Team roping represents significant economic development

Peoria, Phoenix, Goodyear, and Mesa have their baseball spring training to lure visitors to their municipalities. With little fanfare Wickenburg has developed a sizable group of winter visitors who come specifically to rope. On any given Tuesday or Saturday the parking lot at Beaver Bird’s Horse World Arena on Rincon Road is completely full with trucks and horse trailers as literally hundreds of men and women participate in several team-roping events. While this is probably the most active local roping site, the area is sprinkled with several more arenas enabling a roper to rope every day of the week. Retired Caterpillar employee and part-time rancher Monte Alkire is a typical roper who found Wickenburg and annually visits strictly because of the roping activity. According to estimates by both Bird and Alkire, there are probably about 200 ropers who stay in Wickenburg during the winter specifically for the roping activity. They stay in recreation vehicles, rented property, motels, and many have even purchased homes. The economic benefits to the town are obvious. This group obviously eats at the restaurants, goes to shows at the Web Center, and shops at the local stores. It is interesting to note that this significant economic engine has naturally occurred by word of mouth without advertising, formal economic development, or government stimulation...Wickenburg Sun