As many expected, a citywide ban on free sampling of tobacco has led to a no-show for a $200,000 scoreboard at the Greeley Stampede.
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, a major sponsor of the annual Stampede, decided this week not to provide the scoreboard this year for the rodeo as its has in the past.
This means Stampede officials will need to rent a $25,000 scoreboard for the two-week event and hope other sponsors step forward.
“We’ve made some offers to different companies,” said Greeley Stampede chief executive Lynn Settje. “At this point, we’ve not gotten any nibbles.”
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco spokesman Andrew Lee said Greeley’s vote in December to stop free sampling of tobacco in the city played a role in the company’s decision.
“The scoreboard is in great demand at events across the country, and the folks who run that program have a difficult choice to make when and where it will be used,” Lee said. “Where we have the ability to responsibly distribute our samples is one factor they have to consider.”
