The Las Vegas Events Board of Directors and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Board of Directors announced today that the first round of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo will take place on Friday, December 8 at 5:45 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center. In keeping with the NFR’s ten-round tradition, an additional make-up round was added on the morning of Wednesday, December 13 at 10 a.m m. There will be no public access to this round.
Due to the tragic events that occurred on the UNLV campus on Wednesday, December 6, the original start date has been canceled. The Wrangler NFR will now run through Saturday, December 16 with the full ten rounds scheduled to determine the PRCA world champions. The original purse of $11.5 million will remain in effect and will be paid in full over the nine days of competition and ten rounds.
For NFR season ticket holders, Las Vegas Events will issue full refunds for the canceled performance. If tickets were purchased through StubHub, StubHub will issue a refund directly to the buyer.
A moment of silence will be observed on Friday, December 8 at the start of the rodeo show.
“We are all heartbroken by the tragic events that occurred Wednesday,” said LVE President Tim Keener. “The National Finals Rodeo has united the Las Vegas community since 1985, and we will honor those we have lost through our rodeo, an event that celebrates unity, togetherness, and the coming together of friends and families. “We will do this in solidarity with our fans, as well as our partners at the PRCA, UNLV, and the community.”
“The PRCA is saddened by the tragedy that occurred yesterday and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their friends and family,” said PRCA CEO Tom Glause. “We have worked closely with our partners in Las Vegas and the Thomas & Mack Center to work on the NFR schedule while maintaining sensitivity to the events that took place. “We will bring our fans together on Friday night to share our support for this community.”
The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas at the Las Vegas Convention Center, in the south and center halls, began today and will continue through Saturday, December 16. It is free and open to the public.
This article is updated by www.rfdtv.com