The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association ( the “PRCA”) has been named a defendant in a putative class action in Texas federal court.
The suit alleges that the PRCA is attempting to maintain a monopoly in the rodeo industry by barring cowboys from competing in a new rodeo group formed by the sport’s top athletes. The new rodeo group is called the Elite Rodeo Association (the “ERA”).
The lawsuit alleges that cowboys that participate in ERA events will be blacklisted from PRCA events.
The complaint alleges that the ERA was formed in order to improve the sport of rodeo for everyone in the rodeo industry. The group hopes to take rodeo through the natural evolution that enabled other sports to prosper by having more structured rodeo events. The complaint cites golf as an example.