By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
The National Finals Rodeo will be calling Las Vegas home until 2035 under a new deal extension announced Monday.
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), the sanctioning body of the annual NFR event, and Las Vegas Events said they have signed off on a deal that keeps the Super Bowl of Rodeos in Las Vegas.
The current deal between the PRCA and Las Vegas Events was scheduled to expire in 2025. The new ten-year deal was approved by the PRCA Board of Directors and the LVE’s Board of Trustees. The NFR has been in Las Vegas for 38 years.
Under the current deal, the cowboy rodeo association receives at least $14 million from Las Vegas Events to split between the contestants.
The news of the extended deal to 2035 comes just three days before the ten-day rodeo bonanza starts Thursday at Thomas & Mack Center and ends Dec. 16.
The NFR has sold out 360 consecutive performances and attracts the top 15 contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding.
The contestants are based on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association World Standings. In 2022, the event had a total attendance of 173,350 over the ten days of competition in Las Vegas.