National Finals Rodeo Tickets

2022 NFR Tickets

The NFR returned to Las Vegas in 2021, but will the bigger crowds return in 2022? Last year's National Finals Rodeo returned to Nevada after one year in Texas, but the demand for tickets last year was not as strong as previous years. This year's edition will once again be back at the Thomas & Mack Center just off the Strip in Vegas. The ten night rodeo extravaganza will kick off on Thursday, December 1st, 2022. The last night of the 2022 National Finals Rodeo is Saturday, December 10th, 2022.

The NFR is typically among the biggest sporting events in the USA, so having back on the "special dirt" in Vegas, with fans in attendance, should make it more popular than usual. It also means the other popular NFR events in Vegas like Cowboy Christmas will happen. Vegas has a history with the NFR and there will be plenty of action happening throughout the 10 days of the finals.

The National Finals Rodeo

The NFR is the "Super Bowl of Rodeo" because it is the most prestigious rodeo in the world. It started in 1958 by the PRCA, who invite the top fifteen money-earners from the season to Vegas to compete. The cowboys are put through 10 rounds of competition over 10 days, with the top eight earning a portion of the richest rodeo purse of over $6 million dollars. The overall winners also receive the legendary National Finals Rodeo champion gold belt buckle. It takes place each December on the campus of UNLV in Las Vegas, Nevada, which has been the host city for the event since 1985.

NFR Championships

There are 7 events and 10 championship, which include the following:

• All-Around
• Barrel Racing
• Bronc Riding
• Bull Riding
• Steer Riding
• Steer Roping
• Steer Wrestling
• Team Roping
• Tie-Down Roping

Vegas During the NFR

The rodeo is the main event in Vegas during the NFR, but is plenty more entertainment for fans who make the trip to Las Vegas. The** Cowboy Christmas Show runs concurrently and is the premier western shopping event, and the Cowboy Fanfest offers western exhibits, championship livestock and autograph sessions.** Then there is the great country music during NFR, as many of country music’s top artists come to Las Vegas to perform. In 2022 the following music stars are scheduled to perform in Vegas during the NFR: Aerosmith, Miranda Lambert, and many, many more. In recent years Dierks Bentley, Jason Aldean, Little Big Town and Reba McEtire + Brooks & Dunn have all appeared during this week.

For more info, check out our NFR event guide which includes information on the best places to sit, where to park, what time each event starts and much more.

NFR at Thomas & Mack Center

The Nationals Final Rodeo is held annually at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. The venue, which was built in 1983, has a capacity of 18,000 fans and is filled up during the entire two weeks of the NFR. Approximately 170k fans attend in-person each year, with tens of thousands more watching the live feed from hotels on the Vegas strip. The Thomas & Mack Center is located on the campus of UNLV.

The Thomas & Mack Center has an upper-deck (200-level) and lower-level (100-level). The bucking chutes are located on the end of the stadium under sections 101 & 122, which offer a really nice view of the action during bull riding and bronc busting. Sections 111 & 112 sit above the roping end, which provide a great view for both team roping and time-down roping.

The VIP Gold Buckle Seats are the best seats in the arena for fans who want an up-close view of the action. The Gold Buckle Seats are the first 5 rows (rows FF-JJ) in sections 104-110 and sections 113-116. They are the most prestigious seats and offer the best view of the action, although some of the seats located right next to the stalls can be slightly obstructed during the action.