After a long year, the NFR 2021 is headed back to Las Vegas! If you aren’t excited, you should be because Cowboy Lifestyle Network is taking over Vegas December 2-11, 2021. Taking place at the good ole Thomas and Mack Center, fans and athletes alike are more than ready for the 10-day super bowl of rodeo. Below you will find everything you need to know about the NFR, plus some.
NFR 2021 will be taking place on December 2-11, 2021 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The National Finals Rodeo has been taking place in Las Vegas for 35 years. Last year was the first year in 35 years that it didn’t take place in Vegas due to Covid-19. Previous to the Super Bowl of rodeo taking place in sin city, cowboys and cowgirls would head to Oklahoma City to battle it for the title of World Champion.
If you’re a lifelong rodeo fan then this information might not be new to you, but we are all about educating new fans so we want to include the in’s and out’s of what goes down during the ten days of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Let’s start with the athletes. Athletes work all year round, October-September, trying to a spot in the top fifteen in their event. They work their way through the ranks by attending PRCA sanctioned rodeos and winning money that goes towards their year-end total, which determines who gets a ticket to the NFR in December. Check out the top 15 athletes headed to the NFR in each event below. All qualifiers include qualifying for the 2021 finals.
*Special Note: WPRA has previously had finals for breakaway separately. Only since 2020 have the finals taken place at the same time in Las Vegas during the finals. You can find the schedule for Wrangler National Breakaway Roping below.
So we know that the top 15 contenders from each event make it to the NFR, but who gets the World Championship title? Good question! Each night of the NFR, there will be an average winner for the night and a “Gold Buckle” awarded for each event, every night. Average titles allow athletes to earn money throughout the week, adding to their total. Whoever has the most accumulated at the end is the World Champion. In some cases, we have seen athletes come, not win any averages, and still come out the champion. It really depends on how tight the competition is and who is bringing their A-game. Check out the full schedule of performances below.
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo — First Performance
• 5:45 p.m. — 8 p.m.
• Performance Sponsor: Pendelton Whisky
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo — Second Performance
• 5:45 p.m. — 8 p.m.
• Performance Sponsor: Coors
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo — Third Performance
• 5:45 p.m. — 8 p.m.
• Performance Sponsor: Hesston by Massey Ferguson
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo — Fourth Performance — Memorial Night
• 5:45 p.m. — 8 p.m.
• Performance Sponsor: Polaris Ranger
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo — Fifth Performance — Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night
• 5:45 p.m. — 8 p.m.
• Performance Sponsor: Montana Silversmiths
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo — Sixth Performance — Resistol Rookie Night
• 5:45 p.m. — 8 p.m.
• Performance Sponsor: Resistol
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo — Seventh Performance
• 5:45 p.m. — 8 p.m.
• Performance Sponsor: Pendleton Whisky
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo — Eighth Performance — Canadian Night
• 5:45 p.m. — 8 p.m.
• Performance Sponsor: Durango Boots
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo — Ninth Performance
• 5:45 p.m. — 8 p.m.
• Performance Sponsor: RAM
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo — Tenth Performance — Wrangler National Patriot Night
• 5:45 p.m. — 8 p.m.
• Performance Sponsor: Wrangler
INCLUDING LET: | Individual | Season | 4pk | 6pk |
Balcony | $76 | $760 | $304 | $456 |
Plaza | $105 | $1,050 | ||
Gold Buckle | $300 | $3,000 |
List of bags that will be accepted for entry and will be subject to search:
In addition to Cowboy Christmas, there are several other shopping pop-ups that you can find around town. You can find the full list below. All vendor shows are free and open to public!
The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas
• 9 a.m. — 4 p.m.
• Las Vegas Convention Center, South Halls
Cinch Western Gift Show
• Open daily December 2 — 12 from 9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
• South Point Exhibit Hall
Cowboy Marketplace Gift Show
• Open daily December 2 — 11 from 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.
• Mandalay Bay Convention Center
Country Christmas
• Open daily December 2 — 12 from 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.
• Rio Las Vegas
Can’t snag tickets to the live events? No problem. Check out any one of the hotels below to catch a live viewing party of all the rodeo action. Don’t forget, if you haven’t booked your room yet, you can still get a great rate at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino. By using the link below, you will receive a Cowboy Lifestyle Network discount. Join us at the Tropicana!
Outside the Barrel with Flint Rasmussen
• 11:15 a.m. — 12:15 p.m.
• The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas | Las Vegas Convention Center, South Halls
• Ariat Rodeo Live Stage
• Free Admission/Open to the Public
Cowboy Revival with host Shane Minor
• 12:30 p.m. — 1:30 p.m.
• The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas
• Las Vegas Convention Center, South Halls
• Ariat Rodeo Live Stage
• Free Admission/Open to the Public
RMEF Calcutta
• 10:15 a.m. — 11 a.m.
• The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas | Las Vegas Convention Center, South Halls
• Ariat Rodeo Live Stage
• Free Admission/Open to the Public
NFR Tailgate Party
• 1:30 p.m. — 4 p.m.
