NFRexperience.com
2019
Shania Twain highlights NFR shows, p. 16
The 35th Wrangler NFR awaits, P. 7
RIDIN’ FOR A CAUSE Contestants display heart of NFR,
P. 36
COWBOY CHRISTMAS/RMEF EXTRAVAGANZAS, P. 56
JUNIOR WORLD FINALS EVOLVE, P. 22
TECH SPECS - APPS, PODCASTS, TICKETING, SOCIAL - NFR GOES DIGITAL, P. 60
Caleb Smidt
SPURS ON THE STRIP
DECEMBER 5 - 14 For a complete schedule of events and list of activations visit CaesarsPalace.com
CONTENT
07 The 10 Most Brilliant Days
Even world champ barrel racer Hailey Kinsel agrees that the best way to describe the 10 days and nights of the Wrangler NFR is as “brilliant.” Here’s a preview of the off-the-dirt extravaganzas.
18 Thomas & Mack Happenings
The Thomas & Mack Center is the epicenter of all things Vegas rodeo. Here’s what to do, where to be seen and more at the T & M.
22 Future Stars Shining
The Junior World Finals feature some of the top, young rodeo stars who descend upon Las Vegas during the Wrangler NFR and Cowboy Christmas for a chance to earn his or her own buckle.
26 Top of Their Game Voices
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Earning the in-arena announcer gig at Wrangler NFR is no easy task. Randy Corley, Wayne Brooks and Roger Mooney are up to it in 2019.
30 The Best Ever?
Some seasoned experts who have watched the Wrangler NFR for decades believe the 2018 rendition just might have been the most exciting ever.
36 Heart of the NFR
Their main focus is winning a gold buckle, but Wrangler NFR competitors are always quick to help a worthy cause, and 2019 continues that tradition.
MORE
18 PUBLISHER
COVER DESIGN
EDITOR/ PROJECT MANAGER
Matt Jacob
Las Vegas Events Photos: ALL IN Barrel - Pixel Worx. Kinsel - Steve Spatafore.
16 40 46 48 54 56 60 64
Brian Hurlburt DESIGN
Christopher Jones
Eric Berner
COPY EDITOR CONTRIBUTORS
What’s New in 2019? Preview: All In Barrel Racing, World Series of Team Roping, Bullfighters Only The NFR Extra Podcast Q & A with loyal fans Bill Boyd Has the Answers Preview: Cowboy Christmas, RMEF Hunter & Outdoor Expo Technology: NFR App, Digital Tickets & More Stats, Notes and Quotes LAS VEGAS EVENTS
770 E. Warm Springs Rd., Suite 140 Las Vegas, Nev. 89119 NFRexperience.com
Copyright 2019 Las Vegas Events. No re-production of any items within this publication without written consent of Las Vegas Events.
Patrick C. Everson Neal Reid
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Several 2018 world champs shut down the Las Vegas Strip for a 2019 promotional event
A STRIP SHUTDOWN AND EPIC NIGHTS ON THE THOMAS & MACK DIRT. CONCERTS, VIEWING PARTIES AND COWBOY CHRISTMAS. YEP, THE WRANGLER NFR IS READY TO SHINE AGAIN IN 2019 By Brian Hurlburt
Photo: Eric Berner
I
t was only May, some seven months before the 61st Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, but that didn’t stop several Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association world champions—as well as a country & Western social media superstar—from “shutting it down” in Las Vegas to promote the Super Bowl of Rodeo.
Sure, the most anticipated 10 days for those who celebrate the Western lifestyle might have been several calendar-page flips away—this year’s event is December 5-14—but apparently, it’s never too early to start the promotion train. So, on a mild, late-spring weekday morning in Las Vegas, there were Tyler Waguespack, Hailey Kinsel,
Caleb Smidt, and Clay Smith and Paul Eaves—world champion steer wrestler, barrel racer, tie-down roper and team ropers, respectively—galloping down the Las Vegas Strip as the heroes of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department stopped traffic. All the while, Dale Brisby, rodeo’s pseudo pied piper, was there to chronicle the moment for his legion of social media followers.
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Rodeo Vegas is always a fan favorite at The Mirage
Dale Brisby—always the giver and a legend in his own Resistol.
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All kidding aside, there are only a handful of events that have enough juice to close one of the world’s busiest and most famous thoroughfares—and there’s no doubt the Wrangler NFR is one of them. More than 170,000 fans annually attend the 10 sold-out nights of rodeo action at the Thomas & Mack Center, and tens of thousands more stream into Las Vegas to enjoy the associated Wrangler NFR fanfare. Besides the NFR action, other equestrian world championships and titles are determined each December, including Bullfighters Only at the Tropicana, the World Series of Team Roping at the South Point, the ALL IN Barrel Race at the Orleans Arena, and the Junior World Finals at the Wrangler Arena in the Las Vegas Convention Center as part of Cowboy Christmas.
Besides the world-class athletic competitions, Rodeo Week in Las Vegas includes dozens of concerts, nightly viewing parties featuring the in-arena live video feed, countless after-parties, and the epic displays, entertainment and exhibitors at the RMEF Hunter and Outdoor Expo and Cowboy Christmas. The Wrangler NFR’s magnitude on and off the dirt isn’t lost on the competitors, who must deal with a dizzying schedule of appearances, competition prep and other obligations during the 10-day extravaganza. “‘Brilliant’ is a brilliant word to describe the 10 days of the Wrangler NFR,” says Kinsel, a first-time world champion. “For competitors, it’s grueling, but it’s so worth it. There is nothing any of us would rather be doing than grinding it out for the 10
Photo: John Plummer.
“You never know where I’m going to pop up, but one place you can be sure of is Las Vegas,” Brisby said during a brief break between thumbing out posts. “They shut Las Vegas Boulevard down for me today so I could get some snapchats. It’s only been done one other time in the 1980s for some NASCAR deal, for another Dale—some guy named Earnhardt or something. Anyway, when I knew it was a go, I reached out to Las Vegas Events and the Wrangler NFR organization, and said, ‘Look, while I’m getting my snapchats and the boulevard is shut down, feel free to bring some world champs out and get some photos. I’ll let you guys get on horseback and piggyback my deal.’”
Wade Sundell (left) waited longer than most to win his first world title, and Trevor Brazile recognized the moment
Photo: Tom Donoghue.
days and nights. At the end, we’re tired and worn out emotionally and physically, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. “It’s an important week for fans, as well. They are who power us. We go to our autograph signings throughout the week, and we’re tired and may not be in the greatest mood, but they are so happy to see and meet us, and that empowers us to keep doing our jobs. It’s really neat to see how Las Vegas turns country and great to be at the center of that for 10 days—actually, more when you factor in getting here prior to the event to prepare.” What elevates the Wrangler NFR to a
can’t-miss experience is the amount of thought and planning put in by the many sponsors who support the rodeo and its competitors. And those supporters—even the ones who have been around for decades—are stunned by how the rodeo evolves seemingly every year. “It has been absolutely amazing watching the Wrangler NFR grow year in and year out,” says Ryan Growney, South Point’s general manager and Wrangler NFR Committee member. “I always say there’s no way this thing can get bigger each year, but then every year it does. It’s great to see that the Western lifestyle is alive and well in our country, and there’s no better place to see that
on display than during the NFR each year here in Las Vegas. “At the South Point, our events keep getting bigger and better, as well. Last year, our World Series of Team Roping eclipsed $13 million in total purse over seven days, and I’m told we should be well over that this year. And all the [other] events in the arena continue to grow, including the Western Gift Show. We also will have some fresh entertainment offerings in our showroom this year that our guests haven’t had in years past. And our room remodel project will be completed later this year, so every single room will have been renovated by the time NFR rolls around.”
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The South Point is one of 23 official hotel and resort sponsors that combine to make Las Vegas “go country” each December. The others are Bally’s Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, Cosmopolitan, The D, Downtown Grand, Flamingo Las Vegas, Gold Coast, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock, Harrah’s Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, The Mirage, New York-New York, The Orleans, Planet Hollywood, The Plaza, Sam’s Town, Silverton, Treasure Island, Tropicana and Westgate Las Vegas.
THE GUIDE
Indeed, from the heart of the Las Vegas Strip to Downtown Las Vegas and beyond, cowboy hats dot the landscape everywhere one looks each December.
Bally’s Las Vegas – Caesars.com/Ballys-Las-Vegas
As a resort owner on iconic Fremont Street, Stevens is used to seeing large groups of people gathering and having a good time. But when Rodeo Week rolls around, the party goes next-level. “Our block parties at the Downtown Events Center, one block off Fremont Street, attract thousands nightly,” he says. “Fans can go to the Thomas & Mack Center one night and then the next night come Downtown and watch [the NFR] on our big screens during our free viewing parties. We create an exciting atmosphere with authentic food and drinks, and we love it when the cowboys and cowgirls come to town. I always urge any visitor to Las Vegas to make sure they visit us Downtown, because it’s something to see.”
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Caesars Palace – Caesars.com/Caesars-Palace The Cosmopolitan – CosmopolitanLasVegas.com The D Las Vegas – TheD.com Downtown Grand – DowntownGrand.com Flamingo Las Vegas – Caesars.com/Flamingo-Las-Vegas Gold Coast – GoldCoastCasino.com Golden Nugget – GoldenNugget.com Hard Rock – HardRockHotel.com/las-vegas-specials/hoteldeals-nfr-2019.php Harrah’s Las Vegas – Caesars.com/Harrahs-Las-Vegas Mandalay Bay – MandalayBay.com MGM Grand – MGMGrand.com The Mirage – Mirage.com New York-New York – NewYorkNewYork.com The Orleans – BoydGamingEvents.com/NFR Planet Hollywood – Caesars.com/planethollywood/vegas The Plaza – PlazaHotelCasino.com Sam’s Town – BoydGamingEvents.com/NFR Silverton – SilvertonCasino.com South Point – Southpointcasino.com Treasure Island – TreasureIsland.com/special-offers/nfr Tropicana Las Vegas – TropLV.com Westgate Las Vegas –WestgateResorts.com For additional info, visit NFRExperience.com
Photo: Tom Donoghue.
