The National Finals Rodeo (NFR) has officially locked in its future on the Las Vegas Strip. In 2024, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and Las Vegas Events (LVE) announced a landmark agreement that keeps the Wrangler NFR in Las Vegas through 2035 and delivers more than $264 million in payouts to contestants and stock contractors over the life of the deal.
For fans asking, “Will NFR stay in Las Vegas?” the answer is a clear yes. For athletes, it means record-breaking prize money starting with a $17.5 million payout at NFR 2025. And for viewers at home, it cements a long-term partnership between the PRCA, Las Vegas and The Cowboy Channel, the TV home of the NFR.
What’s in the New NFR–Las Vegas Contract?
The revised PRCA–Las Vegas Events contract does three big things:
- Keeps NFR in Las Vegas through 2035
- Increases annual prize money every year of the deal
- Adds a signing-bonus bump in 2024 and 2025
According to the official announcement from NFR Experience and multiple national outlets, the contract includes:
- Term: 2024–2035 (12 years)
- Total payout over the contract: about $264.3 million to contestants and stock contractors
- Signing bonus (extra money): LVE guarantees an additional $1.3 million in 2024 and another $1.3 million in 2025 on top of the standard increases
- Annual increases: Contestant purse + stock contractor compensation go up by $1 million every year from 2025 through 2035
- End-of-term payout: By 2035, the annual NFR payout will exceed $27.5 million
Put simply: the new NFR 2025 Las Vegas contract locks the event into the city and guarantees that the world’s richest rodeo will keep getting richer for more than a decade.
NFR 2025 Prize Money: First Big Jump of the New Deal
The first visible impact of the contract extension comes with the payouts for 2024 and 2025.
- NFR 2024 payout: more than $16.2 million total
- Contestants: $12,501,505
- Stock contractors: $3,750,451
- NFR 2025 payout: more than $17.5 million total
- Contestants: $13,501,505
- Stock contractors: $4,050,451
From there, the contest purse and stock contractor pay will increase by $1 million per year through 2035. By the final year of the deal, the annual payout for the NFR is projected to be more than $27.5 million.
For competitors, NFR prize money 2025 and beyond means:
- Bigger go-round checks each night
- Higher average (aggregate) payouts in every event
- Stronger rewards for NFR qualifiers in all eight standard PRCA/WPRA events
Will NFR Stay in Las Vegas? (Short Answer: Yes)
There has always been speculation about other cities trying to lure the NFR away—Oklahoma City, Dallas/Fort Worth, even talk about a future Las Vegas baseball stadium. But the new agreement answers the big question: the NFR is staying in Las Vegas through at least 2035.
Key points fans should know:
- Host city locked in: The contract is between the PRCA and Las Vegas Events, so the event will remain in Las Vegas for the full term.
- Core venue: The NFR continues to be scheduled for the Thomas & Mack Center on the UNLV campus (where it has been held since 1985, except for the 2020 COVID relocation).
- Possible future tweaks: If Las Vegas builds new facilities (like a new domed stadium), there may be discussions about venue adjustments later—but the city is locked in either way.
So if you’re planning a long-term NFR tradition with your family, you can safely plan on December in Las Vegas for the next decade.
Why This Contract Matters for the Future of Rodeo
The PRCA–Las Vegas deal is more than just an arena lease. It’s a financial and marketing framework that supports the entire rodeo ecosystem.
Security for Contestants & Stock Contractors
The long-term commitment provides:
- Predictable, growing payouts that make a rodeo career more sustainable for top athletes
- Stronger financial support for stock contractors who invest in breeding world-class bucking horses and bulls
- Greater stability for committees, contract personnel and sponsors attached to the NFR
As PRCA CEO Tom Glause put it, the deal benefits “every PRCA member — contestants, stock contractors, committees and contract personnel” and provides long-term security for the sport.
