Las Vegas is the entertainment capital in the world. After a brief pause, the Wrangler Finals Rodeo, one of the most important events in the country, will be back.

The two-day promotional event began Tuesday in Las Vegas style with a welcome back ceremony held under the Fremont Street Canopy in downtown Las Vegas.

Mayor Carolyn Goodman welcomed several Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association 2020 World Champions and paid tribute to the Viva Vision.

The event is usually held in Las Vegas every December. However, the pandemic forced its relocation to Arlington, Texas.

The event attracted 168,289 people over ten days in 2019.

“I’m excited to be back in Vegas after my first year. In 2019, I got a feel for it, and the energy is just too crazy,” stated Shad Mayfield. Shad Mayfield is the reigning Tie-Down Roping World Champion.

Mayfield and other 2020 World Champions took to Fremont Street Tuesday night as a welcome celebration.

“There is no doubt that it is the economic effect, the jobs created, or the fiscal impact of all those visitors that there are hundreds upon communities that would be willing to give their eyeteeth for this event to happen in their community,” stated Jeremy Aguero economist and principal Analyst for Applied Analysis.

Aguero said, “We believe that 64,000 people come from out of town, creating an economic impact of just below $200 million for our community. Combine that with the fact that that event takes place in December, a traditionally low visitor flow time for Las Vegas, and it’s a critically important, long-standing, economic impact event.”

The event will take place at the Thomas & Mack Center, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, from December 2-11, 2021.

Mayfield stated, “It’s been there since 1985, so it just belongs here. The energy of it and the crowd that loves rodeos I love to bring it back.”