Kathy Towns

LAS VEGAS – Rodeo fans looking for transportation to and from the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo will have the option to utilize the complimentary shuttle bus service – the NFR Express – with routes from the Las Vegas Convention Center and NFR official host hotels on the Las Vegas Strip and Downtown to the Thomas & Mack Center.

From Thursday, Dec. 7 through Saturday, Dec. 16, shuttle buses will pick up at The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas located at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This one-way route will run from the Las Vegas Convention Center South Hall directly to the Thomas & Mack Center.

Also beginning on Dec. 7, the NFR Express will begin complimentary routes to and from the NFR sponsor hotels. There are now 14 routes, covering 26 hotel properties.

“The NFR Express continues to be the most efficient option to get to the Thomas & Mack Center,” said Tim Keener, president of Las Vegas Events. “In addition to the routes that service our hotel partners, there is a one-way shuttle that allows fans to move from The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas to the arena. With the increased traffic and parking congestion around the Thomas & Mack Center, we encourage fans to consider this complimentary mode of transportation.”

In 2023, all Wrangler NFR performances begin at 5:45 p.m. (PT). NFR Express will begin pick-ups at 4 p.m. (PT) and include return service until 9:45 p.m. (PT). There is no shuttle bus service during the actual rodeo performance from 6 p.m. through 8:15 p.m.

Rodeo fans are urged to utilize the NFR Express for round-trip transportation. In addition, fans are asked to allow approximately 15 minutes for traffic conditions from each hotel pick-up point. The NFR Express routes and pick-up points are as follows:

Route 1 – One-Way Express Shuttle
The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas – Las Vegas Convention Center, South Halls (West Entrance)

Route 2
MGM Grand – Northwest corner of Guest Parking garage
Tropicana – North entrance

Route 3

Sam’s Town – Rear entrance (behind the food court)

Route 4

Mandalay Bay – Shark Reef entrance
New York-New York – Main entrance

Route 5

STRAT – West entrance
Westgate – East Tower entrance

Route 6

The Orleans – Valet entrance

Route 7

Gold Coast – Valet entrance
Palms – Front entrance
Rio – Convention Center Circle Drive

Route 8

Circa – Garage Mahal
Golden Nugget – Carson Tower entrance
Plaza – Welcome Sign (Main St. & Carson Ave.)

Route 9

The D – Valet entrance on Carson Ave.
Downtown Grand – Valet entrance

Route 10

Caesars Palace – Augustus Tower entrance
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas – Bus area at main entrance

Route 11

The Mirage – North valet entrance
Treasure Island (TI) – Bus loading zone (near the South Valet)

Route 12

Resorts World – Rideshare Lot adjacent to main entrance
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas – Main entrance (after porte cochere)

Route 13

Flamingo – Tour Bus area
Horseshoe – North entrance

Route 14

Silverton – Main entrance
South Point – Main entrance

For more information on the Wrangler NFR and The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas, please visit NFRexperience.com or through social media at /LasVegasNFR and use #WranglerNFR. For the latest ProRodeo news and Wrangler NFR coverage, please visit wnfrlive.com or through social media at @PRCA_ProRodeo.

Courtesy of NFRExperience.com

In an impressive feat for rodeo enthusiasts, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) is set to raise its purse for the third consecutive year, reaching an astonishing $14.9 million, marking nearly a $4 million increase from the 2022 purse.

The 2023 NFR, scheduled to run from December 7 through 16, boasts a remarkable $11.5 million allocated for competition prize money, showcasing the growing allure of this iconic rodeo event. This substantial purse includes a guaranteed prize fund of $1.2 million, ensuring that all NFR qualifiers receive their share of the winnings.

As a testament to the commitment to rewarding rodeo excellence, this year’s increase in purse size will see round winners claim an impressive $30,706 per round, while those who excel in the average standings will walk away with a substantial $78,747. Moreover, stock contractors, the unsung heroes who provide the vital rodeo animals, will benefit from this increase, with their compensation reaching an impressive $3,450,451.

To put this growth in perspective, the 2022 NFR purse of $10.9 million exceeded the combined total of rodeo payouts from 2015 to 2020, underlining the NFR’s commitment to raising the stakes for its participants.

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), the governing body behind this prestigious event, has been at the forefront of awarding rodeo excellence. Since 1986, the PRCA has bestowed an incredible $1 billion in prize money, further solidifying the NFR’s reputation as a premier rodeo spectacle.

As the 2023 NFR approaches, rodeo enthusiasts can anticipate a thrilling showcase of talent, fierce competition, and a historic purse that continues to raise the bar for rodeo excellence. Don’t miss this record-breaking rodeo event, where champions will be crowned, and rodeo history will be made!