“There is a certain authenticity about Downtown Las Vegas that matches up well with the Wrangler NFR fan, and it’s really something to see and experience,” says Derek Stevens, owner of The D Las Vegas, Golden Gate Casino, and the under-construction Circa, all located on Fremont Street in the heart of Downtown. “The first casino I purchased was the Golden Gate, and that’s an original Las Vegas building with an address of 1 Fremont Street. And now, right across the street, we’re building Circa, which is the very first ground-up resort and casino in Downtown in 50 years.”
Check out these official 2019 Wrangler NFR sponsors for the latest entertainment and hospitality options:
F R EE L I V E EN T ER TA INMEN T
R IDER A P P E A R A NCE S
DR INK SP EC I A L S
RODEO V IE W ING S
For more information, visit Spursonthestrip.com
Granger Smith rocked the Downtown Hoedown to ring in another Wranger NFR
“We are excited to once again sponsor the world’s top bull riders and honored to support all other contestant categories for NFR 2019,” says Don R. Voss, Treasure Island vice president of sales and marketing. “We recently opened the brand-new Golden Circle Sports Bar featuring a 24-foot by 5-foot LED video wall, which will display the live NFR satellite feeds during our nightly viewing parties, along with the multiple HD monitors in our NFR fan headquarters at Gilley’s Saloon.” Country music artists Scott Alexander (Dec. 5-6), Reckless Kelly (Dec. 9-10) and Kevin Fowler (Dec. 11-12) are confirmed for Treasure Island, where NFR fan room packages start
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at $79 per night. The property also will once again offer free NFR shuttle bus rides to and from the Thomas & Mack Center, live autograph sessions with bull-riding contestants at Gilley’s, live satellite feeds throughout the casino area and much more. “Las Vegas is ideal for events like the NFR, since our hospitality city was literally designed to accommodate what sports fans crave the most— that is, 24-hour access to the best dining, shopping, sports betting, live entertainment and social gatherings that are so important to the overall event experience,” Voss says. Boyd Gaming, which includes The Orleans and Sam’s Town, are also longtime Wrangler NFR supporters. And they, too, offer some of the most ideal spots to experience all the roping, racing and riding action. “It’s always exciting to welcome all the rodeo fans back to Las Vegas for the biggest rodeo event of the year,”
says Jackie Ferrando, Boyd Gaming’s events director. “Las Vegas began as a cowboy town, and it’s thrilling to continue the Western lifestyle tradition and watching it all come back to life each year. “At Boyd Gaming destinations throughout the Las Vegas Valley, we’re hosting a variety of fun events and activities during Rodeo Week, including the National Finals Tonight Show and the best rodeo parties after dark, such as Rump’s Rodeo Party and the Buckin’ Bash hosted by 2018 PRCA Barrelman of the Year, Justin Rumford, at The Orleans Hotel and Casino. We’ll also have family friendly NFR viewing parties at Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, as well as The Orleans, and much more.” At the Silverton where Bass Pro Shops is located, the resort takes the Wrangler NFR to another level and it’s a staple in many fans and competitor itineraries. Once again Sil-
Photo: Tom Donoghue.
Located in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, the Treasure Island is a longtime Wrangler NFR partner that always provides a plethora of entertainment options for rodeo fans—and 2019 will be no different.
verton Casino will offer free viewing parties presented by 102.7 The Coyote for all ages, which is somewhat unique to the Silverton as compared other over over-21 spots around the city. In addition, there will be free concerts and unmatched food and drink specials, and the Silverton is partnering again with Cowboys & Indians Magazine on all of the NFR events and will be featuring the 3rd Annual Best of West Ball.
Fans, families and competitors love the nightly buckle presentations at South Point
For certain, each year brings a new and unique Wrangler NFR experience during the 10 days in which the city transforms in ways unimagined. And as long as the event continues to ride into town each December, fans can be sure that Las Vegas’ power brokers will keep pushing the limits of fun and excitement. “Las Vegas continues to reinvent itself every year, Austin Allsup at Silverton constantly offering our guests something different, whether it’s new properties opening or being renovated, new shows and entertainment, or new restaurants—you could literally come to our city every weekend and never see the same thing twice if you wanted to,” Growney says. “With plenty of airlines flying into Vegas and our mild winter weather, we continue to be a very attractive place for the Wrangler NFR. And let’s not forget that Las Vegas still offers the best guest service of any city in the world.”
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Photos: Buckle Presentation - John Plummer. Strait - Brenton Ho Photo. Allsup - John Plummer.
“The Wrangler NFR is the most significant event of the year, Strait To Vegas featuring which electrifies Las George Strait is an NFR staple Vegas with two weeks of focused entertainment,” says Silverton president Craig Cavileer. “We are fully engaged and on brand with our lux lodge resort experience.”
F R EE L I V E EN T ER TA INMEN T
R IDER A P P E A R A NCE S
DR INK SP EC I A L S
RODEO V IE W ING S
For more information, visit spursonthestrip.com
SHE’S STILL THE ONE
where she will be Dec. 6, 7, 11, 13, 14 and 18: Zappos Theatre at Planet Hollywood for her new Vegas “Let’s Go” residency.
Superstar Shania Twain will rock Vegas once again
Shania will serve as creative director for the residency, combining her three decade-long career with inspiration from her iconic videos and elements from her 2018 sold out global NOW tour. This country rebel at heart will push the boundaries in Vegas, just as she always has done, taking fans on a journey of nostalgia and blowing them away with outside-the-box concepts and visual spectacles.
BY BRIAN HURLBURT Country and Western singer/ superstar Shania Twain is no stranger to Las Vegas and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. She has attended go-rounds multiple times, including memorably in round eight in 2013 when she galloped into the arena on horseback as the opening act on Canadian Night. A little while later she was shown on the kiss cam with husband Frederic Thiebaud. Who knows if and when she will show up to the Wrangler NFR later this year, but we know
Keeping with the “Heart of the NFR” spirit, Shania, Live Nation Las Vegas and Caesars Entertainment will donate one dollar of every ticket purchased to her show to Shania Kids Can. Shania established the organization in
2010 and it provides services that promote positive change in children’s lives in time of crises and economic hardship. Shania is a five-time GRAMMY winner and the reigning Queen of Country Pop. With more than 90 million albums sold worldwide and U.S. sales topping 34.5 million, Twain remains the topselling female country artist of all time. Shania will return to Las Vegas for shows on March 14, 18, 20, 21 and 25. Tickets to “Let’s Go” start at $60 (plus applicable tax and fees). All shows begin at 8 p.m. Caesars.com.
2019 WRANGLER NFR GUIDE CONCERTS, VIEWING PARTIES, AFTER-RODEO EVENTS, SUPERSTAR TALENT AND SO MUCH MORE IS PART OF THE WRANGLER NFR. HERE’S A LOOK AT WHAT’S NEW IN 2019, INCLUDING MANY OF THE CONCERT LISTINGS AVAILABLE. FOR COMPLETE INFO, VISIT NFREXPERIENCE.COM.
and pre-show nightly at the Thomas & Mack Center – Expanded Dale Brisby presence at Cowboy Christmas – Digital ticketing – StubHub access – NFR Central Lounge at Cowboy Christmas – Expanded live stage entertainment at Cowboy Christmas – Ride Share Pickup point at Thomas & Mack Center gray lot – More nightly interactivity during NFR – More surprises
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Cowboy Christmas Rodeo Live Stage presented by RODEOHOUSTON at Las Vegas Convention Center. 9:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. RFD-TV’s Western Sports Roundup 11 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. NFR Calcutta 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Outside the Barrel with Flint Rasmussen 1:15 p.m. – 2 p.m. Daryle Singletary’s Keepin’ it Country with host Andy Griggs CONCERTS AROUND TOWN Chancey Williams December 4, South Point
southpointcasino.com
Old Dominion December 4 & 5, Hard Rock
hardrockhotel.com
Reba, Brooks & Dunn December 4, 6-8, 10-11, 13 Caesars Palace caesarspalace.com
CONTINUED ON PAGE 50
Photo: Tom Donoghue.
What’s New? State-of-the-art Pyrotechnics
ENTERTAINMENT AROUND TOWN (As of July – Complete listings NFRExperience.com)
THOMAS & MACK HAPPENINGS
Live telecasts each night are a fan highlight at the T & M
ACTIVITIES ABOUND AT THOMAS & MACK CENTER BEFORE, DURING, AFTER RODEO By Neal Reid
F
ans flocking to the Thomas & Mack Center to witness the spectacle that is the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo can maximize their fun by arriving early and staying late. And this year, fans will really want to be there early because an expanded pre-show with interactive technology is also part of Wrangler NFR 2019.
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Not only is it a great way to beat the traffic, but the NFR’s annual home offers plenty of activities and entertainment to keep rodeo faithful happy both before and after each performance of the “Super Bowl of Rodeo.” From free live music, food and drink specials and interactive booths to displays, games and immersive experiences, the Thomas &
Photo: Steve John Plummer. Spatafore.
QUITE THE PARTY
THOMAS & MACK HAPPENINGS Mack Center is a beehive of activity during all 10 go-rounds. At the ProRodeo Zone, which is located just to the southwest of the Thomas & Mack near the courtesy shuttle hub, fans can find a festive bar featuring a mechanical bull in the Coors tent, as well as adult-size yard games, vendor booths, the RAM stage with live music and a Polaris display that includes a prize wheel. At the Zone’s JCCF/Boyd Gaming booth, visitors can purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win a Polaris Ranger and access the selfie stand with the Thomas & Mack Center as a backdrop. They also can enjoy giveaways and entertainment at the ProRodeo main stage, and pick up merchandise at the only Las Vegas location that carries official ProRodeo gear. Once inside the Thomas & Mack Center, fans can make their way to the Cowboy Corral in the Cox Pavilion, which is easily accessible on the southeast side of the arena’s concourse level. Besides serving as an ideal gathering spot where fans can
visit with friends old and new while enjoying some cold beverages and hot food, the Cowboy Corral is the place to be for free concerts before and after each go-round.
