The journey to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo may be even more difficult than the sport itself. For the past year, the athletes have spent a large portion of their lives traveling in hopes of winning the “Super Bowl of Rodeo.” They have occasionally struggled with exhaustion, broken-down cars, travel delays, and injuries (to themselves or their livestock). They may be exhausted from traveling, but they are also energized and ready to fight for the coveted title of world champion by the time they get to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas in December.
The Official Establishment
The PRCA is the world’s biggest rodeo organization. In the US, there are roughly 3,900 WPRA members in all of its regional circuits and 6,600 current PRCA members. They make a lot of money at sanctioned rodeos throughout the year—roughly 600 for barrel racers and 650 for PRCA events. Rodeo competitors have their own costs, which can be significant, even though many professional sports feature well compensated individuals or team members. Trailers, veterinary care, travel, and horses all add up. Although sponsors contribute, the contestants bear the majority of the costs. It’s like gambling on oneself to pay an admission fee, and rodeo competitors do that all year long. Therefore, it seems sense that everything ends with intense arena action in
The Circuit of Cowboys
The PRCA’s circuit system may be its lifeblood. There are 12 home circuits in the US and one in Canada where competitors compete. Top performers earn a spot in their circuit finals rodeos, which are among the year’s highest-paying competitions. Two competitors from each circuit advance to the NFR Open (formerly known as the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo) through those finals. Participants have the opportunity to advance in the rankings and earn a berth at the NFR from these lucrative competitions.
The Principal Occasion
The Thomas & Mack is the venue for the arena action every night. It moves quickly, with one occurrence after another. However, the event winners always have time for a victory lap. During rodeo performances, the arena, which is often home to the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels basketball team, can accommodate around 17,000 spectators. Not a single seat in the house is awful. It is unlike anything other. The mood is electric, according to Lockhart. “It’s a fantastic show for both competitors and viewers.” The incredible spectacle resumes once the arena dust has settled. The entire shimmering Strip is waiting for you, and the night is still as young as you are.
Act Like a Girl
Despite not being a part of the NFR events, breakaway roping has become very popular in recent years. Breakaway events are sanctioned by both PRCA and WPRA, and since 2019, the number of events permitted has increased from 30 to 500 each year. The National Finals Breakaway Roping, a stand-alone event held before the NFR’s opening round, has gained appeal among competitors and spectators alike.
The motion moves quickly, and after successfully throwing a loop and stopping their horse, ropers frequently record times of only a few seconds, which causes the rope to separate from the saddle. Blinking will cause you to miss it. The best earners are now competing with those in other events, and the WPRA maintains breakaway standings. Taylor Munsell, the top-ranked breakaway roper, was getting close to earning $100,000 this season as of late spring. More than $300,000 in prize money was up for grabs in 2024 for the top 15 WPRA breakaway ropers.
Christmas for cowboys
Even though there are many high-paying rodeos all year long, like the September Pendleton Round-Up in Oregon and the annual Labor Day Weekend Ellensburg Rodeo in Washington, June and July are referred to be “Cowboy Christmas.” Like Christmas itself, the phrase evokes a sense of excitement and expectation, with cowboys and cowgirls hoping to earn a fortune during a run of especially profitable major rodeos. The Fourth of July is a particularly prosperous time for rodeo. Cowboys rely on summer rodeos like the Prescott Frontier Days in Arizona, the Calgary Stampede in Canada, the Greeley Stampede in Colorado, and the Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming to boost their income and climb the rankings.
How to View
On the day of opening, the Cowboy Channel will begin airing full coverage of the 2025 NFR at 4 p.m. EST. The Cowboy Channel features rodeo action from Zero In, Western Sports Round-Up, and Rodeo Live! presented by Tractor Supply Company to the opening ceremonies, every National Finals Rodeo event, and the Resorts World Las Vegas post-show. To subscribe to the Cowboy Channel if you don’t already have it, go to cowboychannelplus.com. Go to the nfrrodeos.com to learn more about the broadcast schedule.
