The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo begins tonight at Thomas & Mack Center, marking the venue's "31st year as host of the 10-day Super Bowl of Rodeo," and both the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Las Vegas Events "stressed that one of the biggest draws of staying is all the ancillary goings-on throughout the city," according to Patrick Everson of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. Las Vegas "literally becomes Cowboy Town for 10 days every December." For the "many thousands of fans who can't get tickets to the perpetually sold-out rodeo, dozens of other opportunities exist to take in the action or otherwise have a great time, making it worthwhile to come to Vegas, regardless." In other sports, observers "don't see related competitions taking place at other venues." But during the NFR, the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa "hosts the seven-day World Series of Team Roping, with 3,700 teams competing" for more than $10M in prize money. This year, the Orleans Hotel & Casino also "will host a new rodeo," the Boyd Gaming Chute-Out, "featuring the same seven events being contested at the WNFR." Las Vegas Events President Pat Christenson: "The reason it does so well here is that (contestants and fans) get to do the whole WNFR experience." Everson also notes this is year one of a "new 10-year contract" for the NFR in Las Vegas, and it comes with an increase in prize money that is "quite significant." Last year's total purse was $6.375M, spread over seven events, and this year the purse increases to $8.8M (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 12/3).
