The NFR is back in Vegas! When talking about 2023 Rodeo is basically refers to an annual National Finals Rodeo event. The 2023 NFR will return to their home in Las Vegas, Nevada. After moving for a year to Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas the ’21 edition will be back at the Thomas & Mack Center just off the Strip in Vegas. The 10 night rodeo spectacular will kick off on Thursday, December 7th, 2023. The finals performance of the 2023 National Finals Rodeo is Saturday, December 16th.
The scheduled event is supposed to cover about Bareback Riding, Barrel Racing, Bull Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping and Time-down Roping. Importantly, NFR live stream 2023. The NFR is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and entertaining rodeos that the world has ever seen. The top cowboys in the world will be putting their boots on and taking each other on to try and claim a world championship in their respective events. Mark your calendars and make sure you do not miss out on a single second of action this December.
Rodeo fans are eagerly waiting to see the NFR live stream. The National Finals Rodeo is not the only showcase of the best cowboys but also showcase of patience, bravery and spurs.
| Venue | Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV, United States |
| Start Date | Thursday, 7th December 2023 |
| End Date | Saturday, 16th December 2023 |
| Broadcast | The Cowboy Channel |
So, don’t miss a single moment of the Wrangler NFR live action. Don’t worry, If you can’t attend in NFR Las Vegas, we’ll discuss here how to watch National Finals Rodeo online real-time TV coverage.
Contents
When is the National Finals Rodeo?
For individuals who plan on attending the NFR festivities in Las Vegas, there are a variety of sponsored activities to get involved with during the 10-day period between 9:00AM to 5:00PM (PT). Each night’s NFR performances will officially take place between 5:45PM to 9:00PM (PT). See complete NFR schedule page.
Where will the NFR Las Vegas 2023 be held?
All of the NFR’s main performances will take place at the Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV. Normally home of the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels basketball team, this venue can seat up to 19,522 people and tickets will go on sale to the public on Friday, July 30th at High Noon (PDT).
What TV Channel will the NFR be on?
The Cowboy Channel is the official media partner for the PRCA and Wrangler NFR 2023. Because this is an exclusive deal between the network and the PRCA, the NFR will not be shown on any other TV network during the 10-day period.
How to watch NFR Live Stream 2023 Online
The Wrangler NFR is a 10-day event that includes the fan-favorite Cowboy Christmas as well as the PRCA National Convention. The schedule also includes nightly Buckle Presentations, Benny Binion’s World Famous Wrangler NFR Bucking Horse Sale, the PRCA Awards Banquet and Gala also the Pro Rodeo League of Women Style Show and Luncheon. All performances will be covered by The Cowboy Channel live and simulcast on RFD-TV. Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) move to The Cowboy Channel (TCC) and RFD-TV beginning in 2020. The performances will also be streamed on the PRCA on Cowboy Channel Plus app. The PRCA on Cowboy Channel Plus app users will be able to stream events both live and recorded.
The Cowboys Channel
The ultimate annual rodeo event will now be seen by millions of people live simultaneously on two national TV networks. Also included in the deal is a wide variety of other PRCA programming, including expanded live coverage of the PRORODEO TOUR and the PRCA’s Xtreme Bulls Tour events which will result in a huge increase in the amount, availability and quality of PRCA PRORODEO coverage on The Cowboy Channel here. The Cowboy Channel now available on Dish Network-232, Direct TV-603, Cox-260 anytime, and anywhere. You can enjoy Rural Media on these platforms:
- AT&T (Channel 568 & 1568)
- Charter Spectrum
- Comcast
- Cox
- DIRECTV (Channel 345)
- DIRECTV NOW
- DISH (Channel 231)
- Mediacom
- Sling TV’s Heartland Package
- Suddenlink
To find out if RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel are available in your area, please click here and enter your zip code also choose your Pay TV provider.
