National Finals Rodeo

Thomas & Mack transformed from UNLV basketball to NFR — VIDEO

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Top Las Vegas Strip nightclub going country for NFR

Sue Smith races her horse during the barrel racing portion of the National Finals Rodeo at the ...

Free shuttle buses to return for National Finals Rodeo events

Reigning rodeo champion ends season, won’t compete in Las Vegas

World’s richest rodeo gets even richer in Las Vegas through 2035

Las Vegas Review-Journal

December 7, 2017 - 4:08 pm

Updated December 7, 2017 - 5:38 pm

The National Finals Rodeo starts Thursday and runs 10 days at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Over the past five days, the Thomas & Mack saw a transformation from UNLV basketball court to dirt.

The arena floor is covered with dirt from 12 to 15 inches thick, and more than 2,000 tons of dirt is brought in for the event.

Check out the video above to see a time-lapse of the transformation.

More NFR: Follow all of our National Finals Rodeo coverage online at reviewjournal.com/NFR.

Top Las Vegas Strip nightclub going country for NFR

By John Katsilometes / RJ

November 14, 2024 - 12:34 pm

Dustin Lynch, Kane Brown, Diplo as Thomas Wesley join Mashmello and pioneering duo Vevo are in “Desert Saddle” at XS Nightclub.

Free shuttle buses to return for National Finals Rodeo events

By Richard N. Velotta / RJ

October 23, 2024 - 11:58 am

Las Vegas Events says the free NFR Express will serve 24 Las Vegas resorts on 14 routes to and from the Thomas & Mack Center in December.

Reigning rodeo champion ends season, won’t compete in Las Vegas

By Ed Graney / RJ

August 1, 2024 - 12:19 pm

Stetson Wright, an eight-time PRCA world champion, won’t compete in this year’s National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas while recovering from hamstring surgery.

World’s richest rodeo gets even richer in Las Vegas through 2035

By Richard N. Velotta / RJ

June 18, 2024 - 7:09 pm

The National Finals Rodeo is committed to staying in Las Vegas through 2035 with payouts to contestants and stock contractors growing annually.

Lainey Wilson accepts the award for entertainer of the year during the 59th annual Academy of C ...

MGM Grand lands a superstar on ascent for December show

By John Katsilometes / RJ

June 3, 2024 - 12:15 pm

Lainey Wilson is set to perform at MGM Grand Garden, side-saddle with the National Finals Rodeo at nearby Thomas & Mack Center.

Could the NFR shift to A’s Las Vegas ballpark?

By Mick Akers / RJ

May 23, 2024 - 8:58 am

The 10-day event, with a $11.5 million prize purse, has sold out 360 consecutive performances at the Thomas & Mack Center.

National Finals Rodeo will be held in Vegas for many years to come

By Richard N. Velotta / RJ

April 9, 2024 - 4:46 pm

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority approved an extension to its contract with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Competitors gather in the arena as the fans applaud at the start of the opening night of Wrangl ...

3-time NFR team roper dies at age 30

March 2, 2024 - 7:00 am

Quinn Kesler, a team roper from Holden, Utah, who qualified three times for the NFR in Las Vegas, died Monday at age 30.

Stetson Wright, center, talks about winning a fifth straight all-around championship at the Nat ...

3 takeaways from NFR: Injured Wright still savors 5th straight title

By Alex Wright / RJ

December 17, 2023 - 4:46 pm

Stetson Wright won his fifth all-around world championship despite missing most of the National Finals Rodeo with a hamstring injury. Here are three takeaways from NFR.

2023 NFR Las Vegas 10th go-round results

December 17, 2023 - 8:51 am

Here are the 10th go-round results from the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.