PBR World Finals could relocate from Las Vegas to host fans
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PBR World Finals could relocate from Las Vegas to host fans
By Mick Akers Las Vegas Review-Journal
August 25, 2020 - 5:32 pm
There could be no bucking in Las Vegas this fall as the annual Professional Bull Riders World Finals could relocate due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ... Similar to the National Finals Rodeo, the PBR said Tuesday it could host this years event, slated to occur Nov. 4-8 at T-Mobile Arena, in another city in order to include fans since Nevada does not yet allow crowds at sporting events.
Our first priority is to exhaust all options to keep PBR World Finals in the city of Las Vegas where we have held our world championship since the inception of the sport, PBR Commissioner Sean Gleason told the Review-Journal Tuesday. In the event that PBR has no other options, we may be forced to look at other venues for the 2020 World Finals.
The PBR World Finals were first held at the MGM Grand Garden from 1994-1998, then at Thomas & Mack Center from 1999-2015. It has occurred at its new home, T-Mobile Arena, since 2016. ... Last years event drew 72,300 people over the multiple day event, with approximately 18,700 attendees hailing from out of state, according to Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority data. ... Those visitors were responsible for $28.6 million in direct spending, the LVCVA said.
Losing the PBR and NFR would be a one-two-punch to Las Vegas economy as whats known as the Super Bowl of rodeo already announced it cannot have fans attend the 10-day event in Las Vegas slated to occur Dec. 3 to 12 at the Thomas & Mack Center.
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Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow
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