grounds as the Salinas Assembly Center during World War II, from April to July 1942. In July 1942 till 1945 it was used by the US Army VII Corps (United States) as the Salinas Garrison. In 1947, the rodeo purchased of land to the east of the grounds from Mrs. Emma Sterling. The Rodeo deeded this land to the City. In 1972, the Rodeo purchased and also deeded it to the city. The City and the Rodeo then signed a 15-year lease that expired on Jun 30, 1999. In 1996, the grandstands were demolished and were replaced by new ones after the July rodeo. It was replaced by an 8.5 million dollar multi-use sports facility. In 1979, the California Rodeo Historical Committee was formed and given the gifts of an authentic Wells Fargo stagecoach and a building. Barbara Breen and Marge Behen were the first co-chairmen of the museum that was established. The museum is open to the public during the run of the Rodeo or by appointment. In 1971, team ropers Jim Olds of San Juan Bautista, California and local Bill Armour of Salinas, California set not only a time record but they also set a record to become the first High Money Winners of the California Rodeo Salinas to do so in a single event. Previously the title of 'High Money Winner' had always been won by the All Around Champion, winning prize money in two or more events. Olds and Armour won 1st place in the first go-round, 2nd place in the 3rd go-round and 1st place in the average leading to a contentious debate over who would be presented with the San Francisco Chronicle Award, normally given to the 'high money winner'. After days of debate, the rodeo committee determined the award would be presented to the All Around Champion Jim Rodriguez Jr. instead of the High Money Winners, Jim Olds and Bill Armour. The rules would be changed thereafter to state that the award would go to the All-Around Champion. Today, the California Rodeo Salinas is the largest and most popular rodeo in California. It is one of the top PRCA rodeos televised on The Cowboy Channel and live-streamed on The Cowboy Channel Plus application. The 2020 edition of the California Rodeo Salinas was rescheduled from its usual July run to October because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, after several months, the event was canceled