Back in the box: USTRC CINCH National Finals to return home to Lazy E Arena in 2027

GUTHRIE, Okla. — Pull the gate and let the crowd know: one of team roping’s biggest championships is headed back to the ground where it first made history. The United States Team Roping Championships announced its CINCH National Finals will return to Lazy E Arena in May 2027, reuniting two names that helped build the modern sport from the dirt up.

For rodeo fans across North America, including western sports followers in Canada, the move signals both a homecoming and a fresh push forward for one of team roping’s most influential events.

Historic partnership rides again

When the USTRC launched in 1990, it came with a bold idea: build a national championship where ropers of all skill levels could compete through a handicapped format, with higher entry fees and a single-entry system. That same year, the inaugural USTRC National Finals were staged at Lazy E Arena, establishing a partnership that would help define the championship for decades.

Lazy E owner Gary McKinney said the connection runs deep.

“I watched the very first USTRC National Finals at the Lazy E and later competed there myself,” McKinney said. “Even today, I reflect on the Lazy E’s historic role in the growth of team roping.”

A return with momentum behind it

The USTRC National Finals remained at Lazy E for years before moving to a spring schedule in Fort Worth in 2020. Organizers said that change came as calendar pressure increased and competitors faced growing costs tied to attending multiple major events.
Now, the championship is set to ride back into Oklahoma with a new look and a bigger footprint. The 2027 edition will be held inside an expanded Lazy E Arena and will feature a reworked format aimed at today’s competitors.

USTRC president John Johnson said the move is about more than bringing the event back to a familiar building.

“This is more than a return,” Johnson said. “It’s a continuation of a promise that’s been kept for nearly four decades — providing everyday ropers with a national stage and a championship they can truly be part of.”

From a bold beginning to a major force in team roping

The first USTRC National Finals paid out $185,000 and drew ropers from 16 states, a strong early signal that team roping could stand on its own as a national sport. Since then, the organization has paid out millions in prizes and purses while keeping its focus on broad participation through youth, senior and mixed-ability divisions.

That long-running commitment to accessibility remains one of the championship’s defining features and one reason the event has carried weight far beyond one weekend on the calendar.

Connie Gentry, USTRC co-founder and president of Equine Network’s Western Sports Group, said the return to Lazy E reflects both heritage and identity.

“This is about honoring where we started while staying true to who we are,” Gentry said.

Oklahoma heritage, national spotlight

The return also carries broader significance for Oklahoma, where western heritage remains central to the state’s identity and economy. Gov. Kevin Stitt said the championship’s comeback reinforces Oklahoma’s place at the heart of cowboy culture.

“Oklahoma has a deep-rooted connection to Western heritage, and events like the USTRC National Finals showcase that legacy on a national stage,” Stitt said. “The highly anticipated return of the competition will further celebrate the traditions and spirit that make Oklahoma the heart of cowboy culture.”

By 2027, the Lazy E will not just be welcoming an old partner home. It will be opening the gate on a renewed chapter for one of western sports’ cornerstone championships — a return built on history, but aimed squarely at the future.

About Lazy E Arena

Located in Guthrie, Oklahoma, Lazy E Arena has been one of the signature venues in western sports since opening in 1984. The facility has hosted major events including the Cinch Timed Event Championship and the National Finals Steer Roping, building a reputation for scale, versatility and championship-level production. With expanded facilities and one of the best-known brands in the business, Lazy E remains a landmark stop in the rodeo and equine world.