• The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas
• Las Vegas Convention Center, South Halls
• Ariat Rodeo Live Stage
• Free Admission/Open to the Public
Junior World Finals presented by YETI
• 9 a.m. — 3 p.m.
• Las Vegas Convention Center, South Halls
• Wrangler Rodeo Arena — RMEF Hunter & Outdoor Christmas Expo
ALL IN Barrel Race
• Start times vary by day
• The Orleans Arena
• Free Admission/Open to the Public
Benny Binion’s World Famous Wrangler NFR 2021 Bucking Horse & Bull Sale & PRCA Permit Holder of the Year Challenge
• Doors open at 9 a.m.
• South Point Arena & Equestrian Center
• Ticket Required
• Tickets available at South Point Box Office
Stace Smith World Bronc Futurity Finale
• Doors open at 9 a.m.
• 10 a.m. — Finale starts; Featuring top 4 & 5 year saddle bronc horses in North America
• South Point Arena & Equestrian Center
• Ticket Required
Wrangler NFR Autograph Session — Barrel Racers
• 12 p.m. — 2 p.m. | Golden Nugget — The Grand Event Center Foyer
• Free Admission/Open to the Public
• First come/first served; contestants depart at 2 p.m.
BFO World Championships
• 1:30 p.m. | Resorts World Las Vegas
• Ticket Required
Ariat World Series of Team Roping
• December 4 -12 | South Point Arena & Equestrian Center
• Free admission/Open to the Public
Wrangler NFR Autograph Session — Tie-Down Ropers
• 12 p.m. — 2 p.m. | MGM Grand — Main Lobby
• Free Admission/Open to the Public
• First come/first served; contestants depart at 2 p.m.
BFO World Championships
• 1:30 p.m. | Resorts World Las Vegas
• Ticket Required
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5
Miss Rodeo America Pageant – Coronation Performance presented by Las Vegas Events
• 10 a.m. — Doors open | 10:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m. — Coronation Performance
• South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa — Grand Ballroom
• Ticket Required
Golden Circle of Champions — Clinic and Banquet
• 12:00 p.m. — 3 p.m. | South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa — Napa Room
• Honoring children and families fighting cancer and other life-threatening illnesses
MONDAY, DECEMBER 6
Wrangler NFR Autograph Session — Team Ropers
• 12 p.m. — 2 p.m. | The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
• Free Admission/Open to the Public
• First come/first served; contestants depart at 2 p.m.
NFR Breakaway Championships
• 1 p.m. | The Orleans Arena
• 5 go-rounds per day; champion to be crowned at the conclusion of the 12/7 competition
• Ticket Required
Wrangler NFR Autograph Session Steer Wrestlers
• 12 p.m. — 2 p.m.
• The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas — NFR Central presented by Resorts World Las Vegas
• Free Admission/Open to the Public
• First come/first served; contestants depart at 2 p.m.
NFR Breakaway Championships
• 1 p.m. | The Orleans Arena
• 5 go-rounds per day; champion to be crowned at the conclusion of the 12/7 competition
• Ticket Required
Wrangler NFR Autograph Session — Bull Riders
• 12 p.m. — 2 p.m. | Treasure Island — Gilley’s
• Free Admission/Open to the Public
• First come/first served; contestants depart at 2 p.m.
34th Annual Pro Rodeo League of Women Style Show & Luncheon
• 11 a.m. — 2 p.m. | South Point Grand Ballroom
• Hosted by The South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa
• To benefit the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund
Wrangler NFR Autograph Session — Bareback Riders
• 12 p.m. — 2 p.m. | New York–New York — Brooklyn Bridge
• Free Admission/Open to the Public
• First come/first served; contestants depart at 2 p.m.
BFO World Championships
• 1:30 p.m. | Resorts World Las Vegas
• Ticket Required
34th Annual ProRodeo Hall of Fame Golf Tournament
• 8 a.m. — Registration and breakfast | 9 a.m. — Shotgun start
• Awards luncheon following the tournament
• Bali Hai Golf Club (5160 S. Las Vegas Blvd.)
World of Rodeo Reunion & Gold Card Gathering
• 10 a.m. — 2 p.m. | The Orleans — Second Floor
• Featuring Western celebrities, rodeo champions and legends
• Live music, panel discussions and more
• Ticket Required
Wrangler NFR Autograph Session — Saddle Bronc Riders
• 12 p.m. — 2 p.m. | Harrah’s — The Piano Bar
• Free Admission/Open to the Public
• First come/first served; contestants depart at 2 p.m.
BFO World Championships
• 1:30 p.m. | Resorts World Las Vegas
• Ticket Required
BFO World Championships (Finals)
• 1:30 p.m. | Resorts World Las Vegas
• Ticket Required
We hope you enjoyed this quick guide to the Wrangler NFR 2021! The Cowboy Lifestyle Network team can’t wait to see you out there!
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