INDEED, A SEEMINGLY ENDLESS ARRAY OF ACTIVITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT IN AND AROUND THE THOMAS & MACK MAKE FOR A MOST FESTIVE WESTERN ATMOSPHERE
Another must-stop is the Strip View Pavilion, which was added as part of the Thomas & Mack’s $72.5 million renovation/modernization in 2016. Affectionately known as ‘The Shoe’ during the Wrangler NFR, the area is the perfect place for fans to congregate and even watch CBS Sports Network’s nightly preview show that precedes the competition down on the arena floor.
stage outside Thomas & Mack and highlights of previous night and a preview of each night plus updated standings, key riders to watch, fantasy rodeo, etc. Aside from the nightly performances at Thomas and Mack, The Cowboy Channel will be bringing fans live coverage from Cowboy Christmas all 10 days.
The world also watches from the Thomas & Mack due to a deep partnership with RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel. No one covers Wrangler NFR better and they broadcast a 60-minute live pregame from The Cowboy Channel
Indeed, a seemingly endless array of activities and entertainment in and around the Thomas & Mack make for a most festive Western atmosphere each and every night. And it’s all designed to give fans an evening they won’t soon forget.
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Photo: Steve Spatafore.
The PRCA ProRodeo Zone offers live music, sponsor exhibits and more
Dec 5-14, 2019
JUNIOR WORLD FINALS
Championship buckles and an All Around title are on the line at the Junior World Finals at Wrangler Rodeo Arena
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Photo: Tom Donoghue.
GLIMPSING THE FUTURE
RODEO’S YOUNG GUNS WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT THE JUNIOR WORLD FINALS DURING COWBOY CHRISTMAS AT THE LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER
Timed events are some of the most exciting action at the Junior World Finals
By Brian Hurlburt
D
irt flies as competitors earn their eight seconds, high scores or fast times. Toplevel announcers call the action while a live in-arena video feed is shown. Fans pack the stands and cheer on some of rodeo’s top athletes, all of whom have descended on Las Vegas in December in the hopes of winning a buckle.
Yes, it’s the … Junior World Finals, an action-packed, 10-day rodeo competition that has served as the enjoyable midday appetizer to the nightly Wrangler National Finals Rodeo since 2016. Known as the Junior National Finals Rodeo for the past three years, rodeo’s stars of tomorrow will now be competing in the Junior World Finals presented by YETI, where the limit for the competition will be as high as a 100-point ride. Indeed, seemingly the only difference between the Junior World Finals and the Wrangler NFR is age and experience.
Photo: Tom Donoghue.
“We are growing and expanding at an unbelievable pace, and that is thanks to our producers, competitors, families, fans and sponsors. There are no limits to the future,” says Bo Gardner, vice president of corporate marketing for Las Vegas Events and general manager of the Junior World Finals. “This year, the Junior World Finals will have $500,000 in added cash for the nine events, which is on top of the $20,000$30,000 in prizes each event producer has lined up. “Last year, we had competitors from four countries and 38 states, and who knows what the future will hold. The opportunities for all involved are endless.”
WE ARE GROWING AND EXPANDING AT AN UNBELIEVABLE PACE, AND THAT IS THANKS TO OUR PRODUCERS, COMPETITORS, FAMILIES, FANS AND SPONSORS. THERE ARE ARE NO LIMITS TO THE FUTURE, SAYS BO GARDNER During the 2018 Wrangler NFR, Las Vegas Events announced the creation of the Junior World Finals presented by YETI. The rebranded competition will take place December 5-14 and once again be the focal point of Cowboy Christmas at Las Vegas Convention Center, where family and fans can expect more competitors, more incentives, more action, more drama and, well, more of everything. “We will have an all-new look at the Wrangler Rodeo Arena,” Gardner says of the venue that hosts hundreds of young cowboys and cowgirls. “It will have a new color scheme, more seating and a slightly different layout, and there will be new LED boards and a live Junior World Finals feed on the Realtree stage. Also, the Priefert VIP area will now be two levels, and our Junior World
Finals BLVD area will expand in many ways, including with an official new Junior World Finals merchandise partner, Grapevine, which is [designing] amazing logo ware for competitors and fans.” In 2018, 700 contestants competed in age-specific qualifiers and finals in eight events: bull riding, bareback riding, saddle-bronc riding, steer wrestling, girls and boys breakaway roping, team roping, tie-down roping and barrel racing. This year, the event is expected to grow to more than 750 competitors, and a ninth event has been added to the mix. “I’m excited to bring poles to Vegas and really bring it to the forefront,” says professional barrel racer Kelly Kaminski, who will organize both pole bending and barrel racing during the
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JUNIOR WORLD FINALS Junior World Finals. “It is such a good event because it has speed, finesse and horsemanship. There’s just a lot to it. A good pole run is amazing to watch. I would like to see pole bending grow, and this is a great way to start.” The roughstock events (bareback, saddle-bronc and bull riding) will be featured during the first five days of the Junior World Finals, while the timed events (barrel racing, steer wrestling, pole bending, and breakaway, tie-down and team roping) will take center stage during the final five days. With pole bending providing young female athletes with another opportunity to compete, Las Vegas Events has added an all-around title to the mix, with the top boys’ and girls’ point scorers winning a horse trailer along with a coveted Montana Silversmith’s buckle. As always, contestants in each event will compete for prize money, awards and scholarships.
“I feel really strongly about keeping every aspect of these kids’ Junior World Finals experience first class, from bringing in the best possible cattle to suit their stage of development to making the competition as fair as possible to raising the stakes on a new record payoff every year. Records were made to be broken, and that goes double when it comes to [rodeo winnings]—at every age. I’m proud to partner with the same crew in Las Vegas that produces the National Finals Rodeo, because they share my competitive attitude about constant improvement across the board.” Whether its steer wrestling or any of the other eight Junior World Finals events, fans can expect nonstop action filled with edge-of-the-seat excitement as young athletes try to take advantage of an opportunity of a lifetime—and
perhaps begin establishing a legacy that might someday lead to them competing in the Wrangler NFR. “Three of our cowboys won more than $10,000 at last year’s Junior World Finals, so they have a lot of incentive to work hard,” Berry says. “That kind of money can help a young cowboy do everything from go to college to upgrade his horse herd. “Meanwhile, families get to experience something similar to what the families of the big boys experience down the road at the Thomas & Mack Center. Similarly, rodeo fans get to see the future of our sport duke it out by day, and the best of the best battle it out by night.” For more information about the Junior World Finals, visit NFRExperience.com.
“Junior rodeo in Las Vegas continues to grow and evolve,” says Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events. “The Junior World Finals is an opportunity for Las Vegas Events to take the competition to another level.”
“Our goal is always to continue raising the bar on the opportunities available to young steers wrestlers,” says Berry, who organizes the Junior World Finals’ steer wrestling event and runs the Ote Berry Junior Steer Wrestling World Championship Tour. “The chance to compete on as big of a stage as the Junior World Finals in Las Vegas is something I wish I could have done when I was these young guns’ age. It will do nothing but make them tougher competitors in their careers.
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NFR legends like Ote Berry oversee Junior World Finals events
Photo: Tom Donohue.
From the perspective of legendary Wrangler NFR steer wrestler Ote Berry, it’s all about doing right by the kids.
ANNOUNCERS
INEXPERIENCE NARROWS THE SCOPE, BUT EXPERIENCE WIDENS THE GAZE AND THE TOP RODEO ANNOUNCERS HAVE A WIDE GAZE. — RON MACLEAN. The Wrangler NFR announcers – Randy Corley, Wayne Brooks and Roger Mooney – have nearly 100 years of combined experience and have called the action at nearly 30 NFRs during their illustrious careers.
RANDY CORLEY, WAYNE BROOKS AND ROGER MOONEY HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR TO SERVE AS ANNOUNCERS FOR THE WRANGLER NFR. BUT IT IS THE EVENT THAT IS THE MAJOR BENEFACTOR By Neal Reid
T
alent, professionalism and expertise are paramount to success, and the gifted trifecta of rodeo announcers selected to fill the Thomas & Mack Center with their booming voices is nothing short of impressive. They make the event “go,” blending run after run and ride after ride together in a seamless symphony.
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“I would put our trio of announcers up against any broadcast team in sports,” says Las Vegas Events President Pat Christenson. “They can tell stories like Costas and have the energy of Vitale, but the difference is, they don’t have a production team feeding them the answers to the test. They spend an entire rodeo season on the road at different rodeos absorbing the stories that culminate at the NFR. “
Months spent working dozens of other rodeos, taking notes on contestants and stock, and following storylines as they develop is crucial preparation for when the rodeo’s action hits its lightning-fast pace. “It is often overlooked the amount of effort, work and attention to detail it takes to do it correctly,” says Polhamus. “There’s long hours of research and many hours of rehearsing, and it should look easy if we’re doing it well, but it is not easy. It’s tough to keep up with the speed of the rodeo, it’s tough to do justice to every contestant you’re tasked to speak about, and you’ve got to be prepared. You’ve got to say what needs to be said at the moment it needs to happen.” Being selected to work the Wrangler NFR is a distinct, treasured honor that all announcers pine for. Stepping up to the microphone with a sellout crowd in that iconic yellowand-blue arena is just, well, a different experience.
Illustration: Chris Jones.
A CALL LIKE NO OTHER
“They’re clearly the upper echelon of our industry,” says Wrangler NFR General Manager and 26-time Wrangler NFR announcer Boyd Polhaumus. “You’ve got to be a little bit blessed and have some talent you can’t go buy at Walmart. You have to have the ability to communicate in a way that reaches the fan. Talent that isn’t honed is wasted, and those three guys have honed their talents in a way where they’re able to communicate the message in a very effective and entertaining way.”
