One of the most obvious and important parts of a rodeo is something fans rarely consider - the dirt. Transforming an ice hockey arena into a rodeo arena without damaging the ice is a top priority for the crew of the World's Toughest Rodeo. An ice coverage system applied over the ice provides protection for the ice to insure rapid turnaround from a dirt event back to an ice event.
A lot of dirt will be trucked into the iWireless Center for the World's Toughest Rodeo, a whole lot, in fact. Close to 1,200 yards of dirt at 12 yards per dump-truck load, that's over 100 dump trucks worth of dirt equally approximately 2,000,000 lbs. of dry dirt. Just hauling in the dirt once the floor is prepared can take up to 6 hours. Once leveled it is worked over and over to allow it to dry. When finished, the dirt is 8 - 10 inches in depth and special finishing equipment is required to level and smooth out the dirt. The preparation doesn't end with dirt installation, as once the dirt is installed a portable rodeo arena arrives and the bucking chutes and arena set up is completed in another 2 hours. Requiring daily maintenance, the dirt needs to be groomed daily to continue to facilitate drying and improve the consistency. Final touches are completed prior to the rodeo Preshow each day as well. But once the Preshow is finished it again needs to be reworked as it packs down from the foot traffic.
Another consideration of utmost importance is where you find dry, unfrozen dirt in January, in Moline, Illinois. Special arrangements for winter in arena events requiring dirt must be made well in advance. Appropriate dirt is stored in conditions that make it suitable to be trucked in and provide suitable dryness to provide stable footing for both bucking horses and barrel racing horses. How well a competitor does in a rodeo depends partially on how well the animal is able to perform, and good dirt for stable footing is a necessity for animal performance.
The World's Toughest Rodeo stage will be set for performances on January 23 and 24th at 7:30 p.m. each night. Fans are invited into the arena nightly from 6 - 7 for a fan favorite preshow including autographs with cowboys and entertainers, free pony rides for kids, or a chance of a lifetime to sit on Midnight, a 2,000 lb. bull in the bucking chutes. Top professional competitors, John Payne, the One Armed Bandit (13 time Professional Rodeo's Specialty Entertainer of the Year, and top rodeo announcer, Roger Mooney will headline the show. Tickets are family friendly starting at $20 and kids are always half price. $5 discount coupons are available at all Casey's General Stores locations. Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com or at iWireless Center Box Office.
What: 100 truckloads of dirt will be dumped on the floor of the iWireless Center Wednesday morning in preparation for this weekend's World's Toughest Rodeo!
Where: iWireless Center, 1201 River Dr. Moline, IL
Media report to back entrance
When: Wednesday, January 21-- Photo and broadcast opportunities are available
