Lazy E Arena to host National High School Finals Rodeo beginning in 2030

The Lazy E Arena will become the future home of one of the largest youth rodeo events in the world following a new long-term agreement.

Arena officials and the National High School Rodeo Association announced a 10-year partnership that will bring the National High School Finals Rodeo to Guthrie beginning in 2030. The deal secures a long-term location for the event, which draws more than 1,800 contestants each year from across the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries.

NHSRA Executive Director James Higginbotham said the agreement builds on an existing partnership that will bring the National Junior High Finals Rodeo to Lazy E starting in 2026.

The National High School Finals Rodeo has previously been hosted in cities across the country, including Kansas City, Dallas, Tulsa, Albuquerque, and multiple locations in Wyoming.

Lazy E Arena General Manager Dan Wall said the facility is prepared to host an event of this scale, pointing to recent expansions and continued growth at the venue.

Upgrades to the property include the addition of the Equinety Center, a 30,000-square-foot multi-purpose event center designed to accommodate vendors, events, and community activities. The arena has also added five new barns with more than 400 additional stalls, a new covered arena for year-round use, and improved contestant facilities featuring showers, restrooms, and laundry amenities.

A new Morton Building has also been constructed to provide office space for event promoters during competitions.

The National High School Finals Rodeo is considered the largest youth rodeo in the world and is expected to bring significant economic and tourism impact to the Guthrie area when it arrives in 2030.