NFR 2021: Day 1 — PHOTOS
National Finals Rodeo opened with a bang Thursday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.
![Dirk Tavenner of Rigby, ID., leaves his horse in Steer Wrestling to tie for first place during ...](https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/15900668_web1_ROD-NFR1-DEC03-21-010.jpg)
Dirk Tavenner of Rigby, ID., leaves his horse in Steer Wrestling to tie for first place during the opening night of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
![Drake Milligan sings the National Anthem at the start of the opening night of Wrangler National ...](https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/15900668_web1_ROD-NFR1-DEC03-21-007-1-.jpg)
Drake Milligan sings the National Anthem at the start of the opening night of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
![Competitors gather in the arena as the fans applaud at the start of the opening night of Wrangl ...](https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/15900668_web1_ROD-NFR1-DEC03-21-008-2-.jpg)
Competitors gather in the arena as the fans applaud at the start of the opening night of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
![Bareback Rider Jess Pope of Waverly, KS., rides Night Crawler for a first place score during th ...](https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/15900668_web1_AF1I1560.jpg)
Bareback Rider Jess Pope of Waverly, KS., rides Night Crawler for a first place score during the opening night of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
![Riley Duvall of Checotah, OK., leaves his horse in Steer Wrestling to tie for first place durin ...](https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/15900668_web1_ROD-NFR1-DEC03-21-009.jpg)
Riley Duvall of Checotah, OK., leaves his horse in Steer Wrestling to tie for first place during the opening night of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
![Dirk Tavenner of Rigby, ID., takes down a steer in Steer Wrestling to tie for first place durin ...](https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/15900668_web1_ROD-NFR1-DEC03-21-011.jpg)
Dirk Tavenner of Rigby, ID., takes down a steer in Steer Wrestling to tie for first place during the opening night of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
![Fans enjoy the competition during the opening night of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Th ...](https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/15900668_web1_ROD-NFR1-DEC03-21-003.jpg)
Fans enjoy the competition during the opening night of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
![Tyler Wade of Terrell, TX., and Trey Yates of Pueblo, CO., celebrate their Team Roping win duri ...](https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/15900668_web1_ROD-NFR1-DEC03-21-012.jpg)
Tyler Wade of Terrell, TX., and Trey Yates of Pueblo, CO., celebrate their Team Roping win during the opening night of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
![Chase Brooks of Deer Lodge, MT., rides Marquee during his Saddle Bronc Riding tie for first pla ...](https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/15900668_web1_ROD-NFR1-DEC03-21-013.jpg)
Chase Brooks of Deer Lodge, MT., rides Marquee during his Saddle Bronc Riding tie for first place in the opening night of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
![Zeke Thurston of Big Valley, AB., rides Vitlix Wyatt Earp during his Saddle Bronc Riding tie f ...](https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/15900668_web1_ROD-NFR1-DEC03-21-014.jpg)
Zeke Thurston of Big Valley, AB., rides Vitlix Wyatt Earp during his Saddle Bronc Riding tie for first place in the opening night of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
![Shane Hanchey of Sulphur, LA., readies to mount his horse in Tie-Down Roping for the win during ...](https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/15900668_web1_ROD-NFR1-DEC03-21-015.jpg)
Shane Hanchey of Sulphur, LA., readies to mount his horse in Tie-Down Roping for the win during the opening night of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
![Shane Hanchey of Sulphur, LA., celebrates his win in Tie-Down Roping during the opening night o ...](https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/15900668_web1_ROD-NFR1-DEC03-21-016.jpg)
Shane Hanchey of Sulphur, LA., celebrates his win in Tie-Down Roping during the opening night of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
![Hailey Kinsel of Cotulla, TX, rides to the next obstacle in Barrel Racing during the opening ni ...](https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/15900668_web1_ROD-NFR1-DEC03-21-017.jpg)
Hailey Kinsel of Cotulla, TX, rides to the next obstacle in Barrel Racing during the opening night of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
![Cheyenne Wimberley of Stephenville, TX., races to the next obstacle in Barrel Racing to tie for ...](https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/15900668_web1_ROD-NFR1-DEC03-21-018.jpg)
Cheyenne Wimberley of Stephenville, TX., races to the next obstacle in Barrel Racing to tie for first place during the opening night of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
![Amanda Welsch of Gillette, WY., rounds an obstacle in Barrel Racing to tie for first place duri ...](https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/15900668_web1_ROD-NFR1-DEC03-21-019.jpg)
Amanda Welsch of Gillette, WY., rounds an obstacle in Barrel Racing to tie for first place during the opening night of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
![Ky Hamilton of Mackay, AU, rides Rip in Bull Riding to tie for first place during the opening n ...](https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/15900668_web1_ROD-NFR1-DEC03-21-020.jpg)
Ky Hamilton of Mackay, AU, rides Rip in Bull Riding to tie for first place during the opening night of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
![JB Mauney of Stephenville, TX, rides Cocktail Diarrhea in Bull Riding to tie for first place du ...](https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/15900668_web1_ROD-NFR1-DEC03-21-021.jpg)
JB Mauney of Stephenville, TX, rides Cocktail Diarrhea in Bull Riding to tie for first place during the opening night of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
![Fans are showered with confetti by the Blue Man Group during the opening night of Wrangler Nati ...](https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/15900668_web1_ROD-NFR1-DEC03-21-006.jpg)
Fans are showered with confetti by the Blue Man Group during the opening night of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
National Finals Rodeo opened with a bang Thursday night at the Thomas & Mack Center. The rodeo returned to its home in Las Vegas for 2021 after moving to Texas for a year.
Check out photos from opening night.
For full coverage of NFR, visit lvrj.com/nfr.