PRCA on The Cowboy Channel+ App
The PRCA on The Cowboy Channel+ App will keep fans up-to-date with their favorite PRCA rodeos and athletes, as well as provide behind-the-scenes access to Wrangler NFR livestreamed and on demand PRCA rodeo events from around the country. The content can be accessed via the mobile app (available on Android and iOS), as well as any browser, smart TV or device. Viewers will be able to enjoy free access to up-to-the-minute news, bios, rodeos and highlights. Those with a subscription will unlock premium content such as up to six simultaneous live rodeo feeds, classic PRCA archived rodeos, The Cowboy Channel video-on-demand programming, and the only place viewers can stream the National Finals Rodeo (NFR). The Cowboy Channel+ is available for only $9.99 a month or save up to 25% and purchase the whole year for $89.99. To sign up for the PRCA on The Cowboy Channel+ App, visit www.cowboychannelplus.com.
Wrangler Network
The Wrangler Network made its official release in 2014 for those who live and love the Western lifestyle. The Wrangler Network offers live coverage of rodeos from across the United States along with highlights and statistics from bull-riding competitions and other events. In addition to live streaming rodeos, there are many other exciting and unique events you can find on the Wrangler Network including:
- Documentaries
- Concerts
- Cowboy-Mounted Shooting Contests
If you’re wanting to take a look at live streaming rodeo events, listen to your favorite country song simply log on to www.wranglernetwork.com from your desktop, laptop or mobile device.
RFD-TV Now
RFD-TV Now delivers both real-time NFR 2023 LIVE programming as well as an expansive on-demand library with access to more than 90 shows such as Hee Haw, Opry Encore, The Best of the Marty Stuart Show, Ag PHD, and FarmHer, as well as daily broadcasts of Market Day Report and Rural Evening News. RFD-TV Now is available on a huge lineup of streaming players and devices including Roku players, Roku TVs, and Amazon’s Fire TV. RFD-TV Now costs $9.99 a month or $89.99 a year.
Supported platforms
Can I watch RFD-TV on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, or Chromecast? Yes! you can here is the complete list:
- Android 4.4+
- Android TV 5.0+
- Apple TV 9.0+
- Amazon Fire TV
- Fire TV Stick 4K
- IOS 9.0+
- Roku
- Web: Chrome, Firefox, IE11, Edge
Sling TV
Sling TV includes Cowboy Channel as part of their Sling Orange Heartland Extra package for $46 a month. Sling TV has 30 channels as part of their plan, including A&E, AMC, BET, Bravo, Cartoon Network, CNN, Comedy Central, Discovery, Disney Channel, E!, ESPN, Food Network, Fox News, Freeform, FX, HGTV, History, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, MSNBC, Paramount Network, Syfy, TBS, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, truTV, and USA Network.
This is the full Sling TV Channel List.
Every Sling TV subscriber can record to their 10 hours Cloud DVR, while 3 users can stream at the same time.
Supported platforms
Sling TV supports a wide-range of devices to stream including Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku, iPhone/iPad, Web Browsers, Android Phone/Tablet, Android TV, Xbox, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, and VIZIO Smart TV. Sling TV is not available to stream on PlayStation and Nintendo.
2023 NFR Live Stream Using a VPN
Sling TV is only available to residents of the United States. Even viewers located in our neighbor to the north, Canada, cannot access the Sling TV service. In these situations, a reliable and encrypted VPN (Virtual Private Network) can prove to be helpful. A VPN will allow an individual to remotely connect to a server located in a different country that allows the desired website viewing to take place. The following VPNs can prove to be very useful:
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ExpressVPN
- This source offers a selection of servers that spans over 90 countries. Currently, they offer monthly ($12.95/month), semi-annual ($59.95/6-months), and annual ($99.95) plans. Included with each plan is the offer of a 30-day money back guarantee in the event that a user is dissatisfied.
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IPVanish
- The offering from this source includes servers that span over 60 countries. The current subscription plans consist of monthly ($10/month), quarterly ($26.99/3-months), and annual ($77.99/year) options. Included with each plan is the offer of a 7-day money back guarantee in the event that a user is dissatisfied.
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NordVPN
- While maintaining a selection of servers that spans over 60 countries, this VPN source currently has subscription plans that consist of monthly ($11.95/month), semi-annual ($54/6-months), annual ($83.88/year), and bi-annual ($95.75/2-years) options.
Once you have connected to US’ Fastest server, the Sling website will instantly be accessible to you. Simply subscribe to Sling Live TV service and enjoy live streaming of all your favorite TV channels right at home!
