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Riding off into the sunset? Or roping in a new generation of fans in Edmonton?

Some of the dust will clear off on May 5, when bids to host the Canadian Finals Rodeo beginning in 2017 are due at the offices of the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association in Airdrie.

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Calgary is already out of the running, roping and riding.

“We said we were going to have a look at it. We did. We just made a determination at this point that we have other priorities and other major event bids in motion,” said Marco de Iaco, executive-director of the Calgary Sport Tourism Authority. “We’re not going to be submitting a bid.”

Vancouver and Winnipeg were never in the ring. Ditto for Abbotsford, B.C.

Saskatoon recently hosted a site visit by CPRA officials, who are considering a last-minute bid if market research convinces them they can draw between 10,000 and 11,000 fans for each of the six CFR performances. They need rodeo fans to make the trek from Alberta, Manitoba and all over Saskatchewan, and that’s a real concern.