December 5-14, 2024

COUNTDOWN

Check out the Wrangler NFR’s top fan enhancements for 2019

Dec 4, 2019

Check out the Wrangler NFR’s top fan enhancements for 2019

By Pat Christenson, President, Las Vegas Events

You can feel the excitement, tension, passion and anticipation in the air as the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo begins this week, Thursday, Dec. 5 to be exact.

As always, fans can expect a wide range of fan enhancements to make 2019 the best yet.

It’s been the thrill of a lifetime for myself and the entire Las Vegas Events team to annually welcome the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo to Las Vegas.

In 2019, we are offering fans, competitors, families and sponsors the ultimate rodeo experiences through old favorites and also nearly two dozen major fan enhancements.

Below is a complete list of what we have done to continue to push the envelope of the world’s biggest and baddest rodeo, highlighted by increased fan interactivity in and out of the arena, plus ways to create a more enjoyable experience for fans, competitors and sponsors.

The historic Thomas & Mack Center is decked out with the recognizable red seats and yellow chutes, so without farther ado, here is what is new and improved in 2019 at the Wrangler NFR. See you around over the next two weeks and thanks for making the trip to Las Vegas, a city that truly goes country & each December.

New in 2019

To honor 35 years of Wrangler NFR in Las Vegas, and in association with the PRCA and Geronimo Productions, we launched a video series at NFRExperience.com highlighting the Top 35 Most Memorable Las Vegas NFR Moments. Be sure to click and enjoy each of them!

Thursday, Dec. 12 is “Show Us Your Retro” night and fans are encouraged to look old school and post to our social channels. Lucky ones will be shown on the video board.

We know you can’t get enough inside dirt—pun intended—about Wrangler NFR, so we launched the weekly NFR Extra Podcast, which will run daily during the rodeo. Hosted by insiders Bo Gardner and Nevada Colwell, guests have included Donnie Gay, Charlie Daniels, Tyson Durfey, Fallon Taylor and Rockin’ Robbie Hodges.

Fans will notice changes from the time they enter the Thomas & Mack Center grounds. For improved logistics, a better traffic plan has been created and the ride share drop and pick up area will be located immediately across the street from the arena, where staff will oversee all access.

Don’t be late this year because our state-of-the-art video board will feature new interactive pre-show elements with a huge surprise each night. Also, fans can play Rodeo Guess, an interactive game.

Each night, and in partnership with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, highly-known National Anthem singers will honor our country.

For the first time, digital ticketing is available for easy ticket sharing, but the souvenir printed tickets are still valid. Also, a partnership with StubHub has created the Official Online Fan to Fan Marketplace – the NFR Ticket Exchange, where bought and sold tickets are guaranteed authentic. For your convenience and security, the Wrangler NFR has created this completely integrated process whereby ticket holders can post your tickets for sale on StubHub via their official account. This integrated environment makes certain that NFR tickets sold on StubHub will always be valid and creates an easy seamless way for you to make them available for sale.

The action before the rodeo is very exciting and multiple improvements to Cowboy Christmas—now also home to the YETI Junior World Finals and many photo opportunities including with Santa Claus—will be in place.

As always, hundreds of exhibitors will on hand, but new this year will be the 20,000 square-foot Bites and Brews presented by Total Feeds adjacent to the Wrangler Rodeo Arena. This enormous and soon-to-be-very-popular area will include over a dozen unique food stands, large video screens with replays of the NFR, live Junior World Finals action and more.

NFR Central will be anchored by social media icon Dale Brisby and feature radio remotes, contestant and musician autograph sessions, giveaways and more.

The NFR After Dark hotel partner promotion with a spin-to-win game for 2020 NFR tickets and all information on Vegas shows will also be available. This new interactive space will include five Cloud Touch screens, where fans can plan their NFR Experience with entertainment around town and Viewing Parties. You can also play the spin-to-win game where you could win a pair of tickets to 2020 Wrangler NFR.

Also now throughout Cowboy Christmas are new photo opps for attendees both downstairs along Rodeo Way and upstairs next to Bites and Brews presented by Total Feeds. The upstairs location will include the large Christmas wreath and Santa Claus.

Multiple improvements to the YETI Junior World Finals include the addition of pole bending, added prize money and an All-Around title up for grabs. For fans, additional and VIP seating is now available plus gear by A3 Merchandise.

Specifi YETI Junior World Finals Information:

There are now nine events that make up Junior World Finals presented by YETI. In addition to the new pole bending competition, more than 850 contestants will test their skills in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, breakaway, team roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing.

The added money for the YETI Junior World Finals will be more than $500,000.

The Wrangler Rodeo Arena now holds 1,100 seats and additional VIP seating along the Priefert Platform. Daily admission is $5. For $20, attendees can purchase a five-day pass for the dates of Dec. 5-9 or Dec. 10-14. Access to the Priefert Platform will be $20 for each of the ten days of competition.

The YETI Junior World Finals contestants and attendees will be able to order and wear custom gear designed by A3 Merchandise.

And for the first time, the YETI Junior World Finals will award an all-around title and that winner will have access to a custom trailer by Rodeo Rigs for 2020.

All Info: NFRexperience.com

 

 

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Author: Brian “Hurly” Hurlburt

Brian “Hurly” Hurlburt has been covering the city that glitters, Las Vegas, from all the angles for 25 years, and is the editor and project manager for the NFR BLVD preview and NFR Rewind review magazines.