LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The decision to cancel the largest annual Cowboy Christmas gift show in Las Vegas has been made. The following press release was sent to media outlets on Tuesday morning.
As Las Vegas is unable to host attendees for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2020, Las Vegas Events announced today that Cowboy Christmas will not be held Dec. 3-12 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Refunds will be offered to all exhibitors.
Cowboy Christmas, the only official gift show of the Wrangler NFR, typically runs concurrently with the rodeo and has a total annual attendance of more than 250,000.
On Aug. 19, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association announced that a final decision would be made on the location of the Wrangler NFR by Sept. 30. If the Wrangler NFR is held in another destination, Cowboy Christmas could be hosted in that location. LVE will work closely with the PRCA to determine the feasibility of including Cowboy Christmas in its plan for 2020 by the end of September.
One of the most successful and popular ancillary events of the Wrangler NFR in Las Vegas, Cowboy Christmas has grown into a 440,000-square-foot shopping and interactive experience. With more than 350 exhibitors from across the United States, Cowboy Christmas caters to the Western lifestyle and includes live entertainment, specialty food and beverage, exhibits and much more.
For more information on Cowboy Christmas and the Wrangler NFR, please visit www.NFRexperience.com [nfrexperience.com] or through social media at /LasVegasNFR and use #WranglerNFR.
As mentioned above, the final decision about Wrangler NFR will be made by Sept. 30. This is what was posted to their website a few days ago.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association remains committed to hosting the 2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. There is no question – the 2020 PRORODEO World Champions will be crowned.
There are several options being considered: with fans, without fans, in Las Vegas, outside Las Vegas. Despite these extenuating circumstances, the PRCA and Las Vegas Events want to produce the best NFR ever and provide fans, sponsors, contestants and members the outstanding experience they’ve come to expect.
At this moment, an event in Las Vegas with fans isn’t feasible. There is an option to keep the NFR in Las Vegas without fans, so that is being explored.
But there are other options being evaluated, including, for this year only, holding the 2020 NFR in a new host city that will allow the PRCA to optimize:
- NFR fan attendance and fan experience, including shopping in the NFR gift show, walking through the PRORODEO Fan Zone, local nightlife with NFR after-parties and other ancillary entertainment. These are all important activities for fans that contribute to the overall NFR experience.
- Opportunities to hold the annual PRCA Convention, ProRodeo Hall of Fame Gala, NFR Contestant Back Number Ceremony and the annual PRCA Awards Banquet.
- Season tickets; the PRCA values those who have been committed to the NFR and will be working to accommodate those who currently hold NFR season tickets.
- The safety of contestants, members and fans; the PRCA is not willing to put anyone at risk and strives to maintain the safety of all involved.
We look forward to announcing the final decision by Sept. 30.
As stated, the annual rodeo event which brings thousands of people to the Las Vegas valley and generates millions of dollars for the local economy could still happen in Las Vegas without fans.
Cowboy Christmas joins the list of major events that have been canceled in the upcoming months, include CES 2021.
