Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Celebrates History and Shares Preparations for 40th Year in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS

To celebrate the history and legacy of the National Finals Rodeo in the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas Events brought together former and current champion cowboys and barrel racers, community leaders and rodeo industry representatives for a reception to launch the final preparations for the 40th celebration.

The Wrangler NFR will kick off on Thursday, Dec. 4 and run through Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Thomas & Mack Center. Today’s event, entitled 40 Years in Vegas: A Gathering of Champions, looked both to the past and to the future and featured a variety of special guests and speakers to share how the Wrangler NFR has evolved into the richest and most prestigious rodeo in the world.

“For over four decades, the National Finals Rodeo has shown the world what Nevada does best - turning big moments into lasting success,” said Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo. “NFR not only put Las Vegas on the map as a global sports destination but also sparked economic growth - creating jobs and filling our hotels and restaurants. When major events come to Nevada, we deliver unforgettable experiences and build a legacy that continues to elevate our world-class lineup of sports and entertainment.”

Despite the incredible run of success in Las Vegas, it was never a guarantee that the NFR would flourish after the move from Oklahoma City in 1985. When Shawn Davis, then president of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, cast the deciding vote to move the NFR to Las Vegas, he made the decision because Las Vegas offered the most potential for the future. However, the NFR did not sell out in its entirety until 1987.

“The NFR had been successful in Oklahoma City, but to take it to the next level, it needed new energy that could be found in Las Vegas,” said Davis, who went on to serve as the general manager of NFR from 1986 through 2018. “The decision to cast the vote for Las Vegas was made easier because of my relationship with Benny Binion. He knew how to make things work and, with his support and guidance, it really helped in making the decision to move the NFR to Las Vegas. Looking back, it took a few years to finally achieve a sell out at the Thomas & Mack Center. That was a very exciting and special moment and one of the highlights of my career.”

Since that time, the NFR has evolved and transformed the way Las Vegas operates in December. In addition to recording 379 consecutive sold-out performances at the Thomas & Mack Center, the economic impact of the NFR is more than $2.2 billion.

“The Wrangler NFR is one of the longest-running sports and entertainment traditions in our city, and it has fundamentally changed the way Las Vegas feels each December,” said LVE President Tim Keener. “We take great pride in how Las Vegas has embraced the NFR and how LVE has made a commitment to providing the best platform for these great rodeo champions to pursue their dreams in the arena. We’re grateful for the partnership we have built with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, sponsors, and our passionate and loyal fans, and look forward to many more years as the host of the NFR.”

"For four decades, the NFR has reshaped not just our December calendar, but the very spirit of Las Vegas,” said Clark County Commissioner and LVCVA Board Chairman Jim Gibson. “We’re proud to honor this enduring tradition and to recognize just how profoundly the NFR has changed the way we operate in December. It’s not only an economic engine, but a celebration that unites our community and puts Las Vegas at the heart of America’s rodeo culture each year."

“This year the enthusiasm and pageantry will be at a fever pitch since it is the 40th anniversary of the NFR taking place at the storied Thomas & Mack Center,” PRCA CEO Tom Glause said. “We are grateful to the city of Las Vegas for hosting the NFR for the 40th time. The hospitality, atmosphere, and entertainment opportunities are second to none. We cannot thank our sponsors enough for their support and shared vision that has allowed us to create something more special and more enduring than we ever imagined.

“This year we have a chance to celebrate the past and cheer on star athletes in the present.”

The growth of the NFR Experience has played a vital role in making the rodeo a December tradition in the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World. Today, there are more than 25 sponsor hotels that support the event and create custom experiences for rodeo fans making their way to Las Vegas each year.

“Every December, Las Vegas turns into rodeo country, and nobody embraces that spirit like Downtown,” said LVE Chairman and Owner/CEO of Circa Las Vegas Resort & Casino, The D Las Vegas Hotel and Golden Gate Hotel & Casino Derek Stevens. “The city pulls together to give NFR fans a hospitality experience they can’t get anywhere else. At Circa, the D, and Golden Gate, we love seeing rodeo fans fill our bars, sportsbooks, and restaurants with that unmistakable energy, and we always look forward to continuing our free NFR watch party tradition at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. The NFR is part of this city’s DNA, and we’re proud to help deliver the unforgettable moments that make this event so special.”

“Las Vegas’ rise as a global sports and entertainment capital did not just happen overnight,” said UNLV interim President Chris Heavey. “It’s a journey that dates back decades, including in 1985 when Las Vegas Events, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and UNLV began their partnership to host the National Finals Rodeo here at the Thomas & Mack Center. The impact the NFR has had on our university and Southern Nevada has been profound and we are proud to be associated with such an incredible event.”

Since 1985, more than 350 PRCA Gold Buckles have been awarded inside the Thomas & Mack Center. The event has made a lasting impression on the great champions of the past and the present list of competitors.

“I just think about how appreciative we are – and were – of Las Vegas to take on the cowboys and to help grow the rodeo,” said 11-Time World Champion Barrel Racer Charmayne James. “A lot of people were disappointed to see it leave Oklahoma City, but Las Vegas rolled out the red carpet and worked on building it. Looking back at it 40 years later, it is amazing what they have done and how people here love the rodeo now as compared to then. I know that when I came here, I was just like, ‘Wow!’ I was just a kid, 14 years old, from Clayton, New Mexico, a little town. I was in awe of being here. Las Vegas set the bar higher and it grew into such a bigger stage.”

“This year will be legendary again as we honor the 40 years of the NFR in Vegas,” Three-Time PRCA World Champion Shad Mayfield said. “That first year in Las Vegas is very special to me because that is also the first year my dad qualified for the NFR. He was the first African-American cowboy to make the NFR in my event. To bring back each of the legends this week to kick off the NFR is awesome. I am honored to be here and be around them. They set the stage for us to do what we are doing and allow us to make such a good living at it.”

Known as the richest and most prestigious rodeo in the world, the Wrangler NFR attracts the top 15 contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding to compete for a share of the increased purse and the coveted PRCA Gold Buckle. In 2024, the event had a total attendance of 170,045 over the ten rounds of competition at the Thomas & Mack Center and has sold out 379 consecutive performances in Las Vegas.

For more information on the 40th anniversary of the Wrangler NFR in Las Vegas, please visit NFRexperience.com or through social media at @LasVegasNFR and use #WranglerNFR. For the latest ProRodeo news and Wrangler NFR coverage, please visit prorodeo.com or through social media @PRCA_ProRodeo.