F R EE L I V E EN T ER TA INMEN T
R IDER A P P E A R A NCE S
DR INK SP E CI A L S
RODEO V IE W ING S
For more information, visit spursonthestrip.com
ANNOUNCERS
One thing is for certain: Whether they’re calling the action at the Thomas & Mack Center for the first time or the 18th, the experience never gets old. “There is absolutely no other rodeo like it,” says Corley, who announced the Wrangler NFR for the 18th time in 2018. “It’s a rush to get to watch world-title battles unfold over 10 days.” Last year, Mooney of Ellijay, Georgia, got the chance to announce the rodeo from start to finish for the first time after serving as an alternate in 2000 and 2004. “It’s the greatest rodeo on the planet, and there’s a reason why,” says Mooney, who has been a professional rodeo announcer for more than 30 years. “It’s a labor of love, and a person really has to bear down, because when it’s the Super Bowl, all eyes are on you,
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and it’s the cream of the crop. When the lights come on in Las Vegas, everybody needs to shine.” As fun, exciting and prestigious as it is to work behind the mic at the NFR, make no mistake, it’s also an extremely challenging job that brings with it a lot of responsibility. “It’s the hardest rodeo you’ll ever work,” says Corley, a 2017 ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee and 12-time PRCA Announcer of the Year. “And it’s not just the 10 days, because you go in there on Sunday the week before, and your meetings start the next morning. It’s a survival course in announcing, and I think sometimes just walking out of there surviving makes you a winner.” The talent and expertise needed to announce the epic Vegas rodeo isn’t lost on seasoned announcers from other sports who also honeymoon as rodeo fans and admirers. “To most of us, a rodeo is an eightsecond hurricane gale, but the rodeo announcer has to stay calm in the
storm, so to speak, and observe not only the rider but the animal and only experience, which gives way to instinct, makes that possible” says Ron McLean, longtime voice of Hockey Night in Canada and also host of the Canadian Broadcasting Company coverage of the Calgary Stampede, a Canadian rodeo and Western lifestyle tradition. “Inexperience narrows the scope, but experience widens the gaze and the top rodeo announcers have a wide gaze. For some reason, to me, the risk of figure skating and rodeo are similar … one is a ballet on ice wearing knives and I think rodeo is a ballet on dirt while performing death-defying acts. There is a saying in skating that works for rodeo and announcing, ‘trust is when you give up what you know for what you feel.’ And to be at the top of the game, a rodeo announcer has to rely on years of experience and hundreds and hundreds of rodeos to make those split-second calls that become the stuff of legend. They just have a sense and a feel that can’t be taught, only earned.”
Photos: James Phifer.
“When you go to Las Vegas, you just turn the heat up on the gas a little bit more because those are the most veteran fans in the world,” says Brooks, a five-time PRCA Announcer of the Year who has been selected to announce the prestigious rodeo eight times. “You work hard to make sure that event comes off without a hitch and is exciting and fun, and you just take it to another level. Feeling the intensity that is brought on by, ‘Wow, this is it! We’re really here,’ is felt across the board.”
IT’S THE GREATEST RODEO ON THE PLANET, AND THERE’S A REASON WHY,” SAYS ROGER MOONEY. “IT’S A LABOR OF LOVE, AND A PERSON REALLY HAS TO BEAR DOWN, BECAUSE WHEN IT’S THE SUPER BOWL, ALL EYES ARE ON YOU, AND IT’S THE CREAM OF THE CROP. WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON IN LAS VEGAS, EVERYBODY NEEDS TO SHINE.
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BEST EVER?
BEST EVER?
I
n 2018 the Wrangler NFR was loaded with memorable moments from front to back—so memorable that it just might go down as the greatest NFR in history. And while some of the sport’s most influential experts landed on both sides of the “best-of-all-time” argu-
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ment, there definitely is one consensus opinion: If the 2018 NFR wasn’t the best ever, it was darn close. It can be pretty safely argued that nobody has more history with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo than Shawn Davis. The native of Butte,
Montana, was a 12-time Wrangler NFR qualifier and three-time world champion who, after his saddle bronc-riding days, went on to serve as a judge for the rodeo, then was president of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. And that was all before 1985, when the Wrangler NFR made the momentous move from Oklahoma City to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Soon after, Davis became the NFR’s general manager, a position he held through 2018 before moving on to more of a consulting role.
Photo: Tom Donoghue.
RODEO EXPERTS CONCUR THAT THE 2018 WRANGLER NFR WAS AMONG THE MOST MEMORABLE OF ALL TIME By Patrick Everson
gold buckle not only in the all-around, but in both tie-down and team roping as well. Add in steer roping, which isn’t contested at the NFR but does crown a world champion each season, and Brazile had a triple-crown season in 2007, too, claiming titles in all-around, tie-down roping and steer roping.
Trevor Brazile earning a “ride-off” All Around title was one reason why Shawn Davis believes 2018 might have been the best NFR ever
Those two years are about as good as any cowboy could ever hope to have, which makes it difficult for Brazile to say 2018 was his best or most memorable. But it’s certainly right there in the conversation, if for no other reason than he went out on top, with season earnings of $335,680. “For me personally, my triple-crown years kind of trump most other accomplishments. But there’s only one first time and one last time,” Brazile says. “The finality of the whole 10 days, it just made it completely different. There are no do-overs.”
THE MORE TIMES YOU GO TO VEGAS, THE BETTER YOU GET AT VEGASING!
“When you’re in my position, you look at it in several different ways,” Davis says. “For the last 30-something years, I’ve always been concerned with improving [the NFR] from a fan and spectator standpoint. This past year, in my opinion, taking everything into consideration, I think it was the best rodeo we’d ever done.” Of course, Davis is looking at it from an organizational standpoint. But some of the world’s top cowboys and cowgirls certainly didn’t dispute Davis’ assessment.
...
Speaking of best of all time, when the topic of greatest cowboy in history come up, Trevor Brazile’s name will forever be one of the first mentioned. And the 2018 NFR marked the storybook end of a spectacular career. Brazile started the week by announcing that 2018 would be his final season of full-time competitive rodeo, then ended the week by nabbing his 14th all-around world championship, giving him 24 world titles overall. Just how dominant was Brazile’s run? In 2010, he rode his Wrangler NFR efforts to a triple crown, winning the
In the 10th and final go-round of his 18th NFR appearance, Brazile was fighting to hold off his brother-inlaw, Tuf Cooper, for the all-around crown. Brazile needed no worse than a 7.4-second effort in tie-down roping to clinch the title. He unleashed a 7.2second clocking to win the go-round and cement his legacy. “My first title and my last title came down to my last go-rounds,” Brazile says, alluding to the first of his 24 gold buckles, the 2002 all-around title. “This last one is so special. I looked around a lot more, slowed down and took it all in. I didn’t want to forget anything about it, so I made a conscious effort to not just go through the motions. “I couldn’t have written it any better. Coming down to my last round,
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BEST EVER?
The Grand Entry is always a highlight, and in 2018 it was the signal each night that epic moments were on the way
More than just being a rodeo champion for the ages, Brazile is also a big rodeo fan. So in his last NFR, he was certainly keeping an eye out for other memorable moments. And in a lateMay phone conversation, he reeled off a few as if they’d just happened. “Tim O’Connell literally laying it on the line in the 10th round,” Brazile says of the bareback rider who snared his third straight world title while tearing his labrum and rotator cuff on his final-round ride. “He completely destroyed his shoulder. He was doing whatever it took to win a world championship. And he’s still rehabbing that shoulder. I don’t think fans who attended the 10th round realized what he did to get that win. I saw him afterward in a lot of pain, mixed with a lot of excitement.” Brazile also recounted Caleb Smidt’s emotional run to the tie-down roping gold buckle. Smidt lost his father to cancer early in 2018. Then a month before the NFR, his wife’s brother, Will
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Byler, married Bailee Ackerman, but the couple tragically died in a helicopter accident following the wedding. Just a week after that, Smidt and wife Brenna welcomed the birth of their second child, daughter Myla. Sage Kimzey becoming the first to win five straight bull-riding world titles also got Brazile’s attention—”It’s a lot of fun for me to watch,” he says, “just because the history is so rich”— as did Wade Sundell finally capturing his first championship in his eighth NFR appearance. “That was just long overdue,” Brazile says of Sundell’s gold buckle in saddlebronc riding. “Myself and a lot of other rodeo fans wanted him to break through. He’s done so much in rodeo.”
...
While Brazile is riding off into the sunset, Hailey Kinsel’s gallop is just beginning. The 24-year-old barrel racer from Cotulla, Texas, is still in the early stages of what has already been a remarkable career. She’s stacked up nearly $500,000 since joining the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association in 2015, with most of that coming in the last two seasons.
In 2017, she nearly captured her first gold buckle in her first NFR appearance, entering the 10-day rodeo seventh in the world standings and almost climbing to the top. Although she settled for second place, she won four go-rounds—including one in an arena-record 13.11 seconds—and finished in the money in four others, pocketing $189,385 over that week and a half. Kinsel had to wait just one year to make the final step to world champion—and it turned out to be an emphatic final step. Thanks to her $158,000 in NFR earnings, she finished 2018 atop the barrel-racing world standings with a whopping $350,700 in season earnings—nearly $100,000 more than second-place finisher Jessica Routier. “It was my second year in the NFR, so I got to test out all the theories I worked on the first year,” Kinsel says. “The more times you go to Vegas, the better you get at Vegasing! I’m sure that’s not a word, but the more times I can get back to Vegas, the more I’ll know better what to expect, how to focus on my job and enjoy it.”
Photo: Steve Spatafore.
knowing I had to be faster than 7.4, to be able to get that done when I needed to, at this point in my career, that was really fulfilling.”
