Vegas Rodeo Glossary

The All-Around Cowboy title goes to the competitor who wins the most money in two or more events during a single rodeo season. In Las Vegas this...

An all-inclusive rodeo bundle is a prebuilt travel package that usually includes NFR or Vegas rodeo tickets, hotel nights, and extras like...

An annual rodeo tradition is a personal ritual or group habit that repeats every year during NFR or another Las Vegas rodeo trip. It might be a...

Arena camera policy describes what types of cameras, lenses, and recording devices fans may bring into the Las Vegas rodeo venue. Most arenas...

Arena dirt is the carefully prepared layer of footing that horses, cattle, and bulls perform on during the Las Vegas Rodeo. Crews groom and water...

An autograph session is a scheduled appearance where rodeo contestants sign hats, posters, programs, and photos for fans at Cowboy Christmas...

The rodeo average is a contestant's combined score or time across all go-rounds at a multi-night event like the ten performances of the NFR....

Bareback riding is a roughstock event where cowboys ride powerful bucking horses using only a rigging instead of a saddle. It demands tremendous...

Barrel racing is a women's event in which horse and rider run a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels as fast as possible without knocking one...

The barrier is a rope or mechanical line in timed events that ensures calves and steers receive a fair head start. If a competitor leaves too...

Boot fitting is the process of choosing cowboy boots that match a person's foot shape, arch, and intended use. During NFR and other Vegas rodeos,...

Breakaway roping is a timed event where a roper catches a calf and the rope, tied to the saddle horn with a string, breaks away when the calf hits...

Bull riding is the dramatic event where riders try to stay on powerful bucking bulls for eight seconds while using only one hand on the rope. At...

Cashless concessions are food and drink stands that accept only cards or digital payments instead of cash. Many modern Las Vegas rodeo venues use...

The chute gate is the door that releases a bucking horse or bull into the arena once the rider nods. That moment when the gate swings open is one...

A comped room, or comp, is a complimentary hotel stay granted by a casino or resort in return for previous gaming or loyalty. Many Vegas rodeo...

A cowboy bar is a venue that leans into Western décor, country music, and a relaxed, boot-friendly vibe. During Vegas rodeos these bars become...

Cowboy Christmas is the huge Western expo that runs alongside the NFR in Las Vegas, filling convention halls with vendors selling hats, boots,...

Cowboy church is an informal worship service that blends Western culture with Christian faith through music, prayer, and down-to-earth messages....

Cowboy hat etiquette is the set of unwritten rules for wearing and handling hats respectfully, such as removing your hat for the national anthem...

Cowboy karaoke is the nightly tradition of rodeo fans taking over karaoke stages in Las Vegas bars to sing country hits after the perf. It is a...

A custom belt buckle is a personalized buckle, often handcrafted in silver, engraved with names, dates, brands, or images. At Cowboy Christmas and...

Day money is the payout awarded for placing in a single go-round at a multi-night rodeo such as the NFR. In Las Vegas, each of the ten nights...

Early-round vs late-round strategy is the decision fans make about whether to attend the first half of NFR, the final stretch, or both. Early...

Family-friendly rodeo tips are strategies for making the Las Vegas Rodeo enjoyable with children along, such as choosing earlier perfs, packing...

A fan zone is a dedicated area near the arena or inside a resort where sponsors, vendors, and organizers create interactive experiences for rodeo...

A gold buckle is the coveted trophy that represents a professional rodeo world championship at the end of the season. When the NFR concludes in...

The grand entry is the ceremonial opening ride of a rodeo perf, with flags, royalty, and dignitaries circling the arena to music. At the Las Vegas...

Hat shaping is the art of steaming and molding a cowboy hat's brim and crown to match the wearer's face and style. During NFR and Vegas rodeos,...

A high-roller rodeo suite is a luxury hotel suite reserved for VIP guests, sponsors, or big casino players who attend NFR. These spaces often...

A hospitality suite is a hosted lounge or skybox where corporate groups and sponsors gather for food, drinks, and networking before or after Las...

Instant replay in rodeo uses video review to help judges confirm or adjust specific calls, such as barrier breaks or timing questions. At the Las...

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is the organization that markets Las Vegas and helps secure major events like the National Finals...

Las Vegas rodeo history tells how the NFR moved from Oklahoma City in the 1980s and grew into a four-decade partnership between pro rodeo and the...

The Las Vegas Rodeo soundtrack is the carefully chosen mix of country, rock, and hype tracks that plays during grand entries, rides, replays, and...

Las Vegas rodeo weather in December usually means cool, dry days and crisp nights that are perfect for jeans, jackets, and layered outfits....

The Las Vegas Strip is the neon stretch of megaresorts, casinos, and attractions that serves as the playground for fans during NFR and other Vegas...

Late check-out for rodeo fans is the valuable option of staying in your hotel room a few extra hours on departure day. After long nights at Vegas...

Line dancing is a choreographed group dance style where everyone follows the same steps in lines to country songs. During NFR and Vegas rodeos,...

The mark-out rule in bareback and saddle bronc riding requires a cowboy's feet to be above the horse's shoulders and in contact on the first jump...

The National Finals Rodeo is the championship event of professional rodeo and the centerpiece of Las Vegas's annual rodeo calendar. Held over ten...

The NFR countdown is the weeks and months leading up to the National Finals Rodeo when fans, contestants, and sponsors finalize tickets, hotel...

No score is the result posted in roughstock events when a ride is disqualified or fails to meet basic requirements. Reasons include being bucked...

No time is the outcome recorded in timed events when a contestant fails to complete the run correctly, such as missing the catch or breaking a...

An off-Strip rodeo hotel is a property away from the main Strip that many NFR visitors choose for quieter nights, easier parking, or lower prices....

A perf, short for performance, is one complete rodeo show on the schedule, including all standard events for that night. The NFR in Las Vegas has...

A pickup man is a mounted rodeo professional who helps roughstock riders safely dismount and escorts bucking horses out of the arena. Their...

A players club card is a casino loyalty card that tracks gaming and spending to award points, comps, and tier benefits. Rodeo fans staying in Las...

A post-rodeo recovery day is the buffer day scheduled after returning home from the Las Vegas Rodeo before diving back into regular work or school...

A re-ride is a second chance offered to a roughstock rider when the original animal fails to perform or outside factors prevent a fair score....