This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The annual Days of '47 Rodeo in Salt Lake City will undergo significant changes in 2017, including a new venue and innovative format.

The five-day event will also be sanctioned again by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, after a one-year tie-in with the breakaway Elite Rodeo Athletes.

With a purse of $2 million, Utah's richest rodeo will be officially called the Days of '47 Komatsu Equipment Cowboy Games. Winners in each event will earn $100,000 in cash and prizes, including a gold medal.

The Cowboy Games will be held July 19-22 and July 24 at the new $16 million Days of '47 arena, which will seat 10,000 fans and is currently under construction at the Utah State Fair Park.

Contestants will qualify for the Cowboy Games in one of three ways:

The top 10 in each event will receive an invitation to the semifinals. Ten contestants will receive at-large invitations. The other 20 will qualify via points earned by a series of PRCA-sanctioned rodeos, which will be known as Cowboy Games trail events.

The Days of '47 finals will be televised by the CBS Sports Network on July 24.

"Days of '47 is excited to once again partner with the PRCA," said rodeo CEO and president Dan Shaw. "… The Cowboy Games will give the fans an opportunity to be more engaged and will bring widespread national exposure to the sport. We want to thank the PRCA for their tremendous effort in making this a reality."

Said commissioner Karl Stressman: "The PRCA continues to raise the bar of opportunity for our members and fans and the Days of '47 Cowboy Games is a very strong example in support of that statement. … "The possibilities on the horizon for the PRCA brand are truly endless and we're proud to partner with our friends in Salt Lake City to make the Cowboy Games a huge success."

— Steve Luhm —

Days of '47 Rodeo update

• The Days of '47 Komtasu Equipment Cowboy Games will be held on July 19-22 and July 24.

• Utah's richest rodeo will be held at the new arena at the State Fair Park and offer a purse of $2 million.

• The Days of '47 will once again be sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, after a one-year hiatus.