Skip to main content
Press Release

Poly Royal Rodeo to be Held April 14-15 During Cal Poly’s Open House

Contact: AnnMarie Cornejo

805-756-2427; [email protected]

Tickets Go on Sale Wednesday, Feb. 15

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Tickets will be available starting Feb. 15 for the 81st annual Poly Royal Rodeo, which will be held at the Cotton Rosser Rodeo Complex on campus during Cal Poly’s Open House, with three full nights of action-packed performances.

The two-night general admission events will begin Friday, April 14, with the Annual Poly Royal Rodeo Performance and conclude Saturday, April 15, with the Poly Royal Rodeo Finals. Both events start at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by a concert. In addition, a Cal Poly Rodeo Showcase and concert will be held for students only at a reduced cost on Wednesday, April 12.

2022 Rodeo Queen Megan Sharp rides the arena
2022 Rodeo Queen Megan Sharp rides the arena prior to the competition.

The Poly Royal Rodeo is the marquee event on campus during Cal Poly’s annual Open House. The event will feature the top collegiate rodeo athletes from around the West Coast who have advanced to the championship performance from the weekend’s earlier rounds. Athletes will compete for a championship title in events such as barrel racing, team roping, breakaway roping, tie down roping, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, bull riding and steer wrestling.

Tickets are $50 for general admission and $20 for children ages 2 to 12. Admission is free for children under 2. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Feb. 15, at https://ticketscalpoly.evenue.net. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Cal Poly Rodeo Program.

Cal Poly’s Cotton Rosser Rodeo Complex, named after alumnus and founding member of the team Cotton Rosser (Animal Husbandry, ’52), was dedicated in 2022 after the establishment of the Cotton Rosser Endowment. The endowment honors Rosser’s distinguished dedication to the sport while providing financial support for the future of the Cal Poly Rodeo program. It assists with operational costs as well as student scholarships.

The Cotton Rosser Rodeo Complex is located on campus off Mount Bishop Road. Designated, paid parking will be available nearby for Poly Royal attendees.

About Cal Poly Rodeo

Cal Poly Rodeo, coached by Ben Londo, is one of the most successful programs in the history of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA). Cal Poly sent six men to the inaugural College National Finals Rodeo in 1949. Since then, Cal Poly Rodeo’s student-athletes have won more national titles than any other college rodeo program — and 45 national titles. The program is open to all Cal Poly students.

About Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences

Cal Poly is a nationally ranked, comprehensive polytechnic university. The university’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (cafes.calpoly.edu) is comprised of expert faculty members who take pride in their ability to transform academically motivated students into innovative professionals ready to solve the complex challenges associated with feeding the world in sustainable ways. Students have access to state-of-the-art laboratories, including ranch land, orchards, vineyards and forests, all of which provide the basis for Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing methodology. It is the fifth-largest college of agriculture in the country, with 4,000 undergraduate students.



Poly-Royal-Rodeo.jpg — 2022 Rodeo Queen Megan Sharp rides the arena prior to the competition.

  •