Can I listen to NFR 2023 live stream on radio?
This season, you can hear daily from the ten days of the Wrangler NFR, scheduled for Dec. 1-10 (find an affiliate near you), as well as on SiriusXM serving rural America and Canada and is available to more than 34 million vehicles and homes. RURAL RADIO also offers a broad slate of Western sports programming year-round featuring Western Sports Roundup and coverage of WPCA and PRCA events.
Launched in March 2019 under the theme of “All Dirt, All Rodeo, All Year,” NFR Extra follows current and former rodeo contestants, country music performers, stock contractors, rodeo industry insiders and more. New episodes are released weekly with the plan to broadcast daily from the ten days of the Wrangler NFR, scheduled for Dec. 1-10. If not listening on RURAL RADIO Channel 147 on SiriusXM, NFR Extra can be accessed at NFRexperience.com or on Spotify, Apple Podcast, iHeart or anywhere fans like to listen.
Wrangler NFR Live Online on Social Media
One increasingly popular method of viewing NFR live stream comes in the form of social media viewing. The way this typically works is through an individual using their mobile device to live stream the event to a social media platform of their choosing. The most popular platforms for this method are as follows:
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YouTube
The most popular video-sharing site on the planet has historically built its name upon uploaded videos. However, the site now allows live-streaming capabilities, making it perfect for free viewing of live events such as NFR, as long as a streaming user can be found.
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Facebook
Various individual accounts or pages are bound to be streaming the National Finals Rodeo events. Interested individuals will have to search for these opportunities throughout the platform as it gets closer to the festivities.
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Twitter
This platform has increasingly become the go-to place for action as it happens in real-time. That makes it a prime destination when searching for all things related to NFR. A quick search bar or hashtag follow will almost assuredly lead to the discovery someone streaming the NFR.
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Reddit
Mainly known as a news aggregation site, this platform has increasingly become a well-known discussion forum hub. Within those forums, there is undoubtedly discussion concerning how to watch the NFR live stream on Reddit.
How much are tickets to the NFR?
National Finals Rodeo Tickets have been placed on this website by our trusted brokers, who offer those tickets in a range of values. Have a look at all the ticket prices and select the tickets which best suit your budget. 2020 Wrangler NFR new ticket prices are as follow:
- Balcony: Individual – $76, Season – $760, 4pk – $304, 6pk – $456
- Plaza: Individual – $105, Season – $1,050
- Gold Buckle: Individual – $300, Season – $3,000
Everything You Need to Know About NFR
Beyond the payouts for the Cowboys, the PRCA estimates that the event brings in about $90 million annually to the Las Vegas economy. Furthermore, recent attendance stats have shown that 177,565 rodeo enthusiasts decked out in Wrangler jeans, Justin boots and cowboy hats attended events at the Thomas & Mack with an additional 40,000 fans who watched at the 40 hotels who hosted watch parties. It is during this rare time of the year that many marquees on the Strip have the face of bull riders replace DJs’ faces.
Main Performance
Seven main events have historically taken place at the NFR. Each event has its own monetary prizes that are paid out, and those payouts are determined by each top-placing competitor’s rank in relation to the event’s overall prize pool. Individuals placed in the top-six of a particular event are paid out accordingly, while individuals placed in the top-eight of the overall NFR are also paid out. The NFR’s main events are as follows:
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Bareback Riding
This consists of a horseback cowboy using a bareback rigging as the primary means of staying on top of the horse. This grip has often been compared to the equivalent of hanging on to a suitcase handle and makes for the only support that a cowboy has on top of the wildly bucking horse. An 8-second ride constitutes a qualified ride and the cowboys is judged on riding technique.
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Steer Wrestling
This act involves a horseback steer wrestler, alternatively known as a “bulldogger”, bringing a fast-moving steer to a halt on its back as fast as possible. The bulldogger utilizes a combination of strength, technique, speed, and precision to jump off of their horse from a designated starting point and onto a steer sprinting off from the same starting point.
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Team Roping
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Headers
One of two horseback team members whose job is to successfully rope the head of the steer in one of three tries as fast as possible; around both horns, around one horn and the head, or around the neck.