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BEST EVER? After an incredible two-year run, it’s hard to believe she has much more to learn about handling the NFR. But the introspective Kinsel understands that in the sport of rodeo, humility is never further away than your next ride. “I’ve only been to two NFRs, and I know those 10 days can go either way,” she says. “God’s been good to me.” Like Brazile, Kinsel recognizes that the 2018 Wrangler NFR had an abundance of memorable moments in every event. But she pointed to three of her barrel-racing peers who had great showings, too: Routier, Carman Pozzobon and Jessie Telford. Not only were Pozzobon, Routier and Telford first-time NFR qualifiers, but the trio rode horses that also hadn’t been under the bright lights of the Thomas & Mack. Yet they finished 1-2-3, respectively, in the NFR average, meaning they were the most consistent barrel racers over the entire 10-day competition. “The NFR average is a tough title to win. It’s hard to make 10 good runs, or even nine,” Kinsel says. “You expect a veteran horse and rider to do the best. But last year, the top three in the average were first-time qualifiers on first-time horses. They showed up and dominated the rodeo together. That’s pretty dang impressive.”
...
“With Trevor, he just got so good that you almost expected him to win,” Davis says. “But there was some great action every night. It was just a tremendous sequence of great happenings, intermingling with that crowd participation. “A lot of great things happened—things that people had never seen before. Things where people left the building thinking, ‘That’s the best I’ve ever seen.’” Davis, perhaps more than anyone else in the history of rodeo, would know.
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Worthy champions collected their buckles and saddles (top), Tim O’Connell laid it on the line to win his third-straight world title (middle) and Hailey Kinsel took home $158,000 in Vegas (bottom)
Photos: Kinsel, O’Connell - Tom Donohue. Champions - Steve Spatafore.
Whether the 2018 Wrangler NFR was the best or simply one of the best ever, Davis certainly couldn’t have picked a better year to wrap up his three-plus decades as general manager. While he was reluctant to pinpoint one moment that made 2018 the best he’s ever seen, he couldn’t help but tip his Resistol to the king of the cowboys.
HEART OF THE NFR World champs Tyler Pearson and Tim O’Connell thrill kids at Grant a Gift Autism event
“We are an industry of givers who give their life and time to make rodeo happen,” Tallman says. Dec. 7: Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Silent Auction (at Cowboy Christmas). Free to watch and bid on items Missrodeoamerica.com
INSPIRING EVENTS AND WORTHY CAUSES ARE PART OF THE WRANGLER NFR TRADITION
T
ears flow and lives are positively impacted. Here’s a guide to the Heart of the NFR public and private events.
PUBLIC
Dec. 2: Wrangler Gold Buckle Gala (at South Point) stadken@prorodeo.com or 719.528.4732. The 12th annual Wrangler Gold Buckle Gala takes center stage yet again in 2019, honoring some of the very best individuals who have competed or
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been involved with professional rodeo. The honorees are true icons both in and out of the arena, having secured their place in history as Legends of ProRodeo thanks to lengthy résumés of significant achievements. Many of those achievements will be recognized during the event, along with stories from their legendary lives. Dec. 7: Bob Tallman Charity Bowling Tournament (at Gold Coast Bowling Center) panderson@lvms.com, 702-632-8242 Always a highlight of Rodeo Week in Las Vegas, the Bob Tallman charity bowling tournament has featured such past participants as ProRodeo Hall of Famers Clint Corey, Gary Leffew, Don Gay, Clint Corey, Ote Berry and Byron Walker. Hosted by Tallman, who is a Hall of Famer himself, the annual tournament has raised more than $175,000 for Speedway Children’s Charities and the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund.
Not only do the winning bidders get to take home prizes that are both meaningful and valuable, but their contributions go to an extremely worthy cause. “The Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation helps the next generation of veterinarians, doctors, attorneys, farmers, business owners, etc.,” says Karie O’Donnell-Herbers, the foundation’s president. “The young ladies who represent their home states and compete for Miss Rodeo America are some of the most intelligent, capable and driven people you’ll ever meet. They have a passion for the sport of rodeo, agriculture and our Western heritage. “By providing them with scholarship opportunities and/or paying off their student loans, the Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation is giving them a leg up on their futures. The Foundation’s silent auction held at Cowboy Christmas during the Wrangler NFR is one of our most important fundraisers of the season.” Dec. 9: Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night ToughEnoughToWearPink.com Created in 2004 by Terry Wheatley and Karl Stressman, the Tough
Photo: Tom Donoghue.
GIVING BACK FROM THE SADDLE
Each year, all the contestants for Miss Rodeo America put together a special goodie bag to be auctioned off during the Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Silent Auction. Because each bag contains items from the contestants’ home states—including sponsor products, clothing, gift certificates, tickets to sporting events, and even hunting trips and vacation getaways—no two bags are alike.
Let ’s Go!
T H E L AS V E GAS R E S I D E N CY OPENING DECEMBER 2019
HEART OF THE NFR Enough to Wear Pink cause has raised a staggering $28 million for breast cancer research.
Dec. 12: 32nd Annual Pro Rodeo League of Women Style Show & Luncheon (at South Point Hotel Casino and Spa) ProRodeoLeagueofWomen.com This special annual event is hosted by South Point hotel owners Michael and Paula Gaughan, and organized by the Pro Rodeo League of Women. More than $1.9 million has been raised to benefit the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund. Dec. 12-13: World of Rodeo Reunion (at The Orleans Hotel-Casino) 406.223.6503 The World of Rodeo Reunion is the “reunion of all reunions” and brings together dozens of rodeo legends for an annual celebration that has attracted more than 4,000 attendees over the years. This year, organizers are adding the statement, “We are the West!” That entails expanding our reunion to include horsemen, cattlemen, western artists, museums, musicians, all horse disciplines and much more. You won’t find another gathering of the sport of rodeo and western heritage with as many big names from the world of country music, movie actors, rodeo cowboys and cowgirls all interacting with rodeo fans. “It’s all about visiting, friendship and having a good time with folks we haven’t seen for years,” says event organizer Larry Jordan.
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Nick Guy helps riders at the Exceptional Rodeo, an annual highlight
WE ARE AN INDUSTRY OF GIVERS WHO GIVE THEIR LIFE AND TIME TO MAKE RODEO HAPPEN. — BOB TALLMAN SAYS. Nightly: UNLV Rodeo Raff le (at the Thomas & Mack Center) Info: Annual Wrangler NFR ticket raff le UNLVRodeo.com The UNLV rodeo team, which has produced a world champion barrel racer (Nellie Miller) and bull rider (Justin McBride), mans a booth at the Thomas & Mack Center during all 10 nights of the NFR. Fans are encouraged to stop by, say hello and purchase raff le tickets for the opportunity to win a pair of seats for each of the 10 NFR performances.
changing,” world champion steer wrestler Tyler Pearson says about his 2018 experience with Grant a Gift. “I’d turn out for 10 rounds of this anytime to help the kids, because it will stay with them forever.”
PRIVATE
Golden Circle of Champions Launched in 2016 in conjunction with the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo, the Golden Circle of Champions raises awareness and funds to assist local children and their families battling life-threatening cancer. Last year, a new twist was added when a network of rodeos banded together to send select patients stricken with cancer and their families to Las Vegas to attend the Wrangler NFR, where they were treated to a true VIP experience. This year, a new group of honorees will receive the same VIP treatment.
“The 10 rounds of the NFR will be gone just like that, but this is life-
Exceptional Rodeo The Exceptional Rodeo returns to the Wrangler NFR for the 37th consecutive year, once again giving special-needs children the chance to experience roping, bulldogging, barrel racing, and bull and horse riding, all while interacting with Wrangler NFR cowboys, Miss Rodeo America contestants and other notable rodeo personnel.
TBD: George Strait Tough Enough to Wear Pink Wrangler Golf Tournament (at Ref lection Bay Golf Club)Ref lection Bay Grant a Gift Autism The annual Grant-A-Gift Autism event leaves such a lasting and significant impact that the Wrangler NFR champions who visit with the children affected by Autism are as deeply affected by the encounters as the children themselves—maybe even more so.
Photo: Steve Spatafore.
“When we started the campaign in 2004, we were overwhelmed by the support from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, as well as businesses, rodeo athletes, rodeo committees and Western communities across the country,” says Wheatley, a breast cancer survivor and matriarch of a rodeo family. “What seemed like an impossible dream to raise $50 million by our 20th Anniversary in 2024 is well on the way to becoming a reality.”
EVENTS AROUND VEGAS Bullfighters Only is raw and exciting, and a mean match up between man and bull
NOT THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN LAS VEGAS HOSTS A TRIO OF WESTERN-THEMED COMPETITIONS THAT PERFECTLY COMPLEMENT WRANGLER NFR By Neal Reid
W
hen the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo comes to Las Vegas each December, the Entertainment Capital of the World is transformed into a true “Cowboy Town.”
Chief among the ancillary competitions is the Ariat World Series of Team Roping, which has hosted its finale at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa’s Equestrian Center each of the last 13 years. The massive event features approximately 4,000 contestants competing in four arenas for a chance at winning six figures.
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Photo: Bullfighters Only - Todd Brewer.
And it’s not just the world’s richest rodeo that brings hundreds of thousands of fans to the burgeoning sports mecca in the Nevada desert—after all, only 18,000 fans are fortunate enough to see the Wrangler NFR live each night at the Thomas & Mack Center. Luckily, there are multiple opportunities for fans who live and breathe the Western lifestyle to see impressive athletes square off for cash and prizes at arenas all over town during Rodeo Week.
EVENTS AROUND VEGAS How lucrative is the World Series of Team Roping? Last year, it paid out $13 million in prize money, making it the second-richest equine event in the world after The Breeders’ Cup, with all seven divisions boasting added money in excess of $1 million. Bob Freeman and 2009 World Champion Header Nick Sartain were the big winners in 2018, pocketing $282,000 apiece for their exploits.
The World Series of Team Roping features thousands of competitors and more than $13 million in prize money
The World Series of Team Roping, which will take place December 7-15 this year, continues to enjoy a positive growth trajectory. “It’s been going up about $1 million every year for the last five to six years,” says Denny Gentry, president of the World Series of Team Roping. “We’ve been ecstatic about the growth, and we’ve never had a hiccup the whole time we’ve been [in Las Vegas]. We’ve maxed out hotel rooms and parking lots, and I just don’t know how we can do more than we’ve done.”
