Stampede finds new sponsor for its electronic scoreboard

The Greeley Stampede has a new sponsor for its electronic scoreboard.

Noble Energy Inc. has entered into a partnership with the Stampede to sponsor the Island Grove Regional Park Arena scoreboard for its rodeo performances after U.S. Smokeless Tobacco dropped its $25,000 sponsorship.

Lynn Settje, Stampede CEO, said Friday Noble Energy has agreed to pick up the sponsorship of the scoreboard for the Stampede's 12 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association events this year and in the future.

"We are excited about Noble Energy's new partnership with the Stampede. We look forward to continuing to offer the best rodeo experience around -- thanks to the help of one of the premier energy companies in the United States," Settje said in a press release from the Stampede.

This year will mark 86th Stampede, June 25-July 6.

In December, the Greeley City Council banned the distribution of free samples of chewing tobacco at the Stampede, which resulted in UST, which has strong ties with the PRCA, dropping its sponsorship of the scoreboard.

Noble Energy employs nearly 200 people in Weld and another 300 in its Denver office. In 2007, Noble Energy contributed more than $34 million in taxes to Weld in addition to supporting other organizations that benefit Weld such as the Western States Burn Center at the North Colorado Medical Center, the Weld County Fair and Sacred Heart, among others.

Stephen Flaherty, spokesman for Noble Energy in Denver, said the company learned of the predicament through a newspaper story.

"We have a large operation in Platteville and Greeley, and Weld County is very important not only to our company, but to the number of employees who live in the Weld County area," Flaherty said. For that reason, he said, the company decided to take on the sponsorship.

"We look at this as a long-term relationship," Flaherty said, adding he understood the Stampede was going to communities in the area seeking sponsorship for the scoreboard.

"Recognizing the tight economy, we felt this was best not only for Greeley, but for the area as a whole," Flaherty said.

Settje said the Stampede received a lot of community interest following UST's withdrawal from sponsorship.

"We appreciate all that support, and we will continue to accept donations," Settje said. But with Noble Energy's move, Settje said those community donations, and similar donations in the future, will be used to expand the Stampede Foundation's scholarship efforts to include elementary school teachers.

He said the Stampede will begin accepting grant applications this fall from elementary teachers. Those grants, he said, will be used to fund elementary classroom projects.

The Stampede Foundation has funded more than $150,000 to graduating high school seniors in Weld and Larimer counties in the past few years. This year, the foundation presented $17,000 in scholarship to seniors in the two counties, Settje said.