NATIONAL FINALS RODEO: 1985-2009
The 2009 National Finals Rodeo marks the 25th year that the event has been held in Las Vegas and at the Thomas & Mack Center. The 10-day rodeo remains the biggest in the world, with the best rodeo athletes, but much of the landscape has changed around the event. Following are facts and figures comparing the 1985 NFR with the 2009 NFR:
Attendance
1985 – 142,000
2008 – 172,747*
Prize money
1985 – $1.79 million
2008 – $5.75 million
Go-round win payout
1985 – $8,080
2008 – $17,139
NFR event title
1985 – $17,574
2008 – $43,954
TV coverage in hours
1985 – 2 taped
2008 – 25 live, 43 taped
Gallon of gas
1985 – $1.19
2008 – $2.60
1985 Dodge pick-up truck
1985 – $6,871
2008 – $21,520
Wrangler jeans
1985 – $12.97
2008 – $16
Justin ostrich boots
1985 – $179
2008 – $225
Coors 12-pack
1985 – $4.99
2008 – $11.49
* 2008 attendance; NFR has had 220 consecutive sellout performances in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS NFR ENTERTAINMENT
1985 — Tammy Wynette, George "Goober" Lindsey, Lee Greenwood, David Copperfield, Larry Gatlin
2009 — Cher, Donnie & Marie, Bill Engvall, Brooks and Dunn, Lee Greenwood, Wayne Newton, Terry Fator
NO. 1 POP SONG
1985 — "Careless Whisper" by Wham!
2009 — "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys
NO. 1 COUNTRY SONG
1985 — "I Don’t Mind the Thorns (If You’re the Rose)" by Lee Greenwood
2009 — "Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum
NO. 1 GROSSING MOVIE
1985 — "Back to the Future"
2009 — "The Twilight Saga: New Moon"
