NFR

Rodeo fans will be able to get up close and personal with their favorite Wrangler National Finals Rodeo contestants at a series of autograph sessions beginning on Friday, Dec. 6. All sessions, which feature the contestants representing the seven rodeo events, begin at 11 a.m. and last until 1 p.m. and are free and open to rodeo fans.

Now entering its 39th year in Las Vegas, the Wrangler NFR kicks off on Dec. 5 and runs for ten consecutive days. The event features the Top 15 PRCA contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping and bull riding, plus barrel racing (WPRA).

The autograph session schedule is as follows:
Friday, Dec. 6 – Barrel Racers at Golden Nugget (The Grand Foyer)
Saturday, Dec. 7 – Tie-Down Ropers at MGM Grand (Main Lobby)
Monday, Dec. 9 – Team Ropers at Horseshoe (Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Sports Kitchen)
Tuesday, Dec. 10 – Steer Wrestlers at Circa Las Vegas (Underhang Bar – must be 21+ to enter)
Wednesday, Dec. 11 – Bull Riders at Treasure Island (Gilley’s Saloon)
Thursday, Dec. 12 – Bareback Riders at New York-New York (Beerhaus)
Friday, Dec. 13 – Saddle Bronc Riders at Resorts World (Wrangler Dawg House Saloon)

Known as the richest and most prestigious rodeo in the world, the Wrangler NFR attracts the top 120 contestants in the world to compete for a share of the $12.5 million purse and the coveted PRCA Gold Buckle. In 2023, the event had a total attendance of 157,580 over the nine fully-attended rounds of competition at the Thomas & Mack Center and has sold out 359 consecutive performances in Las Vegas.

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

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. 5 through Saturday, Dec. 14, 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. 5, the NFR Express will begin complimentary routes to and from the NFR sponsor hotels. There are now 14 routes, covering 24 hotel properties.

In 2024, 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.

“The NFR Express is one of the most efficient options to get to the Thomas & Mack Center each night,” 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.”

Rodeo fans are urged to utilize the NFR Express for round-trip transportation. In addition, fans are asked to allow approximately 20 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 Hall (East Entrance)

Route 2
▪ MGM Grand – Northwest corner of Guest Parking garage

Route 3
▪ Sam’s Town – Rear entrance (behind the food court)

Route 4
▪ 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 entrance

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
▪ Mandalay Bay – Beach level entrance
▪ Virgin Hotels Las Vegas – Main entrance (after porte cochere)

Route 11
▪ Caesars Palace – Tour and Travel area
▪ Treasure Island (TI) – Bus loading zone (near the South Valet)

Route 12
▪ Fontainebleau Las Vegas – North Rideshare bus loop
▪ Resorts World – Rideshare Lot adjacent to main entrance

Route 13
▪ Harrah’s – Bus depot
▪ 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 prorodeo.com or through social media at @PRCA_ProRodeo.

The World Standings are a courtesy of the PRCA and WPRA.

Courtesy of NFR Experience

Las Vegas Events announced today that the 3rd Annual Vegas NFR Icons Tribute Reception will be held inside the Cowboy Corral on Friday, Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. prior to the start of that night’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo performance. The reception will honor Joe Beaver, Rich Skelton and Speed Williams.

There will be a VIP section set up for family and sponsors inside Cowboy Corral, located adjacent to the Thomas & Mack Center. Those planning to attend that evening will also be able to access the area with a ticket to the Wrangler NFR for that evening’s performance. Following the reception, Old Hickory will take to the stage to provide a live musical set prior to the start of the 5:45 p.m. rodeo performance.

Hailing from Victoria, Texas, Beaver grew up dreaming of becoming a cowboy. He started roping at the age of five and never stopped. In 1985 at the age of 20, Beaver won the PRCA Resistol Rookie of the Year award and entered the NFR in Las Vegas as the youngest tie-down roper. After 10 days of intense competition, he left Las Vegas with his first world title and the Thomas & Mack Center became known as “the house that Joe built.” Beaver would return to Las Vegas to collect four additional world tie-down roping titles and three world all-around titles. When injuries forced him out of competition for most of 1999, Beaver still made the trip to the NFR – this time as a television commentator for ESPN. He returned in 2000 to win his third and final all-around title. He was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2002. He continues to conduct clinics teaching young ropers how to compete and serve as a commentator, sharing his expertise and humor.

Williams and Skelton put on a team roping performance as partners from 1997 until 2004 that may never be matched again in Las Vegas. During that time, the duo racked up eight straight World Championships and also won the average in 2001. In 1999, the pair won six go-rounds at the NFR. Born and raised in Jacksonville, Fla., Williams started roping at an early age and made his first NFR appearance in 1988 heeling with Casey Cox. After that experience he went home and switched to heading. He is credited with starting a new style of swinging the rope in the box, and his style of catching lowered his times and won money. Skelton, from Electra, Texas, made his first NFR appearance in 1990 heeling with Tee Woolman. When Woolman decided to cut back his schedule in late 1997, he joined with Williams. The duo would go on to take 64 victory laps between them at the Thomas & Mack Center. Williams won 28 go-rounds in Las Vegas in his career and Skelton won 36.

Following the reception, there will be additional activities to honor their celebrated careers. During the Dec. 6 and 7 performances of the Wrangler NFR, each of the rodeo champions will be honored on the hallowed dirt of the Thomas & Mack Center. The presentation will include each receiving a 14” commemorative bronze statue and a ceremony to unfurl a banner in the rafters at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The in-arena schedule for the icons is as follows:
Friday, Dec. 6 – Speed Williams and Rich Skelton
Saturday, Dec. 7 – Joe Beaver

In addition, LVE will develop a promotional campaign to promote the three legends and build a daily activation calendar to build anticipation for the ceremony inside Cowboy Corral that evening, including visits to The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Known as the richest and most prestigious rodeo in the world, the Wrangler NFR attracts the top 15 contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding to compete for a share of the increased purse and the coveted PRCA Gold Buckle. In 2023, the event had a total attendance of 157,580 over the nine fully-attended rounds of competition at the Thomas & Mack Center and has sold out 359 consecutive performances in Las Vegas.

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

The World Standings are a courtesy of the PRCA and WPRA.

Courtesy of NFR Experience