The 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) is more than just another championship – it marks the 40th year of the NFR in Las Vegas. Since the rodeo moved to the Thomas & Mack Center in 1985, it has turned early December from a quiet period into full-on “Cowboy Town” on the Strip.
In 2025, fans will celebrate this milestone from December 4–13 as the top 15 contestants in each event compete for a record $17.5 million purse at the Thomas & Mack Center.
From Dallas to Vegas: A Quick History of the National Finals Rodeo
The National Finals Rodeo didn’t start in Las Vegas – but Vegas is where it became a global spectacle.
Early Years (1959–1984)
- 1959: The first NFR is held at the Dallas State Fairgrounds in Texas, created by the PRCA to decide world champions in the main rodeo events.
- 1960s–1970s: The event rotates through major cities, including Los Angeles and Oklahoma City, where it becomes a major December draw.
- Late 1970s–1984: Oklahoma City hosts the NFR at the State Fair Arena and later the Myriad Convention Center, until a new bid changes everything.
The Move to Las Vegas (1985)
In the early 1980s, Las Vegas made an aggressive bid to host the NFR. The city promised bigger prize money, a world-class venue and a destination experience built around entertainment, casinos and hotels.
- 1985: The NFR moves to the Thomas & Mack Center on the UNLV campus.
- It quickly sells out 10 nights and brings a huge tourism boost to what had been a slow month for Vegas.
From that moment on, the history of the National Finals Rodeo and the story of modern Las Vegas became tightly connected.
Thomas & Mack Center: Home of the NFR Since 1985
For four decades, the Thomas & Mack Center has been the heart of NFR’s Las Vegas run.
- Opened: 1983 as UNLV’s multi-purpose arena
- NFR’s first Las Vegas edition: 1985
- Capacity: Roughly 17,000 rodeo fans per performance
- Impact: Millions of fans have attended the NFR at Thomas & Mack, making it the arena’s biggest annual client.
The arena’s famous “special dirt” is stored on campus and brought back each year, helping create consistent footing for bucking horses, bulls and timed-event horses.
2020: The Year the NFR Left Vegas (Briefly)
The only modern break in the Vegas run came in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced Nevada to impose strict crowd limits. The NFR temporarily moved to Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, so the event could host fans safely.
In 2021, the NFR returned to the Thomas & Mack Center and resumed its Las Vegas streak. By 2025, the city is celebrating its 40th Las Vegas NFR, counting every edition hosted there since 1985 (minus the one-year Texas detour).
How the NFR Turned December into “Cowboy Town”
When the NFR first arrived, December was considered a slower month for Las Vegas tourism. After 40 years, that’s completely changed.
- 170,000+ fans attend the NFR across 10 performances in recent years.
- Strip and downtown properties now build full rodeo-week entertainment lineups around the event.
- Cowboy hats, boots and denim dominate casino floors, showrooms and restaurants.
- Las Vegas Convention Center hosts Cowboy Christmas, a huge free Western shopping experience that has become an annual tradition of its own.
Today the NFR is widely credited with transforming December from an off-season to one of Las Vegas’ busiest months, especially for country and western fans.
Highlights from Four Decades of NFR in Las Vegas
1980s: The Vegas Era Begins
- 1985: First NFR at Thomas & Mack – bigger prize money and a new show-style production.
- 1980s: Las Vegas proves it can sell out 10 nights, confirming the move from Oklahoma City was the right call.
1990s: Super Bowl of Rodeo
- NFR cements its status as the “Super Bowl of Rodeo”, with TV coverage, packed stands and growing purses.
- Thomas & Mack upgrades its production, lighting and in-arena experience to match Vegas entertainment standards.
2000s: Sellouts and TV Evolution
- NFR sells out performance after performance, with long streaks of consecutive sellouts.
- Broadcast moves from ESPN to other networks, ultimately setting the stage for today’s dedicated western sports coverage.
2010s–2020s: Record Payouts & Global Reach
- Purses climb into the tens of millions, officially making NFR the richest rodeo in the world.
- The Cowboy Channel (and later Cowboy Channel+) takes over live TV and streaming, bringing NFR to more fans worldwide.
- 2020: Temporary move to Texas; 2021: triumphant return to Vegas.
What’s Special About the 40th Las Vegas NFR in 2025?
For the 40th anniversary of NFR in Las Vegas, organizers are rolling out special tributes, bigger entertainment and record prize money.
Record Purse & Anniversary Status
- Dates: December 4–13, 2025
- Venue: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas
- Purse: About $17.5 million (the largest in NFR history), with $13.5M+ to contestants.
- Occasion: Officially recognized as the 40th Las Vegas NFR by event organizers and city tourism boards.
Special Opening Performances & Tributes
Las Vegas Events has announced a full slate of special opening performances for each of the 10 nights, including a Throwback Night tribute to 1985 and themed productions supported by full-arena LED, lasers and pyrotechnics.
- Each night features a unique opening act or tribute segment.
- Partners such as Music City Rodeo tie Nashville’s music scene to the “Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World.”
Citywide 40th Anniversary Celebrations
Beyond the arena, Las Vegas 2025 NFR celebrations include:
- Downtown Hoedown at Fremont Street Experience as the official rodeo-week kickoff with free concerts.
- Expanded Cowboy Christmas at the Las Vegas Convention Center, with hundreds of exhibitors and daily stage entertainment.
- Major country concerts and comedy shows up and down the Strip during NFR week.
How the 40th Las Vegas NFR Shapes the Future
The 40th anniversary isn’t just about looking back. It also sets the tone for the next decade of NFR in Las Vegas.
- A long-term contract keeps the NFR in Las Vegas through 2035, with annual purse increases.
- Growing prize money and global TV/streaming coverage help attract new fans and young athletes.
- Youth events like the YETI Junior National Finals Rodeo (celebrating its 10th year) show how the Vegas NFR is developing the next generation.
In other words, the 2025 40th Las Vegas NFR is both a celebration of everything the rodeo has become and a launchpad for what it will be in the years to come.
FAQ – 40th Las Vegas NFR in 2025
Why is NFR 2025 called the 40th Las Vegas NFR?
Because 2025 marks the 40th year that the National Finals Rodeo has been hosted in Las Vegas. The NFR first moved to the Thomas & Mack Center in 1985, and despite a one-year move to Texas in 2020, 2025 is recognized as the 40th Las Vegas NFR by official tourism and event sites.
When and where is the 40th Las Vegas NFR in 2025?
The Wrangler NFR 2025 runs from December 4–13, 2025 at the Thomas & Mack Center on the UNLV campus in Las Vegas, Nevada.
How much is the NFR 2025 purse?
The NFR 2025 purse is expected to be about $17.5 million in total payout, with more than $13.5 million to contestants and the balance to stock contractors – the richest rodeo purse in the world.
What’s different at NFR 2025 for the 40th anniversary?
Special 40th anniversary touches include themed opening performances each night, tributes to past champions, expanded entertainment across Las Vegas, and a record purse. The entire city is leaning into the “40 years of NFR in Las Vegas” theme with concerts, parties and promotions.
Where can I learn more about the history of the National Finals Rodeo?
For deeper history, visit the official NFR History page at NFRexperience.com, PRCA’s archives, and tourism sites like Travel Nevada, which highlight how the NFR has shaped Las Vegas since 1985.
As the 40th Las Vegas NFR in 2025 gets closer, one thing is clear: what started in 1985 as a bold experiment is now a full-fledged Vegas tradition – and it’s only getting bigger.