Opening of BMCC Equine Center is delayed

By on Tuesday, November 12th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – The grand opening of the Blue Mountain Community College Equine Center will not be happening this month. BMCC President Mark Browning said there are a couple of reasons for the delay.

“We’re going to push it into January – date to be determined,” he said. That will ensure we’ll have everything done and that most of our partners can be there – that it’s the celebration that it needs to be.”

Browning said they want the facility, which will feature an indoor rodeo arena, to be completely finished when the grand opening is held. Supply chain issues have made that impossible for this month.

“We want it to be completely done,” he said. “We’ve got a door on the inside. We’ve got a couple of little fixtures and the scoreboard that are coming. Those have been kind of pushed back.”

Many people from BMCC, the city of Pendleton, the Pendleton Round-Up Association, and Umatilla County have worked hard to obtain funding for the construction. Browning said that January was chosen to avoid holding it when their supporters are busy with holiday events and not able to attend.

“Some of our really active partners were going to be unable to be there,” he said.