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Heelers
One of two horseback team members whose job is to successfully rope the hind legs of the steer as soon as the header has successfully done their part. To avoid a 5-second penalty for roping only one hind leg, the heeler must rope both hind legs.
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Saddle Bron Riding
Similar to Bareback Riding, the goal of the horseback cowboy is to maintain their balance as much as possible for 8 seconds while the horse is bucking. In this event, however, the cowboy sits on a saddle while using one hand to hold on to a thick rein that’s attached to the horse’s halter.
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Tie-Down Roping
This event centers around a cowboy on horseback attempting to restrain a calf by throwing a well-timed rope loop that’s attached to the cowboy’s horse. The cowboy and the calf both leave from a designated starting point, with the calf getting a slight head-start. The cowboy depends on the horse to mitigate any slack in the rope after dismounting, then proceeds to tie-up the calf as fast as possible.
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Barrel Racing
This is a women’s event where horseback cowgirls race against the clock to complete a strategically set course where barrels are set up as landmarks. The intent is for the cowgirls to complete a cloverleaf-shaped run around 3 barrels placed in a triangular formation as fast as possible. Barrels that are accidentally knocked over result in 5-second penalties.
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Bull Riding
The cowboy on top of the bull has the main objective of staying on top and maintaining their balance for 8 seconds. They are judged based on technique and can earn extra points by spurring while the bull is bucking. The cowboy stays on top of the bull by grasping a flat braided rope, which also wraps around the bull’s chest.
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All-Around Champion
Being crowned the All-Around Champion speaks volumes about the versatility and high level of talent exhibited by the winning cowboy. In order to receive this honor, the cowboy must have won the most prize money in a given year and competed in at least 2 NFR events while earning at least $3,000 in each of those events. This is widely known as the highest honor bestowed by the PRCA.
Contestants
There are 120 cowboys from all over the United States that will step foot as competitors within the NFR. A full list of the contestants can be found on the event’s Contestant Roster page. The top 10 ranked competitors are as follows:
- Stetson Wright, Milford, UT – Saddle Bronc Riding
- Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, LA – Tie-Down Roping
- Ryder Wright, Beaver, UT – Saddle Bronc Riding
- Sage Kimzey, Salado, TX – Bull Riding
- Tilden Hooper, Carthage, TX – Bareback Riding
- Dustin Egusquiza, Marianna, FL – Team Roping (Headers)
- Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prudente, Brazil – Team Roping (Heelers)
- Paden Bray, Stephenville, TX – Team Roping (Heelers)
- Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, IA – Bareback Riding
- Travis Graves, Jay, OK – Team Roping (Heelers)
NFR Stock Roster
The 2023 Wrangler National Finals Stock Roster is listed below. It is subject to change.
For a downloadable pdf version, click the link below.
- Bareback Horses (PDF)
- Saddle Bronc Horses (PDF)
- Bulls (PDF)
Super Bowl of Rodeo
The NFR has consistently been referred to “Super Bowl of Rodeo” with this phrase because of the sheer massiveness of its popularity and money-generating power within the context of rodeo. The event is considered to be so big and consistently sold-out that the UNLV basketball team that normally uses the NFR’s venue during the season has to annually build its schedule in a way that keeps the team on the road for the duration of the NFR festivities.
Hailey Frederiksen
Miss Rodeo America
Hailey Frederiksen
Hailey Frederiksen was crowned Miss Rodeo America 2022 on December 5, 2021 at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This event is a pageant that takes place in conjunction with the NFR as part of the NFR’s overall festivities. State rodeo queen winners from across the United States compete for the Miss Rodeo America crown and put themselves in line to potentially win $20,000, among other smaller prizes. In addition to the prizes, the winner is expected to travel to various rodeos throughout the United States and to promote the rodeo during the subsequent year.
The Miss Rodeo America Pageant offers young women the opportunity to garner one of the richest experiences of their lives, while at the same time create solid foundations for their future endeavors. Lifelong friendships are made and many doors are opened—to all competitors, as well as the young lady selected to wear the coveted crown. Miss Rodeo America becomes a part of a great legacy…and part of history…yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
2022 Pageant Dates
This year’s pageant to select the 2022 Miss Rodeo America are scheduled for: Sunday, November 28, 2021 – Sunday, December 5, 2021 at the South Point Hotel.
