All around town there are yard signs, petitioners, hand fans, radio spots from council candidate Chad DeVries, even texts with a link to the 1888 Buckle Club website where you can sign the petition to “Save the Rodeo.” So, we want to know: Who exactly is trying to take away our rodeo? After all, The World’s Oldest Rodeo in Prescott is part of our storied heritage.
Quick answer: NO ONE is taking away the rodeo. Prescott Frontier Days (PFD) has a valid lease with the City of Prescott — which runs through 2041 with an automatic 5-year extension — to manage the rodeo at the existing site until 2046.
To get to the bottom of this gratuitous marketing ploy, let’s start with the 1888 Buckle Club itself. Manager Greg Mengarelli, states on the entity’s website: “We are a booster club that supports Prescott Frontier Days through financial contributions and intellectual capital.” He goes on to say the club was formed in early 2021. That date disturbingly coincides with the timeframe Mengarelli — while he was still Prescott’s Mayor — also became the Business Development Manager of PFD, raising allegations of gross conflicts of interest.
So here we have Mengarelli as both Manager of the 1888 Buckle Club and the Business Development Manager of the Prescott Frontier Days wanting to save the rodeo he is paid to run. So how’s the rodeo doing financially? In 2021, the latest IRS 990 filing from PFD, shows revenues of $1,283,402 and expenditures of $1,478,402 — for a loss of $137,440. Only a $195,000 contribution from the 1888 Buckle Club kept PFD solvent that year.
How can PFD lose money when it pays only $1/year to Prescott taxpayers to lease the rodeo grounds? PFD also keeps all the money from gate proceeds, sponsorships, food and alcohol sales, parking, parade entry fees, dance tickets, plus a cut on all the other events held at the rodeo grounds throughout the year. The reported revenues also include a $40,000 contribution from the City of Prescott for advertising. Moreover, PFD does not reimburse the taxpayers for the city services it uses during rodeo week such as Parks & Recreation, Public Works, Police, and Fire.
Given PFD’s latest financial filing, the 1888 Buckle Club certainly has its hands full “Saving the Rodeo.” Their solution for more money, it seems, is to get into the events business year-round. Thus PFD’s Vision and Master Plan (rodeo expansion) was devised. During a March 28, 2023 City Council study session, PFD presented a proposal (in the 30% design stage) to include refurbishing the existing facilities on the rodeo grounds. Their expansion plan also incorporates the addition of a new two-story facility for the 1888 Buckle Club, a multi-use pavilion, an indoor arena, and a new expanded outdoor arena. The financial goal is to allow PFD to host other types of events like trade shows, conferences, meetings, weddings, conventions, concerts, and festivals.
Financing for this $40-50 million rodeo expansion is to come from two sources: A $15.3 million dollar appropriation directly from the State Legislature, and private donations. The Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest recently filed a lawsuit claiming this state appropriation is a violation of the Arizona Constitution’s Appropriations and Gift Clause. State Treasurer Kimberly Yee agreed not to release any of the funds to PFD until this matter is resolved in court. To date, no private donors have been identified.
Furthermore, a mere 7 years into their current 25-year lease, PFD is already looking to renew their lease for another 99 years with (two) 20-year extensions. The city has a fiduciary obligation to negotiate the best deal possible for taxpayers and the current lease is anything but that. If the City renegotiates the lease, it should require PFD to furnish their current year and at least three prior years of financial information to include: IRS filings, Year-End Financial Statements, Annual Professional Audits, PFD employment contracts with employees, a business plan and a feasibility study for the rodeo expansion. Any landlord has the right to know the financial viability of their tenant. After all, 99 years plus two 20-year extensions is a long, long time.
As far as we can tell, this whole “Save the Rodeo” is nothing more than Mengarelli’s ruse to pressure Prescott City Council to approve PFD’s partially designed and unfinanced Vision and Master Plan. As the payor of last resort, sounds like another smoking deal for Prescott taxpayers.
13 thoughts on “The 1888 Buckle Club Rodeo Petition Ploy”
Thank you to the authors and to Prescott eNews for lifting the fog. This has been my question all along, save the rodeo from what? It seems the answer is now save it from the Prescott Frontier Days that has ostensibly mismanaged the financial platform it teeters on. As a city property, the citizens in this community should not be misled by manufactured enthusiasm touted by both the PFD and 1888 Buckle Club. Why not a facility that ALL members of the community may benefit from?
If we will only remember that all-any government has no money until and unless it takes it from you in the form of fees or taxes it will go a long way to shutting down govt support for commercial ventures. Should citizens of Prescott pay for NOT going to the Worlds Oldest Rodeo? I think not.
Been a while, welcome back!
Excellent article. Just ask yourself, if the 50 MILLION DOLLAR mengarelli Rodeo PALACE was such a great idea …..
WHY DID HE HIDE IT from THE PEOPLE OF PRESCOTT, ALL CITY GOVERNMENT ?
How did the last Greg Mengarelli taxpayer investment work out?
Eviation, (an electric plane company) that the Prescott taxpayers financed and even sent the then mayor (Greg) overseas with his wife to convince the company to move here into an old hanger that the city (taxpayers) put a bundle of money into was gone within 2 years, maybe less. So I ask again what did the taxpayers reap? Nothing but a large bill to accommodate the company.
Good article. The Rhinestone Cowboy’s lies and disinformation needs to stop. I’ve had two people ask me this week, “What’s this about, “Save the Rodeo”?
The “Expansion” plan is a razzle dazzle scheme that is attempting to prostitute the Prescott brand, The World’s Oldest Rodeo * which was formed by a private group of Prescott Volunteers and has been pirated by a greedy, near do well small group of paid Hype-sters.
There is no resemblance of The World’s Oldest Rodeo and the Las Vegas style 3 ring circus that this “expansion” will produce. Shame on Prescott if they allow this fiasco to be built.
BTW…did you see the traffic/parking gridlock during rodeo week and think what the expansion would create. Who paid for the police/security/fire personnel?
Thank you for putting it all out there! Someone should tell the truth because it sure wasn’t going to come from the Greg Mangarelli 1888 Buckle Club. Seems Chad Devies is his #1 fan. He’s the guy with 2 bankruptcies and he wants to manage and make decisions for our City? I think not.
Don’t be fooled by these dishonest, deceitful men. Luckily, the Citizens of our Community know better than that, I have gratefully come to realize.
Everything Mengarelli did was bad for Prescott. He should be investigated.
Saw the name “Chad DeVries” and that was enough for me. I second what Genny Ingram stated: “…attempting to prostitute the Prescott brand…” Spot on right and far beyond just the Rodeo!
WOW – Be informed unfortunately some will blindly sign.
I’m glad I read this!
Thank you for lifting the California-style smoke screen scare tactic Mangarelli is employing to spread misinformation while hiding behind the curtain a la the Wizard of Oz.
Thank you for cutting through the “Save The Rodeo” bull**** with this excellent journalism.
Is nothing sacred from the pro-development money grubbers, like Greg Mengarelli? The beauty of the “World’s Oldest Rodeo” is the character and charm of its grounds and facility. No sky boxes or luxury accommodations for the monied jet set. Just a true western rodeo that has survived well over a hundred years with average folk enjoying our heritage and seeing the rodeo as has been seen for generations. In true western form, isn’t it about time that Greg Mengarelli be run out of town on a rail?
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