As of today, Thursday January 23, 2014, there has been absolutely no word from Las Vegas Events about the counter offer that the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association gave to them over a week ago. There was a deadline set for Tuesday January 21, 2014 for Las Vegas to give an answer to the Colorado Springs, CO based PRCA about keeping the coveted Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in their city past the year 2015 which is the final year of the current contract. This morning I have been in contact with both the PRCA and LVE offices and am as confused as everyone else as to what exactly is going on behind the scenes. Jim Bainbridge of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association Media Relations Department states in an email “Nothing new to report at this point and all three venues are still in play”. This is interesting to me because this is the same office that have gave the Tuesday deadline to Las Vegas Events. On the other hand, talking to the folks from LVE they stated they are still working on talking to all the investors and there was never a deadline set for a response from them. This is what I find very interesting and do not fully understand so we will all wait to see what happens. Rumor has it we will not have to wait long on that decision though. From what I have heard from folks there is supposed to be a vote by the PRCA on Friday about where to hold the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
Now I am not guaranteeing that the vote will actually happen but from those that I have been talking to I would tend to believe that it is going to happen. I have a feeling that the PRCA is wanting to be very tight lipped about everything going on especially since they have not received any answers back from Las Vegas Events. We all know that the PRCA can not wait forever and have to do what they have to do. With that being said, I have spoke to Texas State Representative Cecil Bell Jr. this morning and he has confirmed with me that some of the PRCA Board of Directors landed in Dallas last night to revisit the opportunity to have the “cowboy state” host the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo there starting in 2015. Representative Bell told me that there is so much history and financial backing there that it would be hard for the PRCA not to want to hold it in their state. He also has told me that the great state of Texas is doing anything that they can to make sure that happens.
Texas State Representative Cecil Bell Jr.
Now remember folks that Texas is not the only state in play to hold the superbowl of rodeo starting in 2015. Remember that Jim Bainbridge said that all three venues are still in play. I have talked about Las Vegas and Texas but have not mentioned Florida yet. Florida brings a very lucrative deal to the table for the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association. The yearly prize money they are promising added to the construction of a brand new arena to be ready for the 2016 WNFR is hard to beat. There are so many choices to be made and so many people working hard to make those the best choices for the PRCA. If my sources are correct we will all know sometime tomorrow where the 2015 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo will be held for years to come. Take guesses and bring on your choices in the comments. Will it be Texas, Florida or will it stay where it has been for the last 29 years Las Vegas? The drama continues but will all come to an end very shortly. Stay tuned to The Rodeo Round Up for all the breaking news regarding the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo!
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