NFR 2019: Day 1 — PHOTOS
National Finals Rodeo 2019 opened in Las Vegas with a flourish Thursday night.

Tim O'Connell of Zwingle, Iowa rides Two Buck Chuck to a score of 88 in the Bareback Riding competition to take fifth place in the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Stetson Wright of Milford, Utah, celebrates his 92.5 ride on Monte Walsh to win the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Stetson Wright of Milford, Utah, rides Monte Walsh to a score of 92.5 to win the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Kaycee Feild of Genola, Utah rides Colorado Bulldog to a score of 87 in the Bareback Riding competition in the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Kaycee Feild of Genola, Utah rides Colorado Bulldog to a score of 87 in the Bareback Riding competition in the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Tim O'Connell of Zwingle, Iowa prepares to ride Two Buck Chuck in the Bareback Riding competition in the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Tilden Hooper of Carthage, Texas rides Wilson Sanchez to a score of 88.5 in the Bareback Riding competition to take fourth place in the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Matt Reeves of Cross Plains, Texas competes in the Steer Wrestling competition in the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. Reeves wrestled his steer in 4.5 seconds to finish out of the money for the night. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Jordan Spears of Redding, Calif. rides Dilligaf to a score of 82.5 in the Bull Riding competition during the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Austin Foss of Terrebonne, Ore. rides Painted River to a score of 86 in the Bareback Riding competition during the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Caleb Bennett of Corvallis, Mont. rides Top Egyptian to a score of 90 points in the Bareback Riding competition to take third place in the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Fans of Caleb Bennett of Corvallis, Mont. cheer their rider in the Bareback Riding competition during the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Koby Radley of Montpelier, La. rides Butter Bean to a score of 86.5 in the Bull Riding competition during the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Jordan Hansen of Canada rides Hou's Bad News to a score of 89.5 in the Bull Riding competition during the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Josh Frost of Radlett, Utah rides Rebeloution in the Bull Riding competition during the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Bull rider Stetson Wright of Milford, Utah, celebrates his 92.5 ride on Monte Walsh which won the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Bull rider Stetson Wright of Milford, Utah, celebrates his 92.5 ride on Monte Walsh which won the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Bull rider Stetson Wright of Milford, Utah, celebrates his 92.5 ride on Monte Walsh which won the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Bull rider Stetson Wright of Milford, Utah, celebrates his 92.5 ride on Monte Walsh which won the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Stetson Wright of Milford, Utah, rides Monte Walsh to a score of 92.5 to win the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Bull rider Stetson Wright of Milford, Utah, celebrates his 92.5 ride on Monte Walsh which won the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Kyle Lockett of Visalia, Calif. competes in Team Roping with Erich Rogers of Round Rock, Ariz. during the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Kyle Lockett of Visalia, Calif. competes in Team Roping with Erich Rogers of Round Rock, Ariz. during the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Kyle Lockett of Visalia, Calif., left, after competiting in Team Roping with Erich Rogers of Round Rock, Ariz. during the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Stetson Wright of Milford, Utah, rides Monte Walsh to a score of 92.5 to win the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Garrett Smith of Rexburg, Idaho carries his state's flag during opening ceremony of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Kyle Lockett of Visalia, Calif. prepares to compete in Team Roping with Erich Rogers of Round Rock, Ariz. during the first go-around of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Competitors, including steer wrestlers from left, J.D. Struxness of Milan, Minn., Will Lummus of West Point, Miss. and Tyler Pearson of Louisville, Miss. during the opening ceremony of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Opening ceremony of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Opening ceremony of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Opening ceremony of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Competitors line up during the opening ceremony of the 10-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
National Finals Rodeo 2019 opened in Las Vegas with a flourish Thursday night.
The 2019 version is the rodeo’s 35th go-round at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Check out photos of the action above, and click here for results from opening night of NFR 2019.
More NFR: Visit reviewjournal.com/NFR.