This ain’t the NFR Open’s first Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo and it won’t be their last.

NFR Open will remain a prominent part of the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo for the near future after both sides agreed to a seven-year extension to keep the program part of the event.

Tom Glause, CEO of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, said he’s happy with the move.

“It’s been exciting to bring a national event of this caliber to our hometown,” Glause said. “We’re proud to be involved in the community and headquartered here in Colorado Springs. … This rodeo is in elite company. It pays over $1 million (to contestants) and that puts it in the company of five or six other rodeos in the country.”

In 2022, the NFR Open joined the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo as the National Circuit Finals Rodeo and has since rebranded.

The NFR Open includes events such as bull riding, roping, barrel racing, occurs each year at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo and features competitors from North America and Mexico.

“We’re grateful to Tom and grateful to Paul (Woody) and the PRCA for doing this with us,” said Chris Whitney, Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo president. “We’re looking forward to seven years – I probably won’t see the end of that, but the next person gets to extend it past that.”

The rodeo, which is July 9-13, will feature seven performances in five days instead of five performances in four days.

Glause said last year’s event had a $6 million impact on the economy and that they’re grateful to provide such a boost to the area.

“This is where we live so that’s important for what it does for all of our businesses, development and culture in the area” Whitney said. “It’s important for the military families in the area. It’s better than being stagnant and growing in a way we wouldn’t want to grow.”