Today, City Council approved sponsorship requests for two national-level events that will be hosted in Red Deer: the 2021 Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR), and the 2023 Men’s AAA National Championship.
With today’s approval, The City of Red Deer will be an exclusive Opening Ceremonies Sponsor of the 47th Canadian Finals Rodeo, happening in Red Deer on November 3-7, 2021. The value of this sponsorship is $50,000.
In September 2020, Council approved a $25,000 sponsorship for the Red Deer Riggers after they were selected to host the 2021 Men’s AAA National Championship; however the event was cancelled by Baseball Canada due to COVID-19. The Riggers will now host the tournament in Red Deer in August 2023, and today Council reconfirmed their original sponsorship commitment.
“We are proud to support these two significant, national events in our community,” said Mayor Tara Veer. “Events like these continue to highlight Red Deer on the national stage as a premier event hosting location. As identified in our strategic plan, we are striving to be a chosen destination, attracting events that generate investment and enhance our community identity. It is encouraging to see these efforts paying off and the momentum and energy around event tourism in our community building.”
The funding for the sponsorship requests comes from previously approved Event Hosting & Outgoing Sponsorship funding. In 2020, Council approved $425,000 for sponsorship and event-hosting requests; $325,000 for sponsorships and $100,000 to fulfill and activate sponsorship opportunities. To date, the funds used from this budget are $30,000 for the Pickleball Canada National Championship in August 2021.
In April 2021, the Red Deer Major Event Strategy and Destination Development Framework vision was approved by Council. It sets a goal to see Red Deer as the top major event destination among mid-sized Canadian cities by 2030, and is designed to strengthen the community’s readiness to attract and host new major events. Tourism Red Deer and The City are now working on a business plan to further this process.
For more information, please contact:
Corporate Communications
The City of Red Deer