Ridge Rider Rodeo grounds gets audio system upgrade

Getting ready for next month's Colorama Rodeo, the Ridge Riders Rodeo Grounds Tuesday saw workers from Spokane mounting new speakers to the light poles for a better sound experience that should save money in the long run.

President George Kohout said the speaker systems that announcers must bring with them are an expensive, added cost of putting on a rodeo.

The investment taking shape this week will lessen that bill each year and upgrade other events that have been lacking a good sound system.

The Ridge Riders also put on bull and wild horse rides, junior rodeos and training events that can also benefit from a better sound system, Kohout pointed out.

The sound system was being installed by Huppin's, the Spokane store started in 1908 that now sells from its North Division location and designs sound and entertainment systems for high-end installations.

Rodeo fans will hear the announcer at Colorama call out the cowboys and cowgirls as they perform, ride, fall or fly off, and that voice will come over six speakers placed, wired and aimed on the poles around the arena.

The price tag: $26,000. Kohout said that investment will pay off in the long run.

"These are going to last a long time," he said.

With an upgraded experience for fans and arena users and lower costs over time, the purchase might also expand the feasible uses of the arena if a good sound system is already on hand for other events.

Some dirt bikers tried it out last weekend to see if they could beat a horse rider's time in barrel racing. They couldn't, Kohout said with a proud smile. But one was still mulling whether the arena could be used for some kind of racing.