It almost sounds like a bad joke.  Everyone knows that when the PRCA holds its National Finals Rodeo, everybody makes the big trip to Las Vegas.  For 2 weeks in December, Las Vegas is all about bronc busting, bull riding, team roping and a collection of the finest cowboys and cowgirls the world has to offer.  But apparently, after 2014, that 29 year history will come to a screeching halt.

In an article we read by Alan Snel from the Las Vegas Review Journal, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association board voted 6-3 Sunday to pursue a move to Central Florida near Disney World and Orlando.

From the article we learn that Osceola County in Florida will provide $16 million in annual purses and administrative costs as well as a new 24,000-seat arena.

A statement on the PRCA website states “The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Board of Directors voted Dec. 15 to reject the terms of the current financial offer from Las Vegas Events to extend the WNFR contract past 2014. The PRCA Board did not vote to leave Las Vegas; the vote was made strictly on the content of the current offer. The PRCA continues to carefully consider offers from all potential WNFR hosts.”

Snel’s article goes on to say,

Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events, which is funded by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and promotes the NFR, called the move “a big mistake.” Christenson said Las Vegas Events already is working on its own championship rodeo event to be held in December 2015. “We will not give up the two weeks in December that we have held for the last 29 years,” Christenson said. In a statement, Las Vegas Events said, “Now that we know the PRCA’s true intentions, we will put our full effort into developing a new Series and Finals. For almost 30 years, we have developed a loyal fan base that calls Las Vegas home for the first two weeks in December. We are confident our new ‘Finals’ will exceed all expectations.”

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