Vegas Vacation

I’ve had a lot of calls from people looking for NFR tickets.   After the first weekend when the convention is over there are usually tickets either at the ticket exchange or out in front of Thomas and Mack each night.  And they don’t allow any mark-up.  In addition some of the hotels bought blocks of tickets back when the NFR moved.   But even if you couldn’t find tickets most of the properties have live feeds and you can sit and have a nice dinner and watch the rodeo on a big screen TV.    In fact this has caused a good number of tickets to become available (people wanting to sell theirs and stay at the hotel and watch).

If you’re up to your heinies in snow, I think you’d enjoy Las Vegas.  They have good trade shows for shopping, several big name country acts playing in town, good eating at reasonable prices, and of course gaming.   I’ve been flying lately and it really isn’t that much different in regard to being there early.  At least now most of the security people can speak English and aren’t on parole.

I was thinking that it might be hard to get rooms this late but I checked at tripreservations and there are lots of rooms at really good prices. I know that they have had several new hotels go up recently.    

Usually we try to start off with the A Team, then Big E’s, then the Linebackers (Semi E’s), then the HBO’s (Semi Rank)… then the James Deans (Street Punks)…. then the Prom Dates (Super Spinners) …. then a Pen of questionable selections (actually 10 head and we start bring back bulls for their second trip).   We bring back 50 head.  The last three performances are made up of the better end of the NFR bulls.   Some of the best watching is mid-week when guys get settled in and rack up some high scores.

If you are checking out our daily reports and see a bull in the rerides when we’re still on the first run through the 100 bull herd, that bull will be back in another pen before we finish the first run through which depending on how many rerides we’ve had--is 2/3 way through the 7^th performance.  

If you’re interested in when a particular bull might be out put it on the message board and I’ll try to give you some sort of an idea.   Cripples and bull rider injuries sometimes screw-up that schedule but more often than not I have a pretty good idea.

For bull riders—if you haven’t made the NFR yet, you need to come out and see it in person.  Not only will it motivate you it will also prepare you for when you DO make it.   I remember when Cody Lambert brought Ty out.   Think Cody qualified in three events that year: bulls, broncs, and trying to keep track of the little heathen.  

For fans, it’s the best way to actually be around your favorites when they are out and about after the performances (which are usually over by 9:30).

Anyway, you might check it out.   It’s usually a long winter in a lot of rodeo country so this might be a chance to get the heck away for awhile.   In recent months I think everyone has seen how uncertain life can be so maybe it would be a nice time for you to do something nice for yourself.   It’s been a tough year for lots of folks.

Bryan