities below.  The preliminary design increases grandstand seating by over 1190 seats, adds up to 33 new boxes accommodating over 330 new seats and increases luxury boxes by 20 providing up to 600 seating capacity.  The net increase would be over 2100 new seats to sell, and being much more fan friendly.  The facility would be totally ADA compliant with a combination of convenient ramps to the lower seating, and elevators to the upper suite level seating area. The NVWHCA has begun efforts seeking funding to make this first phase a reality.

Phase 2 of the project will be a new Exhibit Hall anticipated to be located directly west of the arena creating an enhanced food-court area.  Currently we are working with the previous Frame design for the Exhibit Hall.  Phase 3 will be completing the outdoor arena facilities (grandstand #1 and #2 plus announcer/past president box area) bringing total seating capacity up to 15,000.   Finally, Phase 4 would be a second indoor arena north of the existing indoor arena.