The American Rodeo and the Ariat World Series of Team Roping kick off a historical partnership aimed at professional and semi-professional team ropers. In addition to The American Rodeo becoming the official sponsor of the Ariat WSTR Open events, the WSTR and a The American’s huge rodeo have teamed up to present The American Rodeo Contender Tournament semifinals events held in conjunction with regionally located Ariat World Series of Team Roping American Rodeo Open qualifiers. These events are the direct path for team ropers to have a shot at competing at the 2023 American Rodeo and its $1,000,000 contender prize.

At 2022 Ariat World Series of Team Roping events,
Open Ropers will have the opportunity to compete for $110,000 in added money!

Great news and just the beginning of the big payouts on the road to the American. The goal of this program is to allow higher numbered ropers to compete for higher payouts at the high quality Open WSTR events across the country and provide a path to the American Rodeo; delivering a much better chance at qualifying for both the Ariat WSTR Open American Rodeo Finale and the 2023 American Rodeo than ever before.

The only teams who are guaranteed a bye to the American Rodeo, by-passing all the semi-finals and regional finals, are the top-five teams at the end of the 2022 PRCA season (who are not eligible for the $1M Contender prize).

Fifteen teams from the PRCA standings (6th thru 20th) will be eligible to enter the Regional Finals joining six teams from the WSTR American Contender Tournament semifinals and nine teams from the WSTR Finale Wild Card event at one of the three Regional Finals rodeos. These 30 teams split into three geographic regions of ten teams with $40,000 added in each regional location. Eastern Regional Finals, Central Regional Finals, Western Regional Finals (see Contender Tournament bracket for additional progression). The dates and times TBA.

WSTR / American Rodeo Contender Tournament Semifinals Ropings

Six WSTR Open Ropings will include American Rodeo qualifiers running in conjunction with the WSTR roping. This is a roping within a roping, there are no separate rounds, but each will have their own entry fees and payout.

• WSTR Open Ropings
  • Entry fees and roping format are as advertised for each specific event. All WSTR ropings are 80% payback.
  • Open teams who wish to compete in the American Rodeo Qualifier must be a WSTR member, Key Card member and enter the WSTR open to be eligible.
  • Ropers who win first or more than $2000 in either the WSTR pot or American Rodeo pot are qualified to enter the WSTR Finale at the discounted $2000/roper entry fee if entered within 30 days of win – a 33% entry fee savings.
  • WSTR Finale is an enter once event.
• American Rodeo Qualifier
  • To be eligible, must be entered in the WSTR Open event and must be a current WSTR, or Key Card member.
  • Entry Fees for the American Rodeo Qualifier are $250 per roper and the format of the roping will match the WSTR Open Roping format.
  • $10,000 will be added at each American Rodeo Qualifier pot.
  • American Rodeo qualifier pot is 70% payback.
  • Placings will be determined and paid based on standard WSTR payout schedules.
  • Two teams from each WSTR American Rodeo Semifinals qualifiers will advance to that roping’s corresponding Regional Finals.
  • Ropers may only qualify once heading and once heeling. Ropers may not qualify more than once on the same end but may enter more than one Semifinals events for a chance at the added money.
  • If a roper places in the top two at multiple semifinals ropings, the next roper(s) will roll up and be qualified for the Regional finals.
  • If a roper qualifies but their partner is already qualified with someone else or cannot attend, the roper can pick up a new partner as long as that partner enters and ropes at the Ariat World Series of Team Roping American Rodeo Open Finale in Las Vegas, NV.
    The picked-up partner must pay an entry fee of $500 in order to rope at the Regional Finals.

