Lawmakers Discuss Revival Of Oklahoma Prison Rodeo In McAlester

Some state lawmakers met this week to discuss bringing the Oklahoma Prison Rodeo back to McAlester.

The rodeos started in 1940 and were held every year until 2009, when they had to close because of structural problems with the arena and a lack of funding.

DOC said it would cost about $8.3 million to get the rodeo back up and running.

The prison said it would have one rodeo in the spring and two in the fall and host other events like concerts in the meantime.

Ticket sales and other revenue from the rodeos would help fund prisons.

Lawmakers started a bill in 2023 to fund the rodeo, but it died.

Related: Reviving The Rodeo: State Lawmakers Look To Bring Back Prison Rodeo