The rodeo is back

Speaking of special events:

Today Las Vegas welcomes back its crown jewel of tourist draws, the 54th National Finals Rodeo. For nearly three decades, cowboys have been coming to Southern Nevada at a time of year that used to be a hard sell for hotels.

Last year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the 10-day event generated a nongaming economic impact of $60.1 million and nearly $11 million in gambling. Those figures don’t consider the weeklong country music entertainment blitz and other NFR-related celebrations. Every year, every night, UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center is sold out for the biggest rodeo around.

“I would argue the experience around the NFR is more unique and targeted than the Super Bowl or World Series,” said Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events, which operates the NFR. “During the 10 days of the NFR, Las Vegas becomes the most unique Western sports and entertainment experience in the world.

“It’s like a championship sports event with a 10-day Coachella on steroids.”

And it’s here through 2014, with talks under way to extend the contract. Other venues that are larger and more modern than the Thomas & Mack Center will spare no expense in wooing the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.

But will those cities be able to offer rodeo fans the ability to stay out till dawn and enjoy a different country music and country comic performance every night? Monday’s American Country Awards show, to be broadcast by Fox from the Mandalay Bay Events Center, is a by-product of the NFR’s relationship with Las Vegas.

So if you see a cowboy on the Strip or eating out, give him a hearty handshake – no fist bumps or hugs, please – a welcome and a thank you for visiting our city.

The NFR has helped make Las Vegas what it is today, and vice versa. Neither would be the same without each other.

Let’s try to keep the party going.