Update as of June 20, 2024: The PRCA announced Monday that “The National Finals Rodeo has a home in Las Vegas for the next 12 years and the contract is a financial boon with more than a quarter of a billion dollars committed to the contestants and stock contractors through 2035.
Las Vegas Events and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association jointly announced today the financial details of the agreement that will keep the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas through 2035. Over the term of the contract, the total payment to the contestants and stock contractors will be $264,323,473.
Las Vegas’ commitment to the NFR is the richest in the sport’s long and distinguished history. The new agreement will begin in 2024, replacing the previous contract that was scheduled to expire in 2025.”
There is no mention of adding breakaway roping to the Thomas & Mack during the NFR.
The Breakaway Roping Journal will continue to update industry members with news regarding the decision to keep breakaway roping out of the Thomas & Mack as it becomes available.
Original article written Dec. 2024: On Monday afternoon, Dec. 4, 2023, the Las Vegas Events Board of Trustees and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Board of Directors jointly announced an agreement to keep the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas through 2035.
Social media lit up with the news, which broke on the eve of the 2023 National Finals Breakaway Roping, held at the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center in Las Vegas. In response, many questioned, “What about the breakaway roping?”
Fans and ropers have been dreaming of the day that breakaway roping would be included with the other ProRodeo events at the Thomas & Mack. Many believed the move could come with a new NFR contract.
Breakaway roping is sanctioned and governed by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association, which signed a five-year deal with the PRCA to mutually promote the growth of the event into ProRodeo that began in 2020.
While WPRA barrel racers already participate in the Wrangler NFR each year, the Association itself has no part in contract negotiations between the hosting committee, LVE, and the PRCA, which owns that National Finals Rodeo, ProRodeo’s SuperBowl.
Monday’s press release promised more information regarding the financial commitment would be released later, but it said nothing about the possibility of the breakaway roping becoming part of the rodeo. Representatives from the WPRA and PRCA have not commented on the new contract in regard to breakaway roping.
The NFR has sold out 360 consecutive performances and is slated to pay out $14.7 million during its 2023 run. The $250,000 NFBR wrapped competition on Dec. 6 with Shelby Boisjoli-Meged taking home the WPRA World Championship.
The Breakaway Roping Journal will continue to follow this story and will update as information becomes available.
