NFR Super Fans

By Patrick Everson

For 40 years, rodeo fans have descended on the Thomas & Mack Center for 10 days each December, to take in the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

For 39 years, Mike Luce has been one of those fans. The Las Vegas resident has been to every NFR since 1986, so of course he’s here this year to celebrate a milestone moment between this city and this rodeo.

You’ve heard the cliché: Cleanliness is next to godliness. For Luce, timeliness is next to godliness.

“What I like is that it’s the most efficient rodeo I’ve ever seen. It’s on time, the performances are great and the stock is great,” Luce said while having drinks at the Let ‘er Buck Saloon inside the Thomas & Mack, just before Wednesday night’s seventh go-round.

Luce was joined by wife Catherine, daughter Katrina Prager and sister-in-law Cecilia Allred. All four are big-time rodeo fans who are quite familiar with how the NFR has developed over these past 40 years.

Catherine concurs with her husband of 32 years.

“Las Vegas Events puts on a great show and runs it very smoothly,” she said.

But it’s more than just the on-time machine that makes this event what it is. It’s the type of people the NFR brings to Vegas.

Allred knows this firsthand, from time spent working at the Venetian.

“The cowboys are the best kind of people. They’re the best-behaved, very civilized,” Allred said. “And they always tip!”

Added Mike: “The thing that’s great about this show is the people who come to it. Every year, the cowboys and cowgirls are the best people to come to Las Vegas. Authentic people come to this rodeo.”

The Wrangler NFR starts a new contract next year, running through 2035. Cecilia, who’s attended every NFR since 2006, understands just how valuable the Super Bowl of Rodeo is to this city, and always tries to convey that to others.

“People look forward to this every year. They save up their money to come,” she said. “This is an event that you cannot take for granted when you’re here. I’m still in awe every year. I’m like a kid at Christmas.”

The quartet have three more nights of gifts to open. Three more nights of wild and raucous and crowd-roaring action. But first, as has become tradition, is a stop at Let ‘er Buck.

“Every night, we come in the doors, make a right and go to the bar,” Catherine said as she and sister Cecelia enjoy a vodka and soda.

Cheers to that, and another 40 years of the Wrangler NFR in Vegas.