“We take a joint approach with the PRCA [Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association] and Las Vegas Events and say, ‘Hey, we’re going to do $23 million in 10 days, and that’s a hell of a boost to the cowboy world,’” Gentry says. Another competition that has experienced tremendous growth in recent years is the ALL IN Barrel Race presented by Stetson, which takes place at The Orleans Arena. The event, which will stage a trio of three-day races from Dec. 5-15, is now in its fourth year and is also riding a wave of success. The barrel races paid out more than $700,000 last year, and event organizers expect as many as 1,500 barrel racers to enter this December. Using a five-division format, the ALL IN
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THERE ARE MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FANS WHO LIVE AND BREATHE THE WESTERN LIFESTYLE TO SEE IMPRESSIVE ATHLETES ALL OVER TOWN DURING RODEO WEEK Barrel Race allows talented cowgirls from around the country to square off against high-caliber competition for a chance at five-figure paydays. Last year’s big winners were Lynette Clyde, Cindy Woods and former Wrangler NFR qualifier Sydni Blanchard, who each won $15,000 after winning titles in the top division. With big payouts assured across all divisions in 2019, the competition should be stiff once again. “What’s unique about this race is that even the 5D pays $11,000 for first place,” says event producer Chris Woodruff. “The 5D format allows
the girl who only competes once a week or once a month the chance to compete and still win money. The [former] NFR competitors can come as well, and the payouts are good.” The barrel race is accompanied by separate $25,000 added futurity and youth championship events, and this year’s schedule also will include a qualifier for next year’s prestigious The American rodeo on December 15. Not only that, but organizers are adding the ALL IN Breakaway Roping competition during the second stage of races from December 9-11. Besides serving as a qualifier for The American, the event will
Photo: World Series of Team Roping.
Because of its success, the World Series of Team Roping—which operates with a staff of 125—has proven to be an ideal complement to the Wrangler NFR in providing opportunities for contestants, as well as great entertainment options for fans of rodeo and roping.
EVENTS AROUND VEGAS feature 300 females competing for $100,000 in prize money. With free admission each day, the ALL IN Barrel Race is a must-see for rodeo fans before they head to the Thomas & Mack Center or a Wrangler NFR viewing party. Growth also is the buzzword for another annual event, only this one pits man against beast in the arena: Bullfighters Only. Affectionately known as the BFO, the competition featuring talented bullfighters against ornery Spanish fighting bulls has gotten more and more popular since it debuted in Las Vegas in December 2016. This year’s Bullfighters Only Las Vegas Championship is scheduled for December 5-14 and once again will conclude a nationwide 60-event season
with a preliminary $25,000 event, plus a $50,000 winner-take-all world championship finale. This year, every competitor will be chasing Weston Rutkowski of Haskell, Texas, who will be gunning for his fourth consecutive title at Tropicana Las Vegas.
quality of the competition has gone up drastically as well. It’s definitely our pinnacle event, and we’re pretty proud of it.”
The BFO Las Vegas Championship has been such a success that organizers increased the arena’s seating capacity to 1,200 last year. That capacity is slated to increase by another 25 percent in 2019.
Each BFO performance begins at 2 p.m. daily and is preceded by a tailgate party and followed by an NFR viewing party inside the Tropicana, presented by Pendleton Whisky. Another hot ticket has been the Hooey Jam parties that event organizers host each Friday of the NFR at Brooklyn Bowl.
“The event has been growing exponentially, and we’ve been trying to advance it and keep it at a level that keeps our fans excited and coming back every year,” says Aaron Ferguson, founder and owner of Bullfighters Only. “We learn so much every year that we do this, and the
Indeed, entertainment is the name of the game with this trio of Western events that perfectly complement the Wrangler NFR every December. And just like the Super Bowl of Rodeo, there’s little doubt that each of these secondary competitions will deliver in a big way once again in 2019.
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Photo: ALL IN Barrel Race.
The ALL IN Barrel Race at The Orleans Arena is fast-paced action with talented riders and horses
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chute opens the following year, a lot of interesting stuff transpires behind the seasons—much of it away from the eyes of fans. So one of the purposes of the new podcast is to shed a spotlight on those quieter moments. For instance, during the June 26 NFR Extra episode, Brazile, a 24-time NFR gold buckle winner, shared an inside peek into how he and Tuf Cooper—his brother-in-law and fellow NFR champion—stay sharp, explaining how everyday practice sessions at the family pen are so intense, it’s almost like a competitive professional rodeo.
I
f you’re like most rodeo fans, you can’t get enough information about the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and its competitors. To help quench that insatiable thirst, Las Vegas Events—which helps organize and promote the NFR—recently launched a new podcast dubbed NFR Extra. The bi-monthly production is hosted by Las Vegas Events executives Bo Gardner and Nevada Colwell, who have already lassoed some huge names in rodeo, including icons Bob Tallman, Trevor Brazile and Boyd Polhamus. “The motivation for NFR Extra is to tell the stories leading up to the Wrangler NFR,” Gardner says. “Nevada and I love the conversations and getting to hear so
PHASE 2
PODCAST
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many never-before-heard tales from all these legends of the sport. Each episode truly is uniquely memorable.” It might seem like the Wrangler NFR is just an event that’s contained to 10 days each December, but it’s actually a year-round business for sponsors, organizers, and competitors. Not only that, but from the moment the final gold buckle is awarded until the first
Hot off a stellar phase I with 10 episodes, phase II begins in August. | 2019
It’s that type of personal information that Gardner and Colwell hope longtime fans will find enlightening, while also generating interest in a new generation of casual rodeo fans. “Our goal with the podcast is to keep the NFR relevant all year long,” Gardner says. “Rodeo has many celebrities, but only a few are household names. NFR Extra provides an opportunity to hear a story or learn something new about the journey of getting to the Wrangler NFR—and who knows, hopefully maybe we make a new fan or two.” Listen to NFR Extra at NFRextra.vegas.
GUESTS TO INCLUDE
Stock Contractors Entertainers Cowboys and Barrel Racers Junior World Finals Contestants and Producers
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
On the Road Contract Acts Judges Announcers
Photo: Las Vegas Events.
THE NFR EXTRA PODCAST REVEALS BEHIND-THE-SCENES DETAILS ABOUT THE LIVES AND CAREERS OF RODEO LEGENDS By Brian Hurlburt
“That’s the coolest thing about our family dynamic is that we could have easily taken it for granted, but we didn’t,” Brazile said. “We were able to make sure we were practicing with each other—basically iron-sharpening all of us. It gives us a competitive edge even when we aren’t out competing in official events. There’s no substitute for competition, but we have created the same competitive environment without ever leaving home, because we work and practice together. We have made each other sharper and better, because there are no days off around here.”
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FREE NIGHTLY SHUTTLE SERVICE TO AND FROM THE THOMAS & MACK A DAILY RESORT FEE, SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE TAX, WILL BE ADDED TO ROOM RESERVATIONS. OFFER VALID THROUGH DECEMBER 14, 2019. TRAVEL DECEMBER 5 – DECEMBER 16, 2019. MINIMUM TWO NIGHT STAY REQUIRED. FREE DAILY BUFFET FOR BREAKFAST ONLY. TWO BREAKFAST BUFFETS INCLUSIVE OF ROOM OFFER PER DAY. ROOMS ARE BASED ON AVAILABILITY. OFFER IS NOT VALID IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY OTHER PROMOTION OR OFFERS. NOT VALID ON EXISTING OR GROUP RESERVATIONS. HOTEL RATES ARE NON-COMMISSIONABLE. CREDIT CARD REQUIRED UPON BOOKING AND AT CHECK-IN. MUST BE 21 OR OLDER TO BOOK A ROOM, GAMBLE OR BE ON THE CASINO FLOOR. MANAGEMENT RESERVES ALL RIGHTS. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-522-4700.
FAN SPOTLIGHT
The Harmon (left) and Walker families love the Wrangler NFR
HARMON, WALKER FAMILIES CONTINUE NFR TRADITIONS
W
THE HARMONS alking into the Thomas & Mack Center for the first time in 1985 following the move of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo from Oklahoma City to Las Vegas was an indelible life moment for Lois Harmon. “It’s like it was yesterday, and I will never forget it,” says Harmon, who has attended every NFR in Las Vegas and many more when it was previously held in Oklahoma City. “The environment at the Thomas & Mack Center was amazing. Then they added the lasers on the dirt. It has just been magical. It immediately felt ‘big-time,’ and I have so many wonderful memories.” Attending the NFR has long been a Harmon family tradition, originally made possible by Lois’ late husband, Floyd “Flip” Harmon, who served for many years as the chairperson of the Days of ’47 Rodeo in the Salt Lake Valley in Utah. Flip, who died in 1997, was named Committee Person of the Year by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1986, then was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.
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By Neal Reid
The entire Harmon family—including Lois, her grown children Shelly, Brad, Julie and Connie, and their families— have continued to attend portions of the Wrangler NFR each year. While making the trip to Las Vegas without Flip has been difficult, coming together to celebrate an event Flip loved so much is an important family tradition that endures. “Las Vegas in December has always been special for the Harmons, and Flip was there for each night, each year,” Lois says. “He was an insider who knew everyone. The Wrangler NFR is always so fun, like a family reunion. And the dirt in Las Vegas always smells so good—if you’re a true rodeo person, you’ll know what I mean.”
F
THE WALKERS or most Wrangler NFR fans and longtime ticket-holders, there’s a personal connection to the entire experience. That’s certainly the case for Glenn and Barbara Walker, who make the annual trek to Las Vegas each December, carrying on a tradition started by Glenn’s parents, Ray and Joyce Walker.
