The Cheyenne Frontier Days event that took place through both world wars and the Great Depression says they will not hold the annual rodeo that’s held in Wyoming’s capital city for the first time ever in over 100 years.
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Frontier Days officials have chosen to cancel the event due to the coronavirus pandemic and announced the cancelation on Wednesday, May 27th, 2020. Over 140,000 people normally attend the rodeo that lasts two weeks at the end of every July and the event organizers say the risk of spreading the virus is too great.
“What this pandemic means is we just can’t come together,” Mayor Marian Orr said, according to Fox News. “We really have to stay apart so we can come together again sooner rather than later. It’s clear that we just aren’t going to be ready for this.”
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Tourism is Wyoming’s second-biggest industry after coal mining and other fossil fuel extractions and this comes as a bit hit to the state. Many of the business establishments make the bulk of their money during these two weeks and not having the event this year is going to be a major financial hit to their businesses.
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Wyoming is the least-populated state in all of America and so far has had only 14 deaths due to the coronavirus. Frontier Days President and CEO Tom Hirsig said that he worked hard trying to brainstorm ideas with Gov. Mark Gordon on how to come up with solutions to keep everyone safe during the event this year, however, ultimately, they decided to cancel it.