Las Vegas Weekly

December 3, 2009 · 1:37 PM

Country superstars ramp up excitement as NFR begins 10-day run

By Robin Leach

Dierks Bentley at the 2009 Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

The National Finals Rodeo really revs up tonight with the first of 10 consecutive nights of competition as the cowboys wrestle the horses and bulls to compete for the $5.75 million prize purse. Call this the World Series of Cowboys. Call it the Super Bowl of the rodeo world. As of today, forget that Sin City label because we are the real Cowboy Town now!

It’s also the start of the Cowboy Christmas Gift Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, which runs until the end of the NFR on Dec. 12. There is more than 300,000 square feet with 400 vendors from across North America showcasing western wear, boots, spurs, buckles, furniture, original art, pottery and customized jewelry. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association National Convention Trade Show opens in the other area of the Convention Center.

Entertainment swings into full gear with stars in town for the next 10 days: Rodney Carrington (MGM Grand) and Bill Engvall (Treasure Island) kick off their runs tonight, and Lonestar entertains downtown at the Golden Nugget. Others coming in over the weekend: Clay Walker (Golden Nugget), Ron White (The Mirage), Brooks & Dunn (Las Vegas Hilton), Tanya Tucker (Silverton), Willie Nelson (Planet Hollywood) and Lee Greenwood (The Orleans Arena). Wrapping it up next weekend will be John Michael Montgomery (Golden Nugget), Dierks Bentley (Mandalay Bay), Garth Brooks (Wynn), Miranda Lambert (Silverton), Rodney Atkins (Golden Nugget) and Larry the Cable Guy (Mandalay Bay).

Additionally, each night at the Cox Pavilion, the Academy of Country Music will present a solo artist onstage. First up tonight is Heidi Newfield, followed this weekend by David Nail, Sunny Sweeny and Easton Corbin. Lonestar, Susie Dobbs, Tanya Tucker, Elena Batman, Josh Thompson, Christy Molasky, LoCash Cowboys, John Michael Montgomery, Sabina Peterman, Ann Marie Vaslenti and Joe Nichols will sing the national anthem before each rodeo performance.

It’s a special NFR here this year because in celebrating its 25th anniversary in Las Vegas, the organization also starts its 51st year. All eyes will be on the riders to see if Trevor Brazile will win his seventh Wrangler National Finals. The World All-Around Rodeo Champion Cowboy title goes to the highest earning cowboy who has regularly competed in events over the year. We’ll have daily overnight photo coverage and reports from the Thomas & Mack Center. NFR will be telecast on ESPN.

The Top 15 contestants will compete in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronco riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding. Last year, total attendance over 10 nights was 173,747, with sell-outs for more than 220 consecutive performances!

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert.

Here’s today’s highlights:

*The Miss Rodeo America Pageant continues at The Orleans, and we will post contributing photographer Tom Donoghue’s first shoot from yesterday here later.

*The first contest of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo starts at the Thomas & Mack Center.

*The National Finals Rodeo Tonight Show hosted by Don Gay, Joe Beaver and Dan Miller is at the Gold Coast Showroom.

*The Wrangler NFR Go Round Buckle Presentation is at 11 p.m. in the South Point hosted by Flint Rasmussen and Randy Corley.

*The ultra dive bar Rockhouse at center Strip throws its unofficial rodeo party with 18 widescreen plasma TVs showing nonstop rodeo action, and cowgirls receive free admission until 10 p.m. and complimentary cocktails until midnight.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter HERE.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter HERE.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter HERE.

Share This