Cowboy FanFest to Join the Parade of Events Surrounding the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Las Vegas, NV

LAS VEGAS (August 15, 2012) – Las Vegas Events announced today that it will create Cowboy FanFest, a fully interactive area that will feature the best of the Western lifestyle. Cowboy FanFest will be located adjacent to the Cowboy Christmas Gift Show and will run concurrently with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and the Cowboy Christmas Gift Show, from Thursday, Dec. 6 through Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Cowboy FanFest will include the following main anchor displays and programming elements:

·      Academy of Country Music “Rodeo Live” Stage – A full stage area for the Academy of Country Music up-and-coming new artists and a variety of specialty entertainment, including special appearances and a battle of the bands competition;

·      Rodeo Round-Up and A Taste of Rodeo – An interactive area promoting themed food and specialty drinks;

·      Rodeo Arena – A venue for exhibitions, mutton bustin’, Rodeo 101 clinics and other specialty acts. This arena will provide another area to experience or even participate;

·      Rodeo Interactive – An area for interactive booths to entertain fans during the ten days of rodeo;

·      The Rodeo Way – An Old West setting featuring the “Best of Rodeos”, Miss Rodeo America and additional exhibits.

“Our goal each year is to grow the NFR experience, and FanFest was created with this in mind,” said Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events.  “FanFest will provide an interactive environment, allowing fans the opportunity to touch and experience rodeo at its best.  Fans can now shop in the world’s greatest Western retail area at the Cowboy Christmas Gift Show and enjoy a fully interactive area that brings rodeo and entertainment to life.”

A full diagram of Cowboy FanFest can be found at www.NFRexperience.com.  Current Hall of Fame and All-Around level sponsors include the Academy of Country Music, Cox Communications, Priefert, PrimeSport and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Cowboy FanFest will fully complement the Cowboy Christmas Gift Show, the only official gift show of the Wrangler NFR.  Both will run from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and are open to the public with free admission.  Over the past 26 years, the Cowboy Christmas show has attracted more than 2.88 million people.

“The Academy has a rich history of bringing new acts in country music to the fans at the NFR, and we’re thrilled to support Cowboy FanFest in this inaugural year,” said Bob Romeo, CEO of the Academy of Country Music.

The addition of Cowboy FanFest will add yet another event during the early part of December in Las Vegas.  Known as the NFR experience, the ten days of rodeo transform the look and feel of the “Entertainment Capital of the World.” Each year, thousands of rodeo enthusiasts decked out in jeans, boots and cowboy hats fill hotels, casinos, restaurants, shopping malls and showrooms.  In addition, there are more than 20 hotel sponsors that support the Wrangler NFR and book some of the brightest stars in country music.

"The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association is thrilled that our partners at Las Vegas Events are providing another place for ProRodeo fans to connect while attending the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo,” said PRCA Commissioner Karl Stressman.  “We want our fans to have the ultimate rodeo experience while staying in Las Vegas attending our super bowl and Cowboy FanFest will help give fans that opportunity.”

Sold out for 260 consecutive performances, the Wrangler NFR attracts the top 15 contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding as they compete for a share of the $6.125 million purse.  Qualification is based on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association World Standings.

For more information on the Wrangler NFR and Cowboy FanFest, please go to www.NFRexperience.com.

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