Mary Peters
Arlington's Globe Life Field will play host to a new sport come December — the rodeo.
The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) will take place Dec. 3 – 12 at Globe Life Field, becoming the first non-baseball event to take place at the stadium, the rodeo announced Wednesday.
Not to leave Fort Worth out of the action — Cowtown will play host to the annual Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Convention from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3, as well as the Cowboy Christmas event and other activities.
“We are a rodeo city, and we’ve roped a big one,” Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price said. “The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is an incredible win for our region and another example of how Fort Worth can host major events safely during this unprecedented time. This summer, Fort Worth has hosted major, national events in golf, racing, and bull riding. Sporting events like the Wrangler NFR are a vital part of our visitor economy that creates jobs and supports our recovery.”
In light of the pandemic, the rodeo plans to implement safety procedures like mandatory mask wearing and hand sanitizing stations during the event. Seats will be sold in groups of four, with social distancing between each group, and tickets will be mobile to limit contact. Additionally, fans will pass through metal detector screenings before entering the stadium. There's also a no-bag policy.
The NFR got its start in Texas in 1959, spending its first three years at the Dallas State Fairgrounds. The event eventually moved to Las Vegas' Thomas & Mack Center at UNLV and has been there since 1985. Due to COVID-19, the venue has since halted live entertainment with fans, prompting the NFR to search for an alternate venue.
According to the NFR, Globe Life Field was the clear choice.
“From cattle drives, museums, and even the names of our professional sporting teams, our love of cowboy culture runs deep here in Tarrant County,” Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams said. “I can think of no better choice for the Super Bowl of rodeo than to be hosted here in the heart of North Texas. Arlington and Fort Worth have so many family friendly attractions and rich experiences to offer rodeo fans who will be traveling from across the country to cheer on these professional cowboys as they strive to set new records and achieve their American Dream in the arena.”
Tickets will go on sale Sept. 25 via the Texas Rangers' website.
