This year’s National Finals Rodeo by the numbers

By BETSY HELFAND LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

8 years ago

Bull rider Trey Benton III from Rock Island, Texas, is bucked off of Mr. Bull during the tenth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014. (Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review Journal)

Steer wrestler Dakota Eldridge, 23, who hails from Elko, is in his second NFR. “This year, I might raise the bar a little bit,” Eldridge says. (Courtesy)

A man tosses a hay to National Finals Rodeo working stock at the Intramural Field behind the Thomas & Mack Center on Monday, Nov. 27, 2016. The 10-day event kicks off on Thursday. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow @jeffscheid

Trevor Brazile from Decatur, Texas, waves to the crowd after winning the all around world championship during the tenth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014. (Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review Journal)

Jade Corkill from Fallon, Nev., left,and partner Clay Tryan from Billings, Mont., rope a calf to a time of 6.0 seconds during the tenth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014.(Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review Journal)

Starting Thursday, the National Finals Rodeo will take over the Thomas & Mack Center for 10 days.

Here are 10 facts and figures about the rodeo:

2 — The competitors from Nevada. Steer wrestler Dakota Eldridge hails from Elko, and bareback rider Wyatt Denny is from Minden.

14 days until #WNFR #practice #mtnops #platinumperformance #nutrena #playtowin #ariat #teamresistol #baileyshouseofguns

A video posted by Dakota Eldridge (@dakotaeldridge21) on Nov 17, 2016 at 10:46am PST

4 — The number of countries that will be represented. While a majority of contestants are from the United States, Canada, Brazil and France also will be represented.

15 — The top 15 contestants in bull riding, barrel racing, tie-down roping, saddle bronc riding, team roping, bareback riding and steer wrestling will compete.

32 — This marks the 32nd year the NFR will be in Las Vegas.

39 — The competitors who have qualified for the first time. That includes 11 team ropers, seven bull riders and six barrel racers.

120 — Total contestants that will participate in the NFR.

2,000 — Tons of dirt — inside and out — to prepare the Thomas & Mack Center for the rodeo.

Dirt prep for the #WranglerNFR . 4 days to go! https://t.co/P7npZsVNUF pic.twitter.com/u2m35YxvJG

— NationalFinalsRodeo (@LasVegasNFR) November 27, 2016

2005 — The last year someone besides Trevor Brazile won the PRCA all-around title. Brazile won’t be eligible for this year’s competition, meaning a new all-around champion will emerge.

170,966 — Last year’s total attendance from 10 days of the NFR. This year’s event is also sold-out, so it should see a similar figure.

$10 million — The total prize money up for grabs at the NFR.

Contact Betsy Helfand at bhelfand@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BetsyHelfand on Twitter.