DALLAS – November 9, 2015 – The Elite Rodeo Association (ERA) and three of the top cowboys in the world today were forced to bring an antitrust class action lawsuit challenging unfair and illegal bylaws passed by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). These anticompetitive PRCA bylaws were enacted in October 2015 to try to shut down or harm ERA before its inaugural 2016 season.
“This suit is bigger than PRCA and ERA,” Said Tony Garritano, President and CEO of Elite Rodeo Athletes. “It’s about everyone that sits on state, or regional rodeo boards and from the grass roots level have helped rodeo throughout the country – all of those people will be unable to get their PRCA card – it’s much bigger than the three guys in this room – it’s about those that don’t have a voice. The PRCA should not be calling balls and strikes on who calls the shots.”
“ERA’s goal is simple: better the sport of rodeo for everyone – fans, professional athletes, rodeo associations, stock contractors, sponsors and venues,” said Tony Garritano, CEO and President of ERA. “We are filing this lawsuit on behalf of professional cowboys and cowgirls who have devoted their lives to rodeo and are truly the best in the sport, in order to make rodeo stronger and create opportunities for everyone who dreams of being a rodeo champion, not only today but for generations to come.”
ERA was announced earlier this year to create a new, nationally televised stage where fans get to see the best rodeo talent compete in a regular season culminating with a World Championship Rodeo at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. ERA seeks to expand audiences for the sport and elevate the world of professional rodeo. PRCA responded to an announcement that top cowboys would focus their 2016 “tour” schedules on ERA events by enacting new bylaws that retaliate against almost anyone who participates in, or has any connection with, an ERA rodeo, including athletes, rodeo committees, facilities and vendors.
“PRCA is unlawfully exercising its monopoly power in the rodeo industry and organizing a group boycott to prevent free competition in the sport,” said Jim Quinn, one of the country’s preeminent sports law attorneys and a partner with the law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, which is representing the cowboys and ERA in the lawsuit along with antitrust law partner Eric Hochstadt and sports law attorney John Gerba. “PRCA’s bylaws are clearly anticompetitive on their face, and should be declared illegal by the court, just as other courts have done when PRCA tried these same unfair tactics in the past.”
The class action lawsuit seeks a court order to temporarily and permanently stop PRCA from enforcing the new bylaws. The case was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Dallas on behalf of all current and future athletes who are or will be an officer, board member, employee of ERA or have or will have an ownership or financial interest of any form in ERA.
“We aren’t asking for any money in this lawsuit, just the opportunity to compete in ERA events without being retaliated against by PRCA,” said Trevor Brazile, a 21-time World Champion Cowboy, ERA Board Member and shareholder, and one of the named plaintiffs in the lawsuit. “We believe PRCA and ERA can – and should – work together on behalf of the sport, just as PRCA has successfully done with the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and other rodeo associations.”
PRCA and ERA are two different organizations with different missions. Where PRCA is driven by member dues and sanctions hundreds of rodeo events that include competitors of any skill level, ERA was founded to create a “League of Champions” and a true national championship to increase excitement and benefit the entire industry.
“It’s unfortunate that after participating loyally in PRCA events across the country as a professional for nearly 20 years that PRCA has responded this way,” said Plaintiff Bobby Mote of Stephenville, Texas, who holds four world titles, is a founder and shareholder of ERA, and another of the named plaintiffs in the lawsuit. “We designed ERA as an additional tour for competitors, not as a replacement, and it has always been my intention to participate in both ERA and PRCA events next season.”
ERA is open to every cowboy and cowgirl who can demonstrate that they have the ability and dedication to be one of the very best athletes in the sport.
“Current and future generations of rodeo athletes will see a stronger career path that allows the very best competitors to concentrate on their profession and be able to end their careers on their own terms,” said Ryan Motes, of Weatherford, Texas, the current co-holder of the world record in team roping, a founder and shareholder in ERA, and the third named plaintiff in the litigation.
“ERA is committed to working with the entire rodeo industry, including PRCA, to bring added vitality, growth, and value to the sport,” continued Garritano. “But we can’t stand aside and let PRCA break the rules and play Monopoly with rodeo. The free market gets to decide what competitions take place, not the PRCA.”
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is well-known for their representation of the Players’ Associations of most major U.S. professional sports leagues. Quinn, the head of the firm’s Sports Law Practice, has more than 40 years of experience in the field, and is credited with developing the collective bargaining process in most major U.S. professional sports leagues today.
The antitrust class action lawsuit is The Elite Rodeo Association, Trevor Brazile, Bobby Mote, and Ryan Motes v. Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, Inc. A copy of the complaint is available on the website.
In a conference call held today, more details about the suit and what will happen were shared. Trevor Brazile, 22 time world champion, and shareholder in the ERA talked about his position. “We are taking the step today to strengthen the sport of rodeo for everyone. Given the chance, this will work, as clearly seen with the impact the PBR has had. I’ve been loyal to the PRCA and I’ve joined this to stop the PRCA from moving forward block the ERA.”
Bobby Mote, 4 x world champion bareback rider also shared. “We tried to work with the PRCA to establish a better understanding of this. Right now careers are being shortened by the way the rodeos are run. We are trying to make a living with no guarantees of anything. Our honest efforts were rejected and that’s why we formed the ERA. The new bylaws set up by the PRCA passed just a week before we launched our plans for the 2016 season. We reached the conclusion that a lawsuit is the only way we could be heard.”
“The anti-trust laws set forth in the United States are set up to protect competition – making sure the sport is open to everyone,” said Jim Quinn, one of the country’s preeminent sports law attorneys. “#1 the PRCA bylaws passed are a boycott against the cowboys that have formed the ERA and been willing to participate. Under the US antitrust laws, this boycott is illegal. We are also fighting what is clearly and admittedly a monopoly and monopolies are not good for customers or fans. The focus is on the group boycott and preventing their continued ability to monopolize the rodeo industry.”
Ryan Motes, a professional rodeo athlete for 14 years added his thoughts. “We are not asking for money – we just want to be able to compete in the ERA and this lawsuit will help everyone that is affected by the new bylaws. We think the PRCA and ERA could work together to promote the rodeo. ERA was designed as an additional tour for competitors, not a replacement. We plan to participate in both.”
Jim is planning to get into the court system quickly to seek a preliminary injunction that would allow the 2016 Elite Rodeo Tour to continue and allow the cowboys to continue to participate in PRCA events.
The schedule for the 2016 tour is in the final stages, and will be announced soon.