Ray Walker was a Kansas rancher who began attending the Wrangler NFR in Oklahoma City, and followed the event to Las Vegas until his death in 2008. Glenn grew up on his father’s ranch, and after retiring as a school teacher and principal in the Kansas City area, he’s returned to operate the GL Ranch with Barbara. The Walkers say they love the excitement of being among the 17,000+ fans who pack the Thomas & Mack Center each night. They also enjoy Cowboy Christmas and the World Series of Team Roping at the South Point, as well as other Western festivities. Attending with the Walkers each year are Joyce’s sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Ward Cooper. Recently, the quartet’s annual visits to Las Vegas have included some extra special thrills and chills, courtesy of one of Glenn’s former students. “Three-time world champion bareback rider Will Lowe was a student at Spring Hill High when I was principal, and I used to record the NFR for him because he didn’t have a way to watch it back then,” Glenn recalls. “I remember telling him how we always went to the Wrangler NFR and that I expected to see him there one day. It’s been amazing watching his success, and we usually spend some time with him in Las Vegas. I sometimes even call him after the 10 days are over to rehash everything.”
Photos: Courtesy Harmon, Walker families.
FANS AND FAMILY
ENTERTAINMENT
DECEMBER 5
Terri Clark
DECEMBER 9
Ronnie Milsap
DECEMBER 6
Tanya Tucker
DECEMBER 10
Tracy Lawrence
866.946.5336
DECEMBER 7
John michael montgomery
DECEMBER 11
Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan
@GOLDENNUGGETLV
DECEMBER 8
The charlie daniels band
DECEMBER 12
Ray Wylie Hubbard
DECEMBER 13
jamey johnson
GOLDENNUGGET.COM
WHAT’S NEW CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16
Terri Clark December 5, Golden Nugget
Chris Heers December 7, Silverton
Ned LeDoux December 5 & 6, Silverton
John Michael Montgomery December 7, Golden Nugget
silvertoncasino.com
Scotty Alexander December 5 & 6, Gilley’s
treasureisland.com
Aaron Watson December 5 – 8, South Point
southpointcasino.com
Shania Twain December 6, 7, 11, 13 & 14 Planet Hollywood – Zappos Theater caesars.com/planethollywood
Bill Engvall December 6, Gilley’s
treasureisland.com
Tanya Tucker December 6, Golden Nugget
goldennugget.com
Gary Allan December 6 & 7, Hard Rock
hardrockhotel.com
George Strait December 6 & 7, T-Mobile Arena
t-mobilearena.com
silvertoncasino.com
goldennugget.com
Chancey Williams and the Younger Brothers Band December 7 & 8, Gilley’s treasureisland.com
Holly Tucker & Chris Heers December 8, Silverton
Reba, Brooks & Dunn (top), Charlie Daniels
silvertoncasino.com
Charlie Daniels December 8, Golden Nugget
goldennugget.com
Ronnie Milsap December 9, Golden Nugget
goldennugget.com
Holly Tucker and Chase & The Pursuit for Monday December 9, Silverton silvertoncasino.com
Reckless Kelly December 9 & 10, Gilley’s treasureisland.com
Josh Ward December 9 – 11, South Point
Tracy Lawrence December 10, Golden Nugget
Cody Johnson December 12, Hard Rock
Chad Prather December 13, Gilley’s
Pam Tillis & Lorrie Morgan December 11, Golden Nugget
Ray Wylie Hubbard December 12, Golden Nugget
Jamey Johnson December 13, Golden Nugget
Randall King December 12 – 14, South Point
Rob Staley Band December 13 & 14, Gilley’s
Randy Brown December 13, Silverton
Voodoo Cowboys December 14, Silverton
goldennugget.com
goldennugget.com
Kevin Fowler Ron White December 6 & 7, 13 & 14, southpointcasino.com December 11 & 12, Gilley’s The Mirage treasureisland.com Mirage.com Lainey Wilson December 10 & 11, Randy Brown & Andrea Bocelli Silverton Roger Creager December 7, silvertoncasino.com December 12, MGM Grand Garden Silverton Arena silvertoncasino.com
mgmgrand.com
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hardrockhotel.com
goldennugget.com
southpointcasino.com
silvertoncasino.com
treasureisland.com
goldennugget.com
treasureisland.com
silvertoncasino.com
Photos: Brook & Dunn - Tom Donoghue. Charlie Daniels courtesy of Golden Nugget.
goldennugget.com
ROUND UP SOME FUN!
RELAX
EXPERIENCE
DINE
FREE VIEWING PARTY. FREE PARKING. FREE ENTERTAINMENT. EVERY DARN DAY. R ATE S
START I NG
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$69
C A L L 8 8 8.73 2 .7 1 1 7 TO B OOK N OW
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December 5 - December 14
GET YOUR ROOM & TICKET PACKAGES! Includes Transportation to/from Thomas & Mack Center
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| BoydEvents.com/NFR
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INTERVIEW
Bill Boyd (left) and family are a key factor behind the Wrangler NFR phenomenon
BOYD HAS THE ANSWERS DECEMBER 7 - 16, 2017
Thomas & Mack Center
Photography: AdamShane.com. Location: Nevada State Railroad Museum, Boulder City, Nevada.
T
he Boyd family is legendary in Las Vegas and nowhere is that felt more than in and around the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. More than a few rodeo fans, competitors and organizers were more than a little hesitant about the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo moving from Oklahoma City to Las Vegas when it made the historic move in 1985. The relocation came following a very close vote by the Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association organizing committee with the deciding vote cast by Shawn Davis. Without several founding Las Vegas business people embracing the effort and investing in making it a success, the Wrangler NFR wouldn’t have become what it has today when Las Vegas turns into a Cowboy town for 10 days each December and the Western lifestyle is celebrated in a fashion unlike anywhere else in the world.
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Bill Boyd and his family have been front and center along with Boyd Gaming properties of The Orleans, Sam’s Town, Gold Coast and several others. Here are thoughts from the man himself. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about the Wrangler NFR in Las Vegas? The first thing that I think of is how important the Wrangler NFR has been to Las Vegas. Before its arrival in Las Vegas in 1984, many hotels and casinos would have probably liked to have closed during December because of low visitation. Today we have 10 good days of business in December each year while the Wrangler NFR is in town. What is your favorite off-the-dirt best memory of the long and successful run in Las Vegas for Wrangler NFR? Off the dirt, I remember when Las
Vegas was trying to wrestle the NFR away from Oklahoma City. I remember Benny Binion, Jackie Gaughan, and my dad, Sam Boyd, were all supportive of bringing the NFR to Las Vegas. In fact, I remember that Boyd Gaming purchased 5,000 tickets during the first several years to help NFR get going in Las Vegas, and we gave them away to any interested customers. Today, of course, those tickets go for quite a premium! What is your favorite on-the-dirt best memory? For many years, I rode out onto the dirt in a stagecoach wagon before the start of Boyd Gaming night at the NFR. I think that’s my favorite memory. Why is the Wrangler NFR so important to your family and Boyd Gaming? It has greatly changed the month of December for Las Vegas. Since the Wrangler NFR came to town, Boyd Gaming and the entire Las Vegas Valley have really received a great boost in business because of the Wrangler NFR. Today, it’s really hard to imagine what December would be like in Las Vegas without the NFR and the great rodeo fans that visit us every year.
Illustration: Adam Shane; design by Eric Berner.
WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO
Cowboy up. Party down. Join us for live entertainment every night during WNFR.
Bill Engvall
December 6 at 10 p.m. in the Treasure Island Theatre
Chad Prather
December 13 at 10 p.m. in the Treasure Island Theatre
SA LO O N • DA N C E H A L L • BA R- B - QU E
treasureisland.com
gilleyslasvegas.com
COWBOY CHRISTMAS
10 MUST-SEE BOOTHS AND SOME NEW WRINKLES HIGHLIGHT COWBOY CHRISTMAS 2019 By Neal Reid
Texi Boots will be back again in 2019
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Sights, sounds and, yes, even tastes and smells abound, and a visit to the shopping mecca during the 10-day run of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo can be a dizzying experience. With more than 300 exhibitors providing an endless assortment of choices—along with live entertainment, autograph sessions, the Junior World Finals
Photo: : Courtesy Texi Boots.
SHOP ’TIL YOU DROP!
alking through Cowboy Christmas at the Las Vegas Convention Center each December is an exercise in sensory overload.
Join us for all three! Special guests, prizes and no cover charge.
DECEMBER 5-14
RUMP’S RODEO PARTY NFR VIEWING PARTY
BANDS, BREWS, AND TWO-STEPPIN’
NIGHTLY RECAP OF THE RODEO ACTION Hosted by 8x World Champions, Don Gay, Joe Beaver and TV Host Dan Miller
BoydGaming.com/NFR All guests must be 21 & over.
COWBOY CHRISTMAS presented by YETI and all types of family-friendly activities— the spectacle that is Cowboy Christmas provides hours and hours of fun.
Cowboy Christmas and the RMEF Hunter & Outdoor Expo are a can’t miss for country & Western lifestyle lovers
Those visiting the free holiday gift show, which is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily December 5-14, will find a handful of mustsee exhibitors and some exciting new experiences.
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Texi Boots display, which will feature lines of boots designed to inspire women to “dance through life with a passion as bold as their sole.” Founded by Michelle Manningham of east Texas, Texi Boots offers The Original Pink Sole line of quality Western footwear that appeals to all women. Other don’t-miss displays include the California-based Orion Crossing Fine Art Ceramics and its vast collection of high-quality, lead-free glazed ceramics, as well as Small in the Saddle Boutique for the best authentic Western attire for infants and toddlers. Visitors also should stop by Richard Chestnut’s Woodshop booth to check out handcrafted cutting boards, lazy Susans, carrying trays and other related items made of hard-rock maple and black walnut, as well as the Las Vegas-based EnviroJewels for detailed pieces of jewelry made out of wine corks. Whether you’re looking for a variety of quality goods and services, delicious food and drink, exciting entertainment or all of the above, you’ll find it each day at Cowboy Christmas. NFRexperience.com.
Photos: Steve Spatafore.
