National Finals Rodeo Tickets

The very popular rodeo event, the National Finals Rodeo (NFR), is yet again going to be taking place very soon! This exciting event will once again capture the attention of its fans this year. National Finals Rodeo tickets for this adrenaline pumping event have already gone on sale, so hurry up and grab yours' soon!

What is Rodeo?

Rodeo is an aggressive and a competitive sport, which involves riders who display their skillfulness and ability in activities related, either directly or indirectly, to livestock raising, for example - riding and roping cattle and horses. The term rodeo has been derived from a Spanish word rodear, which means to surround, and originally meant 'roundup'.

The leading rodeos include Frontier Days, in Cheyenne, Wyoming; National Finals Rodeo, in Las Vegas, Nevada; National Western, in Denver, Colorado; Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, in Houston, Texas; and Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, in Calgary, Alberta

What is National Finals Rodeo?

The National Finals Rodeo is the most important national championship rodeo event, and it is organized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. It is a 10-Day event, which is held annually, during the month of December, and is completed in the first full week.

The event is also at times referred to as the World Series of Rodeo and the Super Bowl of Rodeo. The Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in Las Vegas, Nevada, is home to this superb and most anticipated event.

History of Rodeo

Rodeo has a long and a rich history. The sport emerged from the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros, who are today known as cowboys in the western United States, western Canada, and northern Mexico.

At present, rodeo is a sporting event, which features events involving livestock, and is designed to test the skill and speed of the individual cowboy/cowgirl contestants who participate in it.

The National Finals Rodeo

Although the sport of rodeo has existed for a very long time now, the National Finals Rodeo (NFR), or more popularly recognized as the Super Bowl of Rodeo has a much fresher past. Professional rodeos in North America are administered and authorized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), whereas, other associations manage children's, high school, collegiate, and senior rodeos.

The PRCA founded the NFR in 1958 with the intention of determining the world champion in each of rodeo's seven main events, Calf Roping, Steer Wrestling, Bull Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, Bareback Bronc riding, and Team Roping. However, the world championship Steer Roping competition has constantly been taking place disjointedly from the usual NFR.

The first National Finals Rodeo was held in 1959 at the Dallas State Fair Grounds. Dallas remained the host city of NFR till 1961. From 1962-64, Los Angeles hosted the competition. In 1964, Oklahoma City became the host city of NFR, and the event remained there from 1978 to1984. NFR used to be held there at the Myriad Convention Center, and the Oklahoma merchants used to receive annual revenue of $8 million dollars approximately.

Then in 1984, the city of Las Vegas, Nevada, bid for the event, and since 1985, the NFR has been held at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Later in 2001, a landmark sponsorship agreement was achieved and Wrangler became the first title sponsor of the National Finals Rodeo.

In 2008, the NFR celebrated its 50th anniversary, in which special tributes were held each night to honor the past and present champions of rodeo, such as Justin McDaniel, Cody Wright, Matt Sherwood, Luke Branquinho, Randon Adams, Stran Smith, Lindsay Sears and J.W. Harris.

Each year, during the month of December, millions make their way towards Las Vegas, just to attend the NFR. This year, if you want to be a part of the interesting atmosphere too at this long awaited event, then hurry up and order your National Finals Rodeo tickets now!