2022 Ariat World Series of Team Roping American Rodeo Open Finale
Wild Card American Rodeo Round:

• $50,000 will be added in this Finale division.
• WSTR Discounted Entry Fees are $2,000 per roper if the roper earns a qualification spot or thru accumulated earnings if entered by the discount timelines.
• WSTR Pre-entry Direct Entry Fees are $2,500 per roper (received by Oct 14). Received after Oct 14 or On-site direct entry fees are $2,750. Exception: Ropers who qualify at the Oct 27 and Nov 11 Open events can enter the Finale at the discount rate at time of qualification.
• There is no separate American Rodeo pot or entry fee at the Finale, all contestants are eligible to advance. The top fifteen PRCA teams who make the NFR are not eligible to enter the Finale.
• The Open format at the Finale will be five full rounds and a short round.
• In addition to the Finale’s great payout and outstanding prizes, the top nine teams from the Ariat World Series of Team Roping American Rodeo Open Finale will advance to the Regional Finals.
  • Entry fee will be $250/roper who advances.
  • Based on placing, the top-9 Finale teams will get to choose which Regional Finals they will rope at. Example: 1st place gets to choose first. 2nd Place picks second and so on…
  • If a roper earns Regional Finals qualifying spot at the Finale but he/she is already qualified, the spot will roll down to the next eligible roper(s).
    The picked-up partner must pay a fee of $500 in order to rope at the Regional Finals.

Ariat WSTR American Rodeo Contender Tournament Semi-Finals & Wild Card Round

Ariat World Series of Team Roping American Rodeo Contender Tournament Semi-Finals and Wild Card Round Qualified Ropers will advance to Regional Finals Dates and Locations Announced

The Ariat World Series of Team Roping and the American Rodeo partnered in 2022 to bring open ropers a brand-new path to the multi-million dollar payout at the 2023 American Rodeo. WSTR open team ropers have had the opportunity to compete at four venues thus far with three more chances to qualify for the newly formed Contender Tournament Regional Finals.

A total of six co-sanctioned semi-final open ropings, each with $10,000 added in the American Qualifier divisions have been strategically placed throughout the United States in order to give open ropers in multiple regions of the country an opportunity to qualify and potentially advance to the 2023 American Rodeo. The six ropings were placed in three regions: west, central, and east. From each of these six "semi-finals regional qualifiers," the top two placing teams advance on to those territories' "Regional Finals."

As of today, there have been four semi-final qualifiers: Cheyenne, WY (West), Tunica, MS (East), Cleveland, TN (East), and Abilene, TX (Central), visit WSTRoping.com for complete results. The final two qualifiers are in San Antonio, TX (Central) and Buckeye, AZ (West). The top two teams from each of these ropings will advance to their corresponding American Rodeo Contender Tournament Regional Finals, each of which boasts $40,000 added in the team roping.

This year's Ariat WSTR Finale in Las Vegas will also be a qualifying opportunity for ropers during the American Rodeo Open Finale "Wild Card Roping" which has $50,000 added. From this event, an additional nine teams will qualify for the American Rodeo Regional Finals. Based on how the teams place at the Finale, the top nine teams will choose their Regional Finals (three teams for each region).

American Rodeo Contender Tournament Regional Finals Dates/Locations:

• West Contender Tournament Semi-Finals & Finals
  • Heber City, Utah
  • Wasatch Events Center
  • February 16-18 (Thursday-Saturday)
• Central Contender Tournament Semi-Finals & Finals
  • Tulsa, Oklahoma
  • Tulsa Fairgrounds
  • February 3-5 (Friday-Sunday)
• East Contender Tournament Semi-Finals & Finals
  • Lexington, KY
  • Lexington Horse Park All Tech Arena
  • February 8-10 (Wednesday-Friday)

Each Regional Finals team roping competition will consist of the following mix of competitors:

• 4 teams from WSTR Semifinals qualifiers
• 3 teams from the Ariat WSTR American Open "Wild Card" Finale in Las Vegas
• 5 teams from the PRCA 2022 World Standing (6th-20th)

From each of the American Rodeo Regional Finals, four teams will advance to the Contender Finals held March 8th. This event will have an additional $80,000 added to the team roping and from this rodeo, the top five contender teams will advance to the 2023 American. The American will consist of the top five teams in the world from the 2022 PRCA season plus the five contender teams. For more information visit AmericanRodeo.com.

Frequently Asked Questions