Rodeo Legend Dan Mortensen Joins Contributors Benny Binion and Shawn Davis as 2025 Vegas NFR Icons

LAS VEGAS

Las Vegas Events announced today that three Vegas NFR Icons will be honored at the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo® in Las Vegas. This distinguished list of Vegas NFR Icons includes contributors Benny Binion and Shawn Davis, as well as seven-time PRCA World Champion Dan Mortensen.

The 40th Wrangler NFR in Las Vegas will run from Thursday, Dec. 4 through Saturday, Dec. 13. During the Dec. 5 and 6 performances, each of the Vegas NFR Icons will be honored on the hallowed dirt of the Thomas & Mack Center. The presentation will include each receiving a commemorative bronze statue and a ceremony to unfurl a banner in the rafters.

The in-arena schedule for the icons is as follows:
Friday, Dec. 5 – Dan Mortensen
Saturday, Dec. 6 – Benny Binion and Shawn Davis

“As we are celebrating 40 years of the NFR in our city, it seems only appropriate to honor two individuals that were instrumental in bringing the rodeo to Las Vegas, along with a great rodeo champion in Dan Mortensen,” said LVE President Tim Keener. “Las Vegas Events and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association are committed to continually recognizing the legends who have defined what it means to be a champion, as well as those who laid the groundwork for our incredible 40-year run in Las Vegas. We’re proud to continue to grow this program in Las Vegas by honoring the history and legacy of the NFR’s great champions and contributors.”

For each icon, LVE will develop a promotional campaign to promote the three legends and build a daily activation calendar to build anticipation for the ceremony inside the Thomas & Mack Center that evening.

In addition to the banner ceremony during the second and third Wrangler NFR performances, several events are planned for the Icons, including appearances at Cowboy Christmas presented by Pro Fantasy Rodeo. LVE also will host a special reception for the Vegas NFR Icons. Additional details about the reception will be announced at a later date at NFRexperience.com.

Binion, born on a farm in Texas, was a man of many talents and interests. At a young age, he was exposed to the world of gambling and horse trading. Through the years, he raised some of the best bucking and pickup horses in rodeo. ProRodeo Hall of Fame stock contractors such as Harry Knight, Lynn Beutler, Harry Vold and Mike Cervi have owned Binion horses. In 1951, he made his way to Las Vegas and soon after opened the famous Binion’s Horseshoe Casino. He later started the World Series of Poker. Binion was instrumental in bringing the NFR to Las Vegas. The event has now sold out 369 consecutive performances and continues to transform the city each December. In 1985, the PRCA named Binion ProRodeo Man of the Year. He passed away at the age of 85 in 1989.

“Given his experience in hospitality and business, Benny Binion had so much vision for how to make things work and succeed,” said Jack Binion, Benny’s oldest son. “My Dad always wanted to bring the NFR to Las Vegas. Both Shawn and Benny knew that December was a slow time in Las Vegas, and while the NFR had been successful in Oklahoma City, it needed new energy. Our family has witnessed how the NFR has transformed the city every December, and I know he would have been thrilled and honored to see what the NFR has become and to receive this recognition as a Vegas NFR Icon.”

Hailing from Whitehall, Mont., Davis is one of the most influential individuals the sport of rodeo has ever known. Davis qualified for the NFR seven straight years beginning in 1963 and went on to claim the coveted Gold Buckle in saddle bronc riding three times in 1965, 1967 and 1968. Despite suffering a fractured and dislocated spine during competition and undergoing 13 months of physical therapy, he returned to the NFR as a qualifier five times. In 1982, Davis was named the president of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. During that tenure, it is well known that he cast the deciding vote to move the NFR from Oklahoma City to Las Vegas. Davis later became the general manager of the NFR in 1986, a position he held through 2018. His importance in growing the sport of rodeo and the NFR in Las Vegas can never be underestimated. He introduced interactive fan elements, keeping entertainment fresh and modernizing various aspects of the look and feel of the rodeo – all while fitting it neatly into a two-hour television time window.

“It is a great honor to be named as a Vegas NFR Icon, along with other highly respected honorees this year and in the past,” said Davis. “I am especially proud to be included with Benny Binion because, with his support and guidance, it really helped in making the decision to move the NFR to Las Vegas. Looking back, it took a few years to finally achieve a sell out at the Thomas & Mack Center. That was a very exciting and special moment and one of the highlights of my career. The NFR has been sold out every year since 1987 and reinforced the decision.

“The NFR has been the most stabilizing event for the PRCA,” added Davis. “Many of the production elements and synchronization that was developed in Las Vegas have spread throughout the country and changed the sport of rodeo.”

A native of Billings, Mont., Mortensen is simply one of the best bronc riders of all time. His six saddle bronc riding world championships (1993-95, 1997-98 and 2003) tied the legendary Casey Tibbs for the event record. He also won the all-around world championship in 1997. During his career, he qualified for the NFR 16 times, the first in 1990 when he was the PRCA Rookie of the Year. The only NFR he missed in his 17 full seasons as a PRCA member was in 2004 when he broke his ankle late in the season – while leading the world standings. During his final world championship season of 2003, Mortensen became the first roughstock cowboy to surpass $2 million in career earnings, finishing his career with $2,555,716.

“It is an honor to be recognized as a Vegas NFR Icon,” said Mortensen. “I have so many great memories from my sixteen qualifications and seven gold buckles. The competition is unmatched, and Las Vegas continues to elevate the National Finals, the greatest rodeo on earth.”

Known as the richest and most prestigious rodeo in the world, 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 to compete for a share of the increased purse and the coveted PRCA Gold Buckle. In 2024, the event had a total attendance of 170,045 over the ten rounds of competition at the Thomas & Mack Center and has sold out 369 consecutive performances in Las Vegas.

For more information on the 40th anniversary of the Wrangler NFR, please visit NFRexperience.com or through social media at @LasVegasNFR and use #WranglerNFR. For the latest ProRodeo news and Wrangler NFR coverage, please visit prorodeo.com or through social media @PRCA_ProRodeo.