DOWNTOWN HOEDOWN

A NEW A NEW BUT FAMILIAR BUT FAMILIAR BEGINNING BEGINNING

Downtown eager to show off new toys

BY PATRICK EVERSON

The view on Fremont street just got brighter. “We have a new $32 million screen,” said Paul McGuire, chief marketing officer for Fremont Street Experience. The massive pillars that support the canopy have LED screens of their own. “Previously we needed darkness to operate the screen. Now, we can use it 24/7. You marry the two together and it provides an immersive visual experience.”

Then there’s also the glorious new elephant in the Fremont Street room.

“Since we last experienced the NFR we have a brand-new shiny toy called Circa,” McGuire said, alluding to the bold downtown casino that opened in the fall of 2020, the brainchild of Derek Stevens. “Circa complements very nicely the NFR itself.”

Every year, downtown Las Vegas--more specifically Fremont Street--plays an integral role in the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo® experience. On the Wednesday night prior to the first go-round – Dec. 1 this year –Fremont Street Experience plays host to the Downtown Hoedown.

In just the past few years, the Downtown Hoedown has attracted fan favorites such as Rodney Atkins, Neal McCoy, Kip Moore, Chris Janson and Corb Lund.

“The Hoedown is an absolute blast for us,” said McGuire. “It’s rare we can activate all three of our permanent stages. This event starts early enough in the evening that it allows us to feature all three stages. The vibe of the city, all those cowboys and cowgirls come out, it’s a tremendous event and a great, positive crowd.” And the Hoedown is just the beginning. Fremont Street rolls out the red carpet for rodeo fans all 10 nights of the NFR. The video canopy is among the outdoor highlights and it’s gotten a big jolt of energy since the last Vegas-hosted NFR wrapped up in December 2019.

Stevens, one of the biggest cheerleaders in bringing Las Vegas back from a lost year, won’t argue McGuire’s point. He’s eager to have another downtown property--Stevens also owns The D and the Golden Gate--in play for the NFR. “We’ve always been a big supporter of the NFR, even before my time in Vegas with the Golden Gate and The D,” said Stevens, who as a Las Vegas Events board member has been prominent in promoting the NFR. “With Circa coming into the mix it provides another alternative for people staying downtown. Even with the pandemic, Las Vegas never stopped growing. If you haven’t been here in two years or longer, there’s a lot of new in Las Vegas. We at

“The Hoedown is Circa are certainly excited to be involved, excited to have the NFR an absolute blast back in town. We’re gonna cater for us." to a lot of cowboys and cowgirls and their fans.” --Paul McGuire, And it won’t be just at Fremont Street Experience CMO. Stevens’ sparkling new venue--which features Barry’s Downtown Prime steakhouse, incredible views from the rooftop Legacy Club and the popular Stadium Swim venue--but at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, which has one of the larger footprints for NFR viewing parties. “The key for us is what we’ve done at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center,” Stevens said. “We show the NFR live every night. We bring in music, there’s a dance floor, the live rodeo feed, great food and drink. People often come to the NFR for four days, but maybe only attend the NFR on one or two nights. So then they’re looking for other venues to come and watch. Watch parties are really up our alley and we’re planning on blowing it out this year.”

The Golden Nugget has a long and successful relationship with the NFR, which started in Vegas in 1985.

Hollie O’Brien, vice president of marketing for the Golden Nugget, is also eager to get this show back on the road in 2021.

“Obviously we consider ourselves to be part of the fabric of Las Vegas and of downtown,” O’Brien said. “We have a rich history with and loyalty to the NFR. We were one of the very first properties to provide headline entertainment during the NFR.”

Charlie Daniels, Tanya Tucker and countless others made their way through the Golden Nugget’s showroom over the years. Tucker is back in 2021, on Dec. 3, along with star power each night from Dec. 2-10.

“We’ve got Jo Dee Messina on Dec. 2 (opening night) and Jamey Johnson on Dec. 10,” O’Brien said. “Jamey Johnson is already 85 percent sold out. We have phenomenal entertainment every night. Let’s face it, the party is still going after the rodeo each night.”

With the Golden Nugget having to cool its heels in the two years since the last Vegas NFR, O’Brien and her team used the time to improve the experience. “We’ve changed a bit, too,” O’Brien said. “Right before the COVID closure we were set to open the Salt Grass Steakhouse. It’s a legendary restaurant that has roots in Texas. It fits right in with the NFR motif.” The Cowboy Channel--itself a growing component of the NFR as the title sponsor of what’s now the Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas--popped into Salt Grass to do some features on the new restaurant.

“It’s stick-to-your-ribs, phenomenal cowboy food,” O’Brien said.

The Golden Nugget also serves as headquarters to the 15 barrel racers who qualify for the Wrangler NFR. That in itself is a welcome recurrence for O’Brien. “The girls come out and line up around the building for autograph sessions,” she said. “It’s very sweet.”

The Golden Nugget also fills up its retail stores with themed merchandise ranging from Western wear and bags/purses in the clothing/gift shops, to cowboy/ cowgirl cookies and confections at The Chocolate Box. With everything at the Nugget, along with all the amenities of the rest of Fremont Street Experience, it’s a start-to-finish prime venue for the NFR. “We’ve got the Hoedown and you can stay entertained by coming into all the properties, see all the dining options and viewing parties,” O’Brien said. “It’s just a phenomenal whole 11 days, all themed around the NFR and everything Western.”

After a year away, the NFR’s return and downtown Vegas’ role in the event can’t be overstated, according to McGuire.

“The NFR was really missed for the vibe it brings,” he said. “The NFR is huge for the destination and then we’re a destination within the destination. We have everybody coming down here to set the tone. We are absolutely thrilled to have them back and this year will be bigger and better than ever.”