A full schedule and hotel information is available here.
To purchase tickets, contestant roses and memberships visit here.
Cowboy Christmas
For those that need a break from the constant adrenaline that comes with the NFR’s main events, the Cowboy Christmas experience allows for a welcomed change of pace. This portion of NFR centers around cowboy shopping and serves as a marketplace for hundreds of exhibitors from the United States and Canada to sell to thousands of eager buyers. And, new this year, the show will open on Wednesday, December 1 from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. for a special preview and tree lighting ceremony and then run December 2-11 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily.
Junior World Finals presented by @YETI
The Junior World Finals presented by @YETI will host more than 850 contestants within the Wrangler Rodeo Arena over the 10 days in December. Located in the heart of Las Vegas each contestant competes at the Las Vegas Convention Center. These young athletes will compete for more than $1 million in combined cash and prize payout on their quest to claim a coveted Montana Silversmiths championship buckle. It’s the Junior World Finals.
ProRodeo Hall of Fame Events
During the NFR Las Vegas in December, the ProRodeo Hall of Fame hosts 2 annual events, the Wrangler Gold Buckle Gala and the Spurs and Spikes Golf Tournament. Below is information on all these events.
15th Annual Wrangler Gold Buckle Gala
The ProRodeo Hall of Fame for 15th Annual Wrangler Gold Buckle Gala November 28, 2022 as we honor our 2022 Legend of ProRodeo Mike Cervi at South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Evening includes dinner, a silent and live auction, and entertainment by John Wayne Schultz & Band. This annual dinner is a major fundraiser for the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.
35th Annual ProRodeo Hall of Fame Golf Tournament
The 35th Annual ProRodeo Hall of Fame Golf Tournament will be on Friday, December 9, 2022 at The Bali Hai Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nevada. Golf tournament is open to the public, but a reservation is required. Visit prorodeohalloffame.org for more information.
Gold Card Room at Thomas & Mack
To all CURRENT PRCA Gold Card Members and PRHOF Lifetime Members:
The Gold Card Room is returning to the Thomas & Mack each night before the start of the National Finals Rodeo. Doors open at 4:15pm and dinner starts at 4:30pm. The Gold Card Room will be open during each NFR performance with TVs to watch the rodeo.
Conventions and Tradeshows
The ProRodeo Hall of Fame is scheduled to be at a variety of locations throughout Las Vegas during the National Finals Rodeo. Please plan on visiting us at one of these locations. We would love to meet you and talk about all the exciting things happening at the Hall.
Standings
The 2022 PRCA season has been extremely competitive as a lot of the top cowboys are gunning for glory. Stetson Wright sits atop of the all-around standings and many experts believe that he is going to win his second all-around title in a row. There will be a lot of close competitions and many of the world championships could come down to the last day. You can check the current standings here.
NFR Prize Money
The total payout for the entire event is $10 million and will increases to $13.3 million in 2021. After that, the amount will be adjusted and remain in place for the subsequent five years. All 120 qualifying contestants receive $10,000 as part of participating. This year’s detailed payout structure can be found on the PRCA Wrangler NFR Payout page.
Wrangler NFR World Champions
2021 All Around World Champion
Stetson Wright
The 2021 NFR World Champions
Bareback Riding
Kaycee Feild
Steer Wrestling
Tyler Waguespack
Team Roping (Header)
Kaleb Driggers
Team Roping (Heeler)
Junior Nogueira
Saddle Bronc Riding
Stetson Wright
Tie-Down Roping
Caleb Smidt
Barrel Racing
Jordon Briggs
Bull Riding
Sage Kimzey
For a full recap, please click here.
Final Words
All in all, the National Finals Rodeo is a landmark event and a de facto defining period of time within any given rodeo year. For anyone who is a fan of rodeo, the main events and the surrounding festivities are must-see events and must-participate experiences if the financial means allow for it. Don’t miss a minute of the exhilarating NFR live stream action this year from December 1st until December 10th.