Caldwell Night Rodeo seeks written parking, longer lease as it rolls out $7.6 million campaign

Angelique Rude, president of the Caldwell Knight Rodeo, told the city council on July 6 that the community's long-running night rodeo has grown into a significant local economic engine and now needs written commitments from the city to secure its future. Rude said the rodeo's nonprofit arms and its donors are funding a $7.6 million capital campaign that has already included a city seed gift and private investments.

Rodeo officials cited a University of Idaho economic-impact analysis showing annual sales of about $7 million in 2021, and Rude said the rodeo's 2025 activity totaled nearly $9 million in sales plus $6 million in capital investment — figures she described as conservatively putting the rodeo's total impact above $14 million. She said the rodeo returned hundreds of thousands of dollars to local charities in 2025 and supports local service clubs by channeling concession revenue back into the community.

Rude asked the council for four specific steps she said are necessary for the rodeo to remain in Caldwell for another century: that the city (1) "partner" in promotion; (2) put long-standing parking arrangements in writing; (3) correct and formalize the lease footprint and terms (she requested a 50-year lease to match sponsor expectations); and (4) continue to allow facility use that benefits the community and the College of Idaho. "Without parking you cannot hold a rodeo," Rude told the council, and she said sponsors want a longer-term lease so they can realize a return on capital investments.

Council members thanked the presentation and asked for follow-up. In response to a direct question about acquiring adjacent parcels, Rude said the rodeo would prefer the city first consider sales or swaps involving rodeo interests, and reiterated that the group is happy to fund maintenance and facility improvements. The mayor and several council members told Rude they would follow up on the items she identified.

The council did not take an immediate formal vote tied to the rodeo's requests; Rude said the group is preparing documentation and redline language on the lease that council staff will review. Next steps include staff review of the rodeo's proposed lease language, potential drafting of formal parking commitments, and continued coordination on the capital campaign timetable.

Rude's presentation and the council discussion are expected to be followed by staff-level review and possible return to the council with specific lease language and recommended actions. "We are not asking for anything new," Rude said; "we are asking the city to take the things that have been long-term commitments and put them in writing so we can continue fundraising."