Among the additions are an all new eatery made up of “food carts” with additional seating and an array of food and drink options; the new Wrangler NFR Central Lounge; a special activation with country & Western social media superThe Bloomer Trailers star Dale Brisby; additional live exhibit is a Cowboy stage programming; an expanded Christmas tradition Wrangler Arena and fan areas for the Junior World Finals; and more of the same quality exhibitor items again will be a major that shoppers have come to expect and player at the Convention enjoy over the years. Center this year. RMEF will bring its Hunter Outdoor ChristAmong those exhibitors is Priefert. mas Expo upstairs to the South Halls, America’s No. 1 name in rodeo and where patrons will find major booth ranch equipment for more than 50 displays, the Elk Country Lounge, years will have three different booths and RMEF membership, raffles and at this year’s show. In addition to its trading post. traditional display booth on the ground level, the longtime Professional Rodeo Cavender’s made its Cowboy ChristCowboys Association and Wrangler mas debut last year in a big way and NFR sponsor will have a secondwill be back again, expanding its ary booth upstairs near the Wranreach by signing on as a Junior World gler Rodeo Arena, where it will hold Finals sponsor. One of the nation’s top autograph sessions featuring Priefert Western retailers founded in PittsPro and Jr. Elite teams. The Wrangler burg, Texas, in 1965 by James and Pat Rodeo Arena is home to the wildly Cavender, the company offers all the popular Junior World Finals and with boots, jeans, hats, clothing and accesso much action happening near this sories to satisfy anyone’s shopping list. second Priefert area will be a place to be and be seen throughout the show. One of the nation’s leading horse trailer retailers, Bloomer Trailers has Priefert’s third location will be the been an exclusive Cowboy Christmas “Speed Zone,” where eight-time World exhibitor since 2013 and is the Official Champion team-roper Speed Williams Trailer of the Wrangler NFR. Founded will give roping seminars and also in 1998, the Texas-based company demonstrate his revolutionary Speed brings some of its most impressive rigs Trainer training tool. to the Convention Center so fans can see the latest and greatest traveling The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundadown the road today. tion—an official Wrangler NFR official sponsor founded in 1984 by Ladies who are looking for some boots four hunters in Troy, Montana—once with sass and style should stop by the
Be There Official Fan to Fan Marketplace of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo
THE ONLY SEAT YOU CAN’T BUY OR SELL IS ON THE BACK OF A BULL
NFR TECH
2019 NEW HIGH TECH NFR EXPERIENCES HOW DOES TECHNOLOGY IMPROVE YOUR NFR EXPERIENCE? LET US COUNT THE WAYS. By Neal Reid
T
he Wrangler NFR has a long history of implementing new fan experience technology. This year the ante has been upped with digital ticketing, a podcast and much more. This is a guide to it all.
Since moving to Las Vegas in 1985, the Wrangler NFR has always been at the forefront of technology. Led by 33-year General Manager, Shawn Davis, and Las Vegas Events staff, the world’s biggest rodeo has continually evolved. In 2019, much more new tech will be added to the overall experience. Digital Ticketing Technology Debuts in 2019
What are the major changes that the fans will see this fall at the NFR? We will unveil numerous customer service upgrades to our rodeo fans this fall, plus we will announce a new secondary ticket partner for the Wrangler NFR. Las Vegas Events has partnered with StubHub, the leader in the secondary ticket market, to become the Official Secondary and Fan-To-Fan Site of the Wrangler NFR. The new relationship with StubHub will allow fans selling and buying an easier process and a bigger market to distribute or secure tickets. In addition, our ticket base will now have access to several major customer service improvements. The first improvement is their ability to ‘transfer tickets digitally’ to friends
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Photo: Adam Shane.
FAQ with Tim Keener, VP, Event & Ticketing Operations, Las Vegas Events
SOUTH POINT SHOWROOM FREE ENTERTAINMENT AFTER THE RODEO
AARON WATSON DECEMBER 5-8
JOSH WARD
DECEMBER 9-11
RANDALL KING DECEMBER 12-14
O
HOSTED BY
O
HOME OF MONTANA SILVERSMITHS GO-ROUND BUCKLE PRESENTATION FLINT RASMUSSEN & RANDY CORLEY 11PM NITELY Live Entertainment Free Nitely In The WNFR “Live” FREE Every Night On Closed Circuit TV FREE Ram Truck Viewing Party Nitely In The Grand Ballroom
Park Here FREE And Take The FREE Shuttle To The Thomas & Mack
Michael Gaughan’s
“Come visit us at Cowboy Christmas”
SouthPointCasino.com
NFR TECH
STUBHUB IS ALL ABOUT CONNECTING FANS TO THE LIVE EXPERIENCES THAT THEY LOVE, SAID BRIAN O’MALLEY, HEAD OF SPORTS PARTNERSHIPS & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AT STUBHUB. and family. Currently, getting tickets from yourself into the hands of friends, family or business clients is a logistical challenge. In 2019, you can transfer tickets through your mobile device where the transferred ticket will appear on the mobile device. As a note, Thomas & Mack Center staff will scan either a hard ticket or your mobile device this year. The second improvement allows you to buy and sell tickets directly on StubHub through your mobile device. What do ticket holders need to do to access digital tickets? Fans in many sports have been transferring tickets for several years. This is not new technology. It is proven and secure. If you have flown on an airline over the past several years, the digital boarding pass is a common feature. We will now bring these conveniences to you. How best do you describe the new system? The new system and features will be promoted to Wrangler NFR fans this fall. Once an account is setup through the Paciolan Ticket System, these features will be available through your mobile device. Our staff will work closely with everyone to educate all on the process. More StubHub Partnership Details Las Vegas Events, organizers of the Wrangler NFR, have entered into an exclusive partnership with StubHub as the Official Secondary and Fan-to-Fan Site of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Through this partnership, Wrangler NFR season ticket holders looking to sell tickets and rodeo fans will be able to use one trusted online service to buy and sell tickets safely and securely via mobile or desktop.
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“The demand for the Wrangler NFR ticket has never been greater,” says LVE President Pat Christenson. “For more than 32 years, this rodeo has attracted sold-out crowds to the Thomas & Mack Center. The partnership with StubHub will allow our season ticket holders to sell their tickets through a safe and secure online marketplace, while also providing rodeo fans looking to purchase with a full-service outlet backed by award-winning customer care.” As the leader in the ticket marketplace, StubHub offers a safe and secure option for listing and re-selling tickets, as well as a vast global network of potential buyers from the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Mexico, Spain, Japan and more. StubHub’s mission is to bring the joy of live to fans globally. In an increasingly digital world, StubHub gives fans access to the events to make memories they can only create in real life. “StubHub is all about connecting fans to the live experiences that they love,” said Brian O’Malley, Head of Sports Partnerships & Business Development at StubHub. “We’re thrilled to partner with Las Vegas Events to provide rodeo fans with a secure, seamless ticket buying and selling experience.” More info at NFRexperience.com/Tickets. NFRexperience.com Continues to Grow The official online presence of the Wrangler NFR is NFRexperience.com and is a complete rodeo universe that details everything you need to know about the on and off the dirt action each December. Information from
shows to after parties to watch parties to rodeo schedules to Cowboy Christmas to road to the NFR standings to blogs to official publications to a social hub and so much more is available at NFRxperience.com. NFR Extra Podcast New in 2019 is a podcast, NFR Extra, dedicated to the Wrangler NFR with new episodes debuting throughout the year. Check out page 46 for more details. NFR App The NFR App is a must for all fans, especially those coming to Las Vegas, but there is plenty there for any rodeo fan. Schedules, parking and maps information, stats, sponsors and partner hotel information, NFR Playlist, blogs and more are a download and click away. Social Media Wrangler NFR is active on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and through several blogs available at NFRexperience.com. Follow them all and you will never encounter the Fear of Missing Out.
y t r a P g n i w e i V y l t e t h o y g o i C N e h e T e 7 . r 2 F 0 1 y b d e t n e s re p s y e t g r a l a l a P r r o F e t f A y l t h g i N t n e m n i a t Enter in Frazell|Thursday thru Saturday t s u J y b d e t s o H ED BY COWBOYS & INDIANS PRESENT
A......R......T......I....S......T......S.................................. NCherdisLeHDeoeurxs
.............. .............. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Heers .. .. .. .. .. is .. r .. 6 h .. C .. & .. .. & 5 .. . .. r c .. e e .. k D .................. ................... Holly Tuc suit for Monday .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 . Dec ............ he Pur .. T .. .. & .. .. e .. s .. a .. h Wilson .. C .. .. Dec. 8 ........ ............. Holly Tucker & ............................... LaineyCreager Dec. 9 ............1 ............................................ Randy Brown & Roger Brown Dec. 10 & 1.............. (Best of the West Ball) ............................... Randyowboys Dec. 12.......... ....................................................................... Voodoo C Dec. 13 ........................................................ ecials p S k n i r D & Dec. 14 .......... d - Foo
house k a e t S s k e e r C t Twin a l a e D l a e M Cowboy
*Entertainment subject to change.
STATS AND FACTS
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Infographic: Chris Jones.
Estimated number of barrel racers who will compete in the All In Barrel Race this December at the Orleans Arena.
Derrick Begay YETI Ambassador
HUNDREDS OF EXHIBITORS DEC. 5-14, 2019 LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER SOUTH HALLS • 9AM - 5PM DAILY Custom-Made Jewelry • Original Art • Home Goods Hats • Furniture • Handmade Crafts • Leather Goods Western Wear • Boots • Spurs & Tack Rodeo Live Stage presented by RODEOHOUSTON® Coors Rodeo Saloon • Wrangler Rodeo Arena Great Wall of Rodeo presented by Calgary Stampede Rodeo Way • NFR Central • NFR Extra Junior World Finals BLVD presented by 12 Gauge Ranch
/LasVegasNFR NFRexperience.com
located upstairs
December 5-14, 2019 Las Vegas Convention Center SOUTH HALLS UPSTAIRS FROM COWBOY CHRISTMAS t
Hunting Gear and Apparel Firearms Optics Outfitters & Guides Original Art
Cowboys for Conservation Calcutta MTN OPS Archery Range Great Elk Tour Junior World Finals Arena
& Much More!
Free Admission & Open to the public THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
WWW.HUNTERCHRISTMAS.ORG
430-0519-002