The pot is brewing after the 2013 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo ends in Las Vegas. On Sunday the PRCA Board of Directors voted to look into the possibility of moving the National Finals Rodeo to Orlando, Florida starting in 2015. This current “contract” is set to have the National Finals in Orlando through the year of 2025 which is a ten year initial contract. What will this mean to the relationship between the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association and Las Vegas Events that has lasted 29 years? Now some say it is a good move and some are completely shocked by the announcement.
Now keep in mind that this is not a 100% done deal as of this story’s posting. The board and the PRCA have 90 days to sign the contract into a binding agreement which also gives Las Vegas Events that time as well to come back and make a better offer than what is on the table currently. I have a feeling that Las Vegas Events will not let the biggest event to their local economy move away that easy. As far as folks know this is all due to a stall in negotiations between the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association and Las Vegas Events. The offer on the table that Las Vegas Events gave to the PRCA was felt to be a very low and slap in the face offer by the Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association. There are other offers out there that are up to $10 million more than what the new contract offer was to stay in Las Vegas but the board decided Sunday to move to Orlando who’s offer was close to $4 million more than the current offer on the table. It will be interesting to see what this means to the contestants as well as the fans if the Wrangler National Finals actually does move to Orlando in 2015.
Now here is the kicker.. there are so many reports circulating around that the deal is finalized and will happen no matter what but that is not the case at all. Below is a link to the local newspaper in Orlando that talks about what exactly happened earlier today. Once you read it I hope it will put a new perspective on everything going on with the proposed move of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Check out this link to see what has happened with the county board and the PRCA Board of Directors so far.
http://www.ravallirepublic.com/sports/rodeo/article_3114ea26-464a-5562-98b1-66f85ee0f63e.html
As I said before everyone is jumping at the gun a little too early on this issue. Believe me I was one of them as well when I first got the phone call from a colleague of mine that has been covering the WNFR in Las Vegas with me for years. After I got back to my room tonight and did some research of my own I now believe I know a little more about the situation other than the hear say that is circulating around the media outlets currently.
Make sure to keep checking back throughout the next few weeks as i will post any new news and updates that I find to be factual as soon as I know something. Remember folks it is still a long ways from being a done deal and I feel the PRCA Board of Directors is going to have some explaining to do to its members for cancelling out on Las Vegas before they have anything set in stone for sure. For now only time will tell what this will do to the sport of Professional Rodeo and all those involved in it even if you are just a fan and attend the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
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