Leaving Las Vegas? National Finals Rodeo seeks another host city as DFW could be in mix
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association is searching for another city to host the 2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo because Las Vegas no longer is a feasible option as a host site for the event amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The world’s most prominent postseason rodeo, which traditionally runs 10 days in early December, has been conducted at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas since 1985. But the NFR would have to be a TV-only event with no fans this year in Las Vegas.
In a nationwide survey conducted last month by the PRCA and Las Vegas Events, fans overwhelmingly said they want to attend this year’s NFR regardless of location.
According to prorodeo.com, the survey received more than 40,000 responses and nearly 80 percent said they’d travel to the NFR. Also, most fans would prefer to watch the event in Texas.
In addition to finding a suitable venue for the rodeo performances, the PRCA is searching for an area that has ample space for additional events held in conjunction with the NFR such as Cowboy Christmas. The massive shopping exposition features hundreds of vendors and has been held at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The PRCA, which hopes to recreate the Las Vegas experience, said a decision on the venue will be announced by Sept. 30.
“The silver lining is we’ve been in Vegas for a long time and I’m excited to see a new venue,” said 2015 world champion saddle bronc rider Jacobs Crawley of Stephenville who chairs the PRCA’s board. “Something new always has a new level of excitement behind it. Even though it’s stressful because it’s something new, it’s going to be exciting.”
Crawley, a nine-time NFR qualifier (2011-19), said the Las Vegas-based NFR traditionally draws lots of Texans and they would welcome the rodeo being closer to home.
“When I was in Vegas, it always seemed like I knew so many people who were from Texas who were just walking around the Strip,” he said. “I’m from Stephenville and I’ve lived in Boerne and it seems like both of those towns were just out there during the NFR. If seems like everybody packed up and went west. Given the circumstances, if we can’t have it out there [in Las Vegas], they will have an easier commute if it ends up being in Texas this year.”
The DFW area could be a strong candidate to host the NFR because of many attractive facilities in the area, including Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, American Airlines Center in Dallas and Globe Life Field in Arlington.
Other likely candidates in Texas would be NRG Stadium in Houston and the AT&T Center in San Antonio.
Sports venues in Texas are allowed up to 50% fan capacity according to Gov. Greg Abbott’s statewide order.
Dave Appleton, the 1988 world all-around champion from Fort Worth who serves as a TV sports commentator for the Cowboy Channel, said North Texas would be an ideal location with easy access for rodeo fans.
“Put a pin in the center of DFW and then go out 300 miles and draw a circle and then see how many people you can draw in that circle,” he said. “That will cover as far west as Midland/Odessa; as far north as Wichita, Kansas; as far east as Jackson, Mississippi; south, all the way to the Mexican border; and all of the way down to Houston.
“A 300-mile trip people will drive,” he added. “Where else can you go and put that same point and get a full 300-mile diameter to pull those people in? It’s an international destination, flights coming in all over the world. You have hotels. I don’t think anywhere else draws that same circle.”
Appleton said AT&T Stadium or Globe Life Field in Arlington would be great locations and would provide for social distancing. The PRCA produced the RFD-TV’s The American in March at AT&T Stadium.
“We know a rodeo will work at AT&T Stadium,” he said.
Mesquite Rodeo wrapup
On the PRCA circuit, the Mesquite Championship Rodeo completed its 63rd season last weekend. The season began on June 6 and concluded Aug. 29.
Mesquite Championship Rodeo organizers conducted a rodeo each Saturday night over the past three months. Performances consistently featured world class competitors who were grateful to compete during challenging times when many PRCA shows have been canceled amid the pandemic.
Five-time National Finals qualifier Ryan Motes of Weatherford and his team roping partner, Coleman Proctor, clinched the team roping title with a time of 4.0 seconds during the Aug. 15 performance. Motes is ranked No. 19 in the PRCA’s 2020 team roping heeling title race (in standings released Aug. 31).
Shelley Morgan, a former NFR qualifier from Eustace, finished third in barrel racing on Aug. 22 with a time of 15.23 seconds. She’s ranked No. 7 in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association world standings.
Adam Gray, a five-time NFR qualifier from Seymour who lives in the Weatherford area, clinched the tie-down roping title with a 7.8 on Aug. 29. He’s ranked No. 12 in the PRCA’s tie-down roping world standings.
In bull riding on Aug. 29, a bovine named Texas Reverend helped salty C.J. Sims clinch the title with an 89. Texas Reverend is owned by Stace Smith, an 11-time PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year who is from the Athens area. Smith served as the Mesquite Rodeo’s overall stock contractor throughout the renowned rodeo’s 2020 season.
Mineral Wells Rodeo
The Palo Pinto County Livestock Association PRCA Rodeo is scheduled for Sept. 17-19 in Mineral Wells. The rodeo originally was scheduled for May 7-9, but was rescheduled because of COVID-19.
This story was originally published September 3, 2020 at 6:00 AM.