The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) is asking fans to arrive early to the Thomas & Mack Center. To accommodate rodeo fans, complimentary shuttle buses and live entertainment will be offered prior to and following each rodeo performance.
The Wrangler NFR is scheduled to start on Thursday, Dec. 2 and will culminate on Saturday, Dec. 11.
From Thursday, Dec. 2 through Saturday, Dec. 11, shuttle buses will pick up in front of the NFR Cowboy Christmas Gift Show located at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This “One Way Only” route will serve as the Rodeo Express Shuttle and will run from the Las Vegas Convention Center North Hall directly to the Thomas & Mack Center.
Also beginning on Dec. 2, the NFR Shuttle will begin complimentary routes to and from the NFR official host hotels. The hotels include: Excalibur, Sam’s Town, MGM Grand, Hooters Casino Hotel, Tropicana, The Orleans, Las Vegas Hilton, Circus Circus, Golden Nugget, Monte Carlo, Aria, Palace Station, Treasure Island (TI), The Mirage, Wynn, Stratosphere, Gold Coast, Alexis Park, Hard Rock Casino, South Point, and Silverton Lodge.
Upon arrival, fans will find plenty of entertainment and activities prior to the start of the Wrangler NFR. Fans will have an opportunity to enjoy live entertainment on the Academy of Country Music (ACM) NFR Stage inside the Cox Pavilion. This pre-event hospitality area, aptly named Cowboy Corral, is free and open to all ticket holders and features performances by country music artists. The acts include:
Thursday, Dec. 2 – Eli Young Band
Friday, Dec. 3 – Reckless Kelly
Saturday, Dec. 4 – Bleu Edmondson
Sunday, Dec. 5 – Tuesday, Dec. 8 – Chancey Williams & The Younger Brothers Band
Thursday, Dec. 9 – Jaron &The Long Road to Love
Friday, Dec. 10 – Thompson Square
Saturday, Dec. 11 – Brett Eldredge
Doors to Cowboy Corral open at 5 p.m. for the 6:45 p.m. weekday rodeo performances and 4 p.m. for the 5:45 p.m. weekend performances.
In addition, fans can enjoy the ProRodeo Zone, the exclusive fan interactive area of the Wrangler NFR. Sponsors such as Dodge, AT&T, Justin Sports Medicine, Pat Boone Meats, Priefert and Coors provide interactive activities in tents adjacent to the arena. The NFR Sponsor Hotels will also have interactive tents set up in the NFR Village, on the plaza in front of the arena.
The Wrangler NFR will feature an impressive list of entertainers to sing the national anthem prior to each rodeo performance. The list in order of performance includes Reba McEntire, Laura Bell Bundy, Josh Gracin, SSgt. Brian Pop, Josh Thompson, Susie Dobbs, Pat Boone, Sabina Petermann, Due West, Danny Gokey and Brett Eldredge.
Following the opening ceremonies, the top 15 contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding will compete for a share of the $5.875 million purse.
“Each year, the NFR makes it a priority to put on a world-class show and accommodate rodeo fans,” said Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events. “From the minute that fans arrive at the Thomas & Mack Center, they will find action and entertainment. We hope that fans arrive early to enjoy the interactive area in the ProRodeo Zone and NFR Village and the live music on the ACM NFR Stage inside the Cowboy Corral, prior to the start of the rodeo.”
