2018 NFR Las Vegas, Day 1 — PHOTOS

A showgirl during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

Tilden Hooper of Carthage,Texas rides "Redzilla" while competing in bareback riding during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

Sterling Crawley of Stephenville, Texas gets bucked off of "Copper Cat" while competing in saddle bronc riding during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

Chase Brooks of Deer Lodge, Mont. competes in saddle bronc riding during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

Trey Benton III of Rock Island, Texas rides "VJV Whiskey Hand" while competing in bull riding during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

Wade Sundell of Boxholm, Iowa rides "Lock & Load" while competing in saddle bronc riding during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

Orin Larsen of Manitoba, Canada rides "Imperial Beach" while competing in bareback riding during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

Carman Pozzobon of British Columbia, Canada competes in barrel racing during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

An aerialist performs during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

Shane O'Connell of Rapid City, S.D. rides "Night Fist" while competing in bareback riding during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

Sage Kimzey of Strong City, Okla. gets upended by "Mortimer" after completing his bull ride during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

Tyler Bingham of Honeyville, Utah gets bucked off of "Joker" while competing in bull riding during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

Kyle Irwin of Robertsdale, Ala. competes in steer wrestling during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

Jake Long of Coffeyville, Kan. competes in team roping during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

Chase Brooks of Deer Lodge, Mont. rides "Alpha Dog" while competing in saddle bronc riding during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

Competitors get ready for the start of the first night of the National Finals Rodeo after the opening ceremony at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

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Free shuttle buses to return for National Finals Rodeo events

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MGM Grand lands a superstar on ascent for December show

Las Vegas Review-Journal

December 6, 2018 - 10:20 pm

Updated December 6, 2018 - 10:38 pm

The National Finals Rodeo started its annual 10-day run at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday.

Check out the photo gallery above.

More NFR: Follow at reviewjournal.com/nfr and @RJ_Sports on Twitter.

Free shuttle buses to return for National Finals Rodeo events

By Richard N. Velotta / RJ

October 23, 2024 - 11:58 am

Las Vegas Events says the free NFR Express will serve 24 Las Vegas resorts on 14 routes to and from the Thomas & Mack Center in December.

Reigning rodeo champion ends season, won’t compete in Las Vegas

By Ed Graney / RJ

August 1, 2024 - 12:19 pm

Stetson Wright, an eight-time PRCA world champion, won’t compete in this year’s National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas while recovering from hamstring surgery.

World’s richest rodeo gets even richer in Las Vegas through 2035

By Richard N. Velotta / RJ

June 18, 2024 - 7:09 pm

The National Finals Rodeo is committed to staying in Las Vegas through 2035 with payouts to contestants and stock contractors growing annually.

MGM Grand lands a superstar on ascent for December show

By John Katsilometes / RJ

June 3, 2024 - 12:15 pm

Lainey Wilson is set to perform at MGM Grand Garden, side-saddle with the National Finals Rodeo at nearby Thomas & Mack Center.

Could the NFR shift to A’s Las Vegas ballpark?

By Mick Akers / RJ

May 23, 2024 - 8:58 am

The 10-day event, with a $11.5 million prize purse, has sold out 360 consecutive performances at the Thomas & Mack Center.

National Finals Rodeo will be held in Vegas for many years to come

By Richard N. Velotta / RJ

April 9, 2024 - 4:46 pm

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority approved an extension to its contract with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Competitors gather in the arena as the fans applaud at the start of the opening night of Wrangl ...

3-time NFR team roper dies at age 30

By Las Vegas Review-Journal / RJ

March 2, 2024 - 7:00 am

Quinn Kesler, a team roper from Holden, Utah, who qualified three times for the NFR in Las Vegas, died Monday at age 30.

Stetson Wright, center, talks about winning a fifth straight all-around championship at the Nat ...

3 takeaways from NFR: Injured Wright still savors 5th straight title

By Alex Wright / RJ

December 17, 2023 - 4:46 pm

Stetson Wright won his fifth all-around world championship despite missing most of the National Finals Rodeo with a hamstring injury. Here are three takeaways from NFR.