Lazy E Arena

PROJECT PURPOSE

The purpose of this project is to make capital improvements to the Lazy E Arena located in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Through upgrades to the multi-use space, the growing number of youth rodeo events at Lazy E will be appropriately accommodated. The project includes an expanded tradeshow space, meeting space, receptions, clinics, and a new barn with an additional 610 stalls. The Lazy E continues to be a strong community supporter to surrounding counties when public needs become known. Examples include Guthrie High School Graduation, host location for memorial services for fallen military and first responders, Field Facility during health emergencies like the Covid-19 pandemic, community testing and treating site, and a training facility for K-9 units from the greater Oklahoma metropolitan area. We are actively recruiting the National Junior High School Rodeo Finals and the National High School Rodeo Finals events. With a projected economic impact of the new events expected to exceed $27 million during the months of June and July, the state of Oklahoma?s Department of Tourism will benefit from improvements made through this project. In addition to our current youth rodeo schedule, Oklahoma is slated to be the Youth Rodeo Capital of the World.

EVIDENCE

None

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, western businesses were disproportionately impacted when event facilities were shut down and forced to cancel revenue generating events. The Lazy E Arena was the only event center that remained open during the pandemic. The Lazy E attracted events from all over the country to relocate to Guthrie, Oklahoma during the pandemic. Several of these events have chosen to remain at the Lazy E. We are actively negotiating with National Junior High School Rodeo Finals and the National High School Rodeo Finals for 10-year contracts. To accommodate the massive size of each gathering, the Lazy E is faced with making appropriate updates and expansions to the facility. The trend of large, high profile western events continues to thrust out of state visitors to Lazy E. Local and state tourism economies have and will continue to benefit from Lazy E visitors. Visitors stay, on average, between 6 to 10 days on site spending money on lodging, food, transportation, retail, and entertainment within the state of Oklahoma. The added number of visitors to the state of Oklahoma is expected to impact employment statewide through job creation.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Lazy E Arena will measure project performance through means of economic impact reporting. By using the same formulas for local and non-local visitors used in the Edmond Economic Impact Report, along with tracking the total number of visitors per event through ticket sales and equine entries, Lazy E can collect the required programmatic data needed for this project.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma