The five PRCA ProRodeo Tour performances will be held starting on Thursday, February 4th through Saturday, February 6th, at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City, SD. The 2010 Wrangler Million Dollar Tour consists of 22 Tour Rodeos. The standings are based on money won at Tour events, with Rapid City hosting the first stop on the Tour schedule. The top 12 contestants in the Tour standings will compete at the Justin Boots Championships in Omaha, NE.
The Rapid City Wrangler Million Dollar Tour will feature the world’s top PRCA contestants, bucking stock and contract personnel such as; Keith Isley, PRCA Clown of the Year; Wayne Brooks PRCA Announcer of the year; and Loyd Ketchum, Wrangler Bullfighting World Champion. Special events include Free Style bullfighting, Bull Poker, Wild Ride-Free Style Bronc Riding and specialty acts by Clown of the Year, Keith Isley.

An open forum for all South Dakota Candidates for Governor will be held at the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo on Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. MST. The forum will be held in the Sutton Rodeo Zone at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City.

This will be an open forum, not a debate. The candidates will be answering the following question: “If you are Governor of South Dakota, how do you see tourism being an economic development tool for the state of South Dakota?” The candidates will also be given a chance to speak on their own chosen subject.

The announced candidates are Lt. Governor Dennis Daugaard, Ron Volesky, Ken Knuppe, Senator Scott Heidepriem, Scott Munsterman, and Senator Dave Knudson Several have indicated that they will be there.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear the candidates’ views about tourism and economic development. This forum will be open to the public. Please come and join us.

2010 Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo: 10 Actions Packed Days

Kicking off the first weekend is the PRCA’s Seminole Hard Rock Xtreme Bull Riding Tour which will be held on Friday, January 29th and Saturday, January 30th at 7:00 pm. The 2010 tour will feature 10 events scheduled throughout the year across the U.S. and will conclude with the Tour Finale in Ellensburg, Washington over Labor Day weekend. The 2010 Tour will have a combined purse of $530,000. Money earned on the Seminole Hard Rock Xtreme Bulls Tour counts toward PRCA World Standings, which determine Wrangler NFR qualifiers. The Rapid City PRCA Xtreme Bull Riding Tour will feature 40 of the top bull riders in the nation including 2009 NFR Average Champion, Kanin Asay, 2009 Rapid City Xtreme Bull Champion, Bobby Welsch and seven of their 2009 NFR co-competitors. Badlands Circuit’s Jesse Bail is included in that number along with circuit members Taylor Cowan, Tater Hins, Cole Hermanson, Ardie Maier and Garrett Vig.

PRCA slack is back! Starting at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 29th enjoy calf roping slack; Saturday, January 30th at 10:00 am, steer wrestling slack and Sunday, January 31st at 9:00 am and 6:00 pm, team roping slack. A final slack session on Thursday February 4th at 10:00 am will feature all three timed events, plus WPRA barrel racing slack.

A High School Rodeo College Fair will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the south balcony of the rodeo arena. There is no charge to attend and is open to any interested student wanting to college rodeo. This will be a great opportunity for students and parents to visit with National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association coaches from South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Oklahoma and Wyoming.

The 8th Annual 20X Extreme High School Showcase Rodeo will be held January 31st, starting at 2:00 pm. This rodeo will feature one hundred and twenty four of the top high school rodeo competitors in the state. South Dakota has four regions of high school rodeo contestants. The top three cowboys and cowgirls from each region in each event, based on points after State Finals, are invited to compete in this exclusive rodeo event.

The 25th Annual KBHB Bucking Horse & Bull Sale will be held on Wednesday, February 3rd at 10:00 a.m. Sale features include 80 colts raised by Sutton Rodeos, sired by studs Wayne’s World, Shot Gun, Royal River and Showtime and NFR ranch raised mares including Alley Cat, Shot Gun, Big Wild Fun and Showtime. This will include the last colt crop from NFR great bucking horse sire, Justin Boots. Forty head of 3 & 4year old bulls from several different consignors will be sold. Some of the bulls that have been used in the NFR and the PBR telecasts have come out of these same cowherds. Contestants enter February 3rd at 8:30 a.m. at the arena.

The five PRCA Pro Rodeo Tour performances will be held starting on Thursday, February 4th through Saturday, February 6th. The 2010 Wrangler Million Dollar Tour consists of 22 Tour Rodeos. The standings are based on money won at Tour events, with Rapid City hosting the first stop on the Tour schedule. The top 12 contestants in the Tour standings will compete at the Justin Boots Championships in Omaha, NE. The Rapid City Wrangler Million Dollar Tour will feature the world’s best PRCA contestants, top bucking stock and top contract personnel such as; Keith Isley, PRCA Clown of the Year; Wayne Brooks PRCA Announcer of the Year; and Loyd Ketchum, Wrangler Bullfighting World Champion. Special events include Free Style Bullfighting, Bull Poker, Wild Free Style Bronc Rides and specialty acts by Clown of the Year, Keith Isley.

The Rodeo Zone, in the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Ice Arena, will be open daily. The Rodeo Zone is a fun, free, interactive area where rodeo sponsors and fans meet and experience the rodeo event in a festival atmosphere. The Rodeo Zone will feature Rodeo Sponsor booths, interactive games, dummy roping, and mechanical bull competitions. Fans can meet and receive autographs from rodeo contestants, contract personnel, sponsors and queens, enjoy live stage entertainment and free daily drawings for great prizes such as Justin Boots, Wrangler Jeans, and Rodeo Tickets. New features in 2010 include the “big screen”, which will replay the rodeo performances and excitement from the previous day’s events and ProRodeo Gear Clothing, the Official Outfitters of the PRCA.

Wrapping up the 2010 Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo on Sunday, February 7th at 1:00 p.m. will be a brand new event, the “Ironman Timed Event Championship”. The “Ironman Champion” will come from a field of 15 contestants, each who will compete in four timed events; Calf Roping, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping Header and Team Roping Heeler. One round, sudden death, the contestant with the best times in all four events will be crowned “Ironman Timed Event Champion”. Come find out who will be holding the prize when the clock stops!

This year the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo will be hosting a new event; the Ironman Championship.

For a single round, sudden death, fifteen top cowboys will compete. The best time in all four events – Tie-Down Roping, Heading, Heeling and Steer Wrestling -wins.

See who is left standing. Sunday February 7th at 1:00 pm.

There is much to do in the Black Hills of South Dakota on New Years. Parties, dancing, family-style festivals…

Here, at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, we are proudly hosting a New Year’s tradition, again; the Black Hills Symphony Orchestra.

People celebrate the New Year differently, but almost all of us plan to do something different next year. We intend to enhance our lives in some new way, or challenge ourselves to more, better, greater things. It seems, every year, that the Orchestra does the same.

The Black Hills Symphony Orchestra works diligently, year round, to bring their passion to the stage and their music to the Black Hills. Every year the New Year’s performance is one to be especially remembered and it seems to be better and better every year. This year, ventriloquist Jim Barber will perform with the Orchestra bringing an element of comedy to the experience.

If you are the kind of person who is looking for an intimate, elegant, joyus celebration of the New Year, don’t miss the Black Hills Symphony Orchestra. New Year’s Eve, 8pm, at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

Be safe, and enjoy your celebration, no matter what it is.

Happy New Year to All!

It’s hard to believe but another year is coming quickly to a close. And, we are enjoying our first real days of winter; there is still snow on the ground from last night, and the temperature is so low your breath freezes in your mouth a bit when you first go outside. Coats are now a non-negotiable and if you dont’ start your car 10 minutes before you plan to leave – gloves are too.

As I sit here typing, the end of the year drawing close, I look back over the last year at the changes we have made here at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

While Hockey is not new, this year has seen tremendous growth in the Rapid City RUSH team and fans. We had wonderful events this year and our concerts were exceptional. Elton John?! I mean come ON! What a show. Jason Mraz was wonderful as well. There were so many others but I would get a little long winded if I attempted to name them all.

The Broadway Play Series brought great comedy and wonderful skill to the stage with their presentation of Mamma Mia! and Cirque Dreams Illumination. The Black Hills Pow Wow was also an adventure in art, as it is every year.

The point of all of this though is that you make these things possible. We are able to bring talented artists and an element of culture to our rather small community because you, our fans, support it.

We continue the effort to improve your experience here at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center with innovations like the Ticket Kiosks and Quick Kash feature. Again, we are able to do these things because of you.

Rapid City would not have this level of exposure to art, sports, dance, and continuing education were it not for the support of our communtiy. We live in a beautiful place, with so much talent. We have wonderful residents who value family, creativity and education. We are grateful to be able to offer you world-class artists, musicians, dancers, speakers and so much more. And we can do it all, because of you.

Thank you.

Cold has come to the Black Hills. There is even a bit of snow – in the shaded parts fo the sidewalks. Winter has come.

Tonic Sol-Fa performed their A Cappella holiday show here on Wednesday. I was so hoping for fat snow flakes to fall, landing gently on the cheeks of patrons as they entered for the show. I thought how nice it would be to enjoy this holiday performance with the magic of snowfall.

I got my wish, but it wasn’t quite like that. Tiny flakes whirled in on gusting winds and bit at the faces of our patrons. (If I had anything to do with that, I am so sorry) The performance, however, was wonderful.

Imagine the gift of using just one insturment – your voice, to create such wonderful, and magical sound. The group has visited the Black Hills before to grace us with this performance.

And, it truly was magical.

The sound, the snow, the great tree in the hallway rendering the place a boquet of woods-y holiday smells… the whole night really was fantastic.

Even if we were subject to the wrong kind of snow.

I am sure it was a joy for all those in attendance. If you missed it, you will find other magical holiday experiences here in the coming weeks. May I suggest “A Soulful Christmas with Ronnie Milsap” which is a benefit concert for Black Hills Area Habitat for Humanity. Or, maybe you would rather enjoy “An Intimate Christmas with Lorie Line” – a piano concert that is sure to put you in the spirit.

These kinds of holiday events are a wonderful gift to our community and you, our patrons. Your support allows us to continue to bring great events and family attractions to the Black Hills. And, exposing children to these forms of entertainment is an opportunity to offer them a glimpse of art, and inspiration. Truly one of the greatest gifts.

And, maybe this time, we’ll get the “right” kind of snow.

Happy Holidays!

It’s an awkward, game, really.

The uniforms are mostly plastic – or some other particularly rigid, protective material.

The sticks are large, and long.

It’s violent too.

Never before have I watched a sports match where the strategy is to slam another player into the wall in order to gain an advantage. And the referee doesn’t seem to care. And the crowd goes wild.

And when the ref decides that last one was a little rough and throws the player in the penalty box, the player acts surprise. Irritated even.

“Well, Mr. Exceptional Hockey Player, you did just slam your opponent into the wall so hard his helmet came off.”

And what really just blows my mind is that all of this happens on ice.

Usually the kind of stage that begs grace.

Not that the players aren’t graceful. I have never seen men so cumbersomely dressed, move so fluidly.

And they handle the puck so deftly…

It boggles my mind, really. All of it. Last night the Rapid City RUSH boggled my mind. Hockey, really, boggled my mind.

Everything moves at lightening speed. No huddle, no count down to the play, they don’t even break to change players.

Just a raw, aggressive fight for the goal.

(They made three last night, by the way, to beat out the Eagles.)

The whole sport is a study in contradiction, a balance of aggression and grace…

And, I think I love it.

The Rushmore Plaza Civic Center has gone hi-tech.

We are now loaded- with all kinds of new, tech-y, upgrades.

Like, for instance, new credit card swipers (did you catch my use of the hi-tech language there?) outside the ticket windows so you are the only one who handles your credit card at payment time. We have also upgraded our ticket kiosks so you don’t have to stand in line at the ticket window – you can purchase your tickets at the kiosk and they will print off for you right there. Or, you can purchase your tickets over the phone or right here on the website and select Will Call as your delivery option. Then, when it’s time for the show, hit up one of the kiosks… swipe the card you used to pay for your tickets… and voila – they print off right there for you. In case you didn’t know, we are on Facebook – talking about what is going on in the hills, what’s going on at the Civic Center and offering deals on events for our fans.

http://www.facebook.com/gotminerc?v=app_2373072738#/gotminerc

We’re also on Twitter -   http://twitter.com/gotmine tweeting all over the place.

All of this is very exciting.

But maybe the most exciting thing of all (except facebook and twitter, of course) is the fact that we are now loaded.

Yep. The Rushmore Plaza Civic Center now offers loaded tickets. What’s this, you say?

You can purchase a ticket to an event and “load it” by purchasing a Kwik Kash ticket as well. You can then spend your Kwik Kash at any of the concessions areas in the venue. Many of our events are now Cashless events!

It is called Kwik Kash and we love it. First because it is convenient. All you need for the concert are your tickets. One for the event and one for the Kwik Kash.

It’s much safer, too. If you lose your ticket, you only lose the money that was left on it… instead of losing everything in your purse or wallet. Send your child with enough money for a snack and don’t worry about them losing a $20 bill – or spending it on something else. Plus, Kwik Kash contains no personal information. No calling credit card companies, the bank, the social security office… no waiting for months and worrying about identity theft… no paying for new documents or standing in line at the DMV.

Kwik Kash tickets are available in denominations of $10 from $10 up to $50 for any ticketed event at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center at which concessions are sold.

You can now plan your event budget – or that of your children. You will worry less, and enjoy more. Now that’s  “loaded”!

See our ticket windows for more information.

I love dogs. In fact, the greatest reason I want to move out of my apartment and buy a house is because I love dogs. I want a dog.

When I was in college, I used to visit the local shelter. Some sort of masochistic desire to pine after what I couldn’t have at the time.

Back in grade school, I had a very popular, fashionable friend whose mother indulged us in a trip to the dog show. I don’t remember a whole lot of the experience, except the grooming room.

I remember being struck by the celebrity of these creatures, the attention they were receiving, the fact their groomer was hairspraying their hair and arranging every strand perfectly.

Now that I think of it, I felt much the same way during my senior pictures.

But the thing I remember most was the rugs. Every station had these little rugs on the floor or tables, I am sure to protect delicate little canine feet from the cold concrete floors of the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

As my fabulous friend and I were walking around “back stage” we came upon an empty station with the most beautiful rug I had ever seen. It appeared to be thick cords of hand-spun cotton draped out from the center. I commented to my friend about the beautiful, exotic rug, and that when I grew up, I would have one of these in my house. As I picked up a cord and massaged it through my fingers, the whole front of the rug rose slowly, and turned to look at me.

I am quite sure I ruined the show for every creature there with my screaming and knocking over of equipment. They all probably paraded out for their turn in the ring shaking with fright and hair standing on end.

I really don’t remember. I must have blocked out the rest of the memory in humiliation.

In any case, this year I intend to redeem my experience and attend the dog show with utter and complete calm. I plan to comment politely and quietly to my friend. And I plan to touch NOTHING.