Rodeo fans come by the thousands and spend millions
Those who thought the National Finals Rodeo was definitely leaving Las Vegas after next year may have to think again.
Las Vegas Events, the organization that brings the popular event to town each year, has invited the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association to counter its most recent offer, and extended the deadline for negotiations to January 14.
The PRCA also is in talks with Osceola County, Florida near Orlando, which offered $16 million in annual prize money for the NFR plus millions in additional funds for marketing. Las Vegas Events’ proposed a 10-year deal with $6 million in purses for a total package worth $15 million. Osceola County also would develop a 24,000-seat arena that would open in 2016, plus millions of dollars for annual marketing.
The NFR, called “the Super Bowl of rodeos” by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, just completed its 29th year in Las Vegas, selling out every night. The PRCA’s contract with Las Vegas Events expires this year.
Las Vegas Events spokesman Michael Mack said last month that the deadline was extended “out of respect for the process.” Las Vegas Events, part of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, wants to keep the NFR in town because it brings more than 175,000 people per year to town over 10 days and injects $60 million into the Las Vegas economy every year.