Marketing & Season-Long Promotion
The contract also includes expanded marketing commitments:
- Las Vegas Events is an Official Sponsor of the PRCA, NFR, National Finals Steer Roping, NFR Open and 12 National Circuit Finals Rodeos.
- Season-long campaigns promote the NFR brand and drive fans toward Las Vegas in December.
That means more year-round visibility for rodeo, not just a 10-day spike.
The Cowboy Channel’s Role in the New Era
While the contract focuses on prize money and location, it fits hand-in-hand with NFR’s broadcast home on The Cowboy Channel and its streaming platform Cowboy Channel+. Since 2020, The Cowboy Channel has been the official TV network for the NFR, airing every performance live from Las Vegas.
For fans, that means:
- Every NFR 2025 round live on The Cowboy Channel
- Simulcast coverage on RFD-TV (where carried)
- Streaming access via Cowboy Channel+ on phones, tablets and smart TVs
The combination of a stable home in Las Vegas and a dedicated western sports network gives the NFR more consistent branding and coverage than ever before.
Future of NFR Location: City vs. Venue
One source of confusion online is the difference between the host city and the host building.
- City: The new contract guarantees the NFR will remain in Las Vegas through 2035.
- Venue: Currently, the event is held at the Thomas & Mack Center. Some reports and discussions mention the possibility of using future facilities (like the planned Las Vegas A’s ballpark), but nothing official has been announced about a venue change.
For now, the safe expectation is:
- Short term (2025–2027): NFR at Thomas & Mack Center, UNLV campus
- Mid–long term (through 2035): NFR remains in Las Vegas; venue updates possible but not required by the contract
In other words, the future of NFR location is settled at the city level. Any arena upgrades or moves would still keep the event in Las Vegas.
What This Means for Fans Planning NFR 2025 & Beyond
For fans, this contract brings several practical benefits:
- Long-term planning: You can book future December trips to Las Vegas with confidence, knowing the NFR will be there.
- Bigger payouts = bigger storylines: With more money on the line each year, world title races will be more dramatic and financially meaningful.
- More events around the NFR: Cowboy Christmas, Junior World Finals and NFR After Dark after-parties all benefit from the security and marketing of a long-term deal.
If you’re building an NFR tradition — whether it’s a once-a-year trip or a watch-party at home — the new contract gives you a clear roadmap all the way to 2035.
FAQ – NFR 2025 Las Vegas Contract & Future Location
Will the NFR stay in Las Vegas?
Yes. The new PRCA–Las Vegas Events contract keeps the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas through 2035. The agreement includes more than $264 million in total payouts to contestants and stock contractors over the life of the deal.
How much is the NFR 2025 payout?
Under the new contract, the NFR 2025 payout is more than $17.5 million, including about $13.5 million to contestants and $4.05 million to stock contractors. That makes NFR 2025 the richest rodeo in the world.
What is the PRCA–Las Vegas deal worth overall?
The contract will pay roughly $264.3 million to NFR contestants and stock contractors between 2024 and 2035. By the final year, the annual payout is expected to exceed $27.5 million.
Why did NFR extend with Las Vegas instead of moving?
Las Vegas has hosted the NFR since 1985 (except for a one-year COVID move to Texas in 2020). City leaders and the PRCA describe the new deal as a continuation of a “strong partnership” that benefits fans, contestants and the sport’s visibility. Competing bids from other cities haven’t matched the overall financial and marketing package that Las Vegas offers.
Who broadcasts NFR under this new agreement?
The TV and streaming home of the NFR remains The Cowboy Channel, with additional coverage on RFD-TV and Cowboy Channel+ for streaming. The long-term Las Vegas deal gives broadcasters stability and helps them invest in better production and year-round PRCA coverage.
Bottom line: the PRCA–Las Vegas contract extension guarantees that NFR 2025 and beyond will stay in Las Vegas, with bigger prize money every year and a stronger platform for the entire sport of rodeo.