The College National Finals Rodeo, considered by many to be "the best of the best" of college competitions, will stay in Casper through 2012.

"This is the best rodeo you'll have the chance to see," David Park, a promoter for the CNFR, told the Casper City Council on Tuesday night. "These are the top college rodeo contestants in the U.S. and Canada."

The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association had been looking for a suitable home for the CNFR for many years, trying out locations in Montana and South Dakota before selecting Casper in 1999. Since moving to Casper, the week-long event held at theEvents Center has seen record revenues and record attendance.

"Casper has embraced this event and made it their own," John Smith, commissioner for the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, said Tuesday. "As a result, this event has been very successful. Casper, Wyoming, is a good place for college rodeo."

Smith said the rodeo was not looking for a new location, even though several communities showed interest.

"We've got no reason and we've got no interest to look anywhere else," he said. "The support in Casper has been really good."

On Tuesday night, the city council and Natrona County Commissioners both unanimously voted to extend the agreement to keep the rodeo in Casper through 2012.

Under the terms of the agreement, the city and county will each pay annual sponsorship fees of $12,500 in the first year, increasing by $500 each year after that.

The city will also provide free use of the Events Center arena, provide events staff, box office services, trade show services, waive parking fees, will provide year-round storage of CNFR dirt and will promise not to schedule any rodeos at the facility 45 days before and 30 days after the event. The CNFR is scheduled to run from June 10-16 this year.

As part of the agreement, the county will provide use of the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds, help set up and dismantle the chutes, panels and stalls, and provide ambulance service and personnel for the events.

"Economic impact from this event was an estimated $913,000 in 2006," said City Manager Tom Forslund. "This is a very good event for the community and a very good event for the Casper Events Center."

The college championship event attracts about 400 contestants each year from across the United States and Candada to compete in events including bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, breakaway roping, goat tying and barrel racing.

In other business, the city council approved all the ordinances and resolutions on its agenda, including changing municipal code to allow schools to be built on park land, authorizing a pledge of $37,500 for the study of a high-speed railway connecting Casper to Colorado's Front Range and extending to Albuquerque, N.M., and authorizing the purchase of new firefighter turnout gear.

Reporter John Morgan can be reached at (307) 266-0614 or john.morgan@casperstartribune.net.