The NFR Will Begin Friday Dec. 8 and Host All 10 Rounds

The 2023 NFR will be 10 Rounds with two performances Wednesday Dec. 13 after the first round was canceled following a mass shooting on the UNLV Campus.

The Las Vegas Events Board of Trustees and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Board of Directors announced today that the first round of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo will now be held on Friday, Dec. 8.

To ensure all ten performances take place, an additional make up-round has been added on the morning of Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. The Board announced that there will be no public access to this round.

“It will definitely be different running one at the NFR in a morning, but I’m grateful that they got it worked out for us to get to run all 10,” two-time World Champion Patrick Smith said. “Everyone has worked so hard to get here. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the shooting.”

“We all have heavy hearts over the tragic events that occurred on Wednesday,” said LVE President Tim Keener in a press release. “The National Finals Rodeo has brought the Las Vegas community together since 1985, and we will honor those that we have lost through our rodeo—an event that celebrates unity, togetherness and bringing friends and families together. We will do this in solidarity with our fans, as well as our partners at the PRCA, UNLV and the community.”

Official List of 2023 NFR-Qualifying Tie-Down Ropers

If you are a season ticket holder, you will receive a full refund for the canceled performance which will be issued by Las Vegas Events. If you purchased tickets through StubHub, a refund will be issued directly to the buyer through StubHub.

“I think the situation was handled well, and I’m thankful there are such procedures in place security wise for these instances because we do live in an interesting world these days,” World Champion Wesley Thorp said. “I’m going to take an extra day to spend time with my family and practice one last time before it kicks off. I think this is a good reminder to not take what we have for granted.”

The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas at the Las Vegas Convention Center, South and Central Halls started today and will continue as planned through Dec. 16, free and open to the public.

This press release is courtesy of the PRCA. Thank you to the PRCA for handling this tragic development in a timely and sensitive manner.