By Jean Schurman
Darby is gearing up for another big happenin’ this weekend. The grand opening of the ‘new’ Darby Arena will be on Saturday, June 4th. Gates open at noon and the music and fun begins at 2 p.m. The theme of the event is “Come Rock in the Arena.” The event will feature music, food, and a chance to see all of the new changes made to the arena.
The skyboxes are finished and ready for viewing. They feature a bird’s eye view of what happens in front of the rodeo chutes, in the rodeo chutes and behind the rodeo chutes. With large windows overlooking the arena, spectators can take in everything happening below in the chutes where the horses and bulls come out. There are also windows overlooking the corrals so people can watch how the animals are sorted out for their turn in the arena. Each skybox will have it’s own flat screen TV to watch the instant replay of the ride. There is already a waiting list for these boxes.
Flanking the eight skyboxes, announcers’ booth and bathroom, are two platforms that will have bleacher seating at the same level as the skyboxes. There will be seating for 62 people on each side, with another great view of the arena. These seats sell for $300 a seat for the season and they are also going fast, according to Cal Ruark, the president of the Darby Rodeo Association. He said that purchasing a seat would guarantee your seat at any of the events held in the arena. If it’s not a Darby Rodeo Association event, you may have to pay an admission fee, but the seat is still yours.
The proceeds from the sale of the new bleacher seating will be split three ways. Tough Enough to Wear Pink of Montana (supporting breast cancer awareness) will receive a third, Out of the Blue will send their funds to Camp Mak-A-Dream, and the last will be put back into the Darby Rodeo Association for awards for their events such as the Elite Bull Connection, the Joe Reynolds Memorial Saddle Bronc competition and Barrel Burnin’ race, an event that includes team roping, a ranch rodeo and a junior rodeo. In addition to the Elite Bull Connection on July 9th, country singer Aaron Tipton will be presenting a concert after the bull riding.
And speaking of music, the grand opening on Saturday, June 4th, will feature lots of music. The emcee will be Darby’s own Jim Pearson who has performed all over the nation including performing with Isaac Hayes. With his experience, Pearson said there will be no down time between bands; when they are switching out, he will be performing. There will be students from Darby High School doing comedy routines and music as well. The line up of the performers are: JP, Paul & Mary; Andrea Harsell who is a blues musician; Tom Catmull & the Clerics; and Kenny James Miller trio who Pearson said is kind of like Stevie Ray Vaughn. The 8 Second Saloon will be open and serving. There will also be a pitchfork fondue dinner put on by the Darby Rodeo Association. Ruark stresses this is a family friendly event and hopes to see all ages dancing in the arena.
The Darby Rodeo Association and Ruark himself have been working, piece by piece, to improve the arena. Ruark said there are so many people and businesses that have stepped up to help with time, money, in kind labor, and product from up and down the valley. Even a business from Wisdom has helped out. One particular person stepped up to pay for new boards on the existing bleachers on the east side of the arena. Students from the Trapper Creek Job Corps came down and did the work on these bleachers.
Something that is being worked into all of the improvements in the arena and at the dance pavilion (which is getting a new roof and floor), is reclaimed tin and wood from the old Darby mill that was located just east of the arena. There is tin inside the skyboxes, beams under the platforms and pillars holding up the roof that bring the old Darby into the new.
“It’s a connection,” said Ruark.