LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) — The National Finals Rodeo will remain in Las Vegas until 2035, thanks to a new contract announced Monday.
The NFR, often called the “Super Bowl of Rodeo,” has been in the valley since 1985 — except in 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions temporarily relocated the event to Arlington, Texas.
Over the term of the new contract, the total payment to the contestants and stock contractors will be $264,323,473.
The prize money for this year’s event from Dec. 5-14 will be more than $16.2 million and will be $17.5 million next year. The amount will then increase by $1 million each year through the life of the new contract. By the end of the contract in 2035, the total payout to the contestants and stock contractors will be more than $27.5 million.
Las Vegas Events and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association will contribute an additional $1.3 million this year and in 2025 as a signing bonus.
Additional elements of the agreement include a season-long marketing program and an official designation as an Official Sponsor of the PRCA, National Finals Steer Roping, NFR Open, and sponsorships for the 12 National Circuit Finals Rodeos.
“Las Vegas is the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World and a great home for the National Finals Rodeo,” PRCA CEO Tom Glause said. “This is a landmark agreement for the PRCA that benefits every PRCA member — contestants, stock contractors, committees, and contract personnel. This agreement will advance and help the sport continue to grow and provide security for the future.”
Bill McBeath, chairman of the Las Vegas Events Board of Trustees, also was excited to about the new deal.
“After working with the PRCA and their representatives for nearly two years, I am pleased with our efforts to secure Las Vegas as the home to the world’s richest and most prestigious rodeo through 2035,” McBeath said. “For nearly 40 years, Las Vegas has built a strong partnership with the PRCA and its contestants and stock contractors. We feel that the new agreement is beneficial to all parties and clearly demonstrates the commitment that Las Vegas has to the NFR and the sport of rodeo.”
Tim Keener, president of Las Vegas Events, added, “I would like to acknowledge the tremendous dedication that Bill McBeath, Michael Gaughan, Tom Glause, and the PRCA exhibited over the past 20 months to secure the extension of the NFR. Our goal is to continue to make the NFR a December tradition in our city. We look forward to working with our partners in growing the NFR Experience for rodeo fans in Las Vegas.”
In 2024, the NFR will run from Dec. 5 through Dec. 14 at the Thomas and Mack Center.
For more information on the NFR, please visit NFRexperience.com or through social media at @LasVegasNFR.
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