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Location: Texas | We go out to Vegas every year during the NFR. But we haven't been to an actual NFR perf in a long time. We usually just watch it at the MGM Theater or in one of the sports bars or wherever. We are debating on getting Mad Dash tickets for one night this year, but can't decide if that is what we want to do or not. I have heard there is a lot to do outside the T&M before & after the rodeo. Can anyone clue me in on what all there is to do? Also, has anyone ever gone to the rodeo using the Mad Dash tickets? Or can anyone suggest a Vegas show that was really good? Seems like a lot of the big shows aren't running during the NFR. |
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Expert
Posts: 1488
 
| If you've been once I would say Similcast.
better view, smaller crowds and plenty of drinks
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Member
Posts: 15
| There's Nothing like a Live Performance!! You've gotta Go!!! |
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 Expert
Posts: 3104
Location: Arkansas | We have only been once and only attended one performance. We said if we go back we will attend more performances. You can't beat the energy in that building. Everyone is different though
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  The Original Cyber Bartender
Location: Washington | We went for years and always loved going to the Thomas & Mack arena to watch it. BUT we were in the lower level. Before the rodeo would start I would just people watch, never a dull moment. Never did the mad dash deal. But I assure you many are thrilled to just stand out in the hallways and watch on the tv monitors. So it's whatever floats your boat.But you will have a good time! IT's Vegas Baby! |
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Expert
Posts: 2604
Location: Texas | If I buy Mad Dash tickets and don't get a seat to sit in, I am NOT watching it on the monitors in the concourse. I will ask for my money back (I think that is an option) and go back to the hotel to watch it! I've been to an actual performance before, but it has been quite a few years. We have always thought it was almost as good to just watch the simulcast, not have to fight crowds and spend the money on drinks & food. But got to wondering if I was missing something by not going to the performance. As I've said, we've been to a perf, but it's been quite a few years ago. |
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The Original Cyber Bartender
Location: Washington | TBone - 2013-12-03 3:26 PM If I buy Mad Dash tickets and don't get a seat to sit in, I am NOT watching it on the monitors in the concourse. I will ask for my money back (I think that is an option) and go back to the hotel to watch it! I've been to an actual performance before, but it has been quite a few years. We have always thought it was almost as good to just watch the simulcast, not have to fight crowds and spend the money on drinks & food. But got to wondering if I was missing something by not going to the performance. As I've said, we've been to a perf, but it's been quite a few years ago.
Good luck in your decision, it's a hard one. Personally if I was in Vegas this time of year the only thing I would want to do is go to the rodeo. |
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 Elite Veteran
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Location: The South | We went for the first time last year, and I have to say if we were going back I would probably only buy tickets for one perf and watch the rest at the hotel. We stayed at the Mirage and they had a nice set up to watch the rodeo. I didn't like the lines to go to the restroom, I hate making everyone stand up to get to my seat (or crawling over people) and the tickets were so dang expensive! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
| We are planning on going to the NFR this year and will not be going to the perf unless I get comp tickets through my work for some reason (which is unlikely.) There is SOOOO much to do and so many concerts. etc to see for those two weeks it's mind boggling to pick just a few things. (They all go simultaneously before and after the perf, it seems like.) |
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Location: Oregon | Can you explain the Mad Dash tickets? I will be leavign on Thursday and was just assuming that I would watch in a bar somewhere because I don't habe tickets. There's plenty of things to do and see even if I can't go to the actual Rodeo! |
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 More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | My brother and his fiance are going for the 2nd time. The last time they got tickets for 3 perfs. This year they are spending $400 each and going to one perf sitting in good spots. The rest of the week they'll watch it in a drunken stupor at the bar.. |
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 I Love My Mares!
Posts: 1613
Location: Moved to Montana | I loved being in the building for the performance, the energy is amazing. The crowds are big and the lines are long so I wouldnt do a bunch of nights. |
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Expert
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Location: Texas | ~rodeojunkie~ - 2013-12-03 6:51 PM Can you explain the Mad Dash tickets? I will be leavign on Thursday and was just assuming that I would watch in a bar somewhere because I don't habe tickets. There's plenty of things to do and see even if I can't go to the actual Rodeo!
Mad Dash tickets are $65.88/ticket (including all fees). You can sit anywhere in the balcony as long as it is an open seat. If the person that has the actual assigned ticket for that specific seat shows up, then you have to get up and move to a different empty seat. If there are no seats available you can either watch the performance on the monitors in the concourse or you can go to the T&M box office and ask for a refund. I am guessing you are only refunded the ticket price, not the cost of the fees (probably around $10). If you choose to get a refund, you have to do this within the first 30 minutes of the rodeo, so by 7:15p.
Would love to hear feedback from someone who as actually done the Mad Dash tickets! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1037
| ~rodeojunkie~ - 2013-12-03 6:51 PM Can you explain the Mad Dash tickets? I will be leavign on Thursday and was just assuming that I would watch in a bar somewhere because I don't habe tickets. There's plenty of things to do and see even if I can't go to the actual Rodeo!
Mad Dash tickets are where you buy the ticket but you do not actually have a seat. You can sit anywhere up the upper balcony level until someone comes to claim their seat, then you have to get up, move to another empty seat until the next person claims it. I have never done it because it seems like a hastle. They say they will give you your money back IF you cannot find anywhere to sit. I just wouldnt want to be up moving around the WHOLE time... Those stairs would give you quite the workout though!! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1037
| TBone - 2013-12-03 4:43 PM We go out to Vegas every year during the NFR. But we haven't been to an actual NFR perf in a long time. We usually just watch it at the MGM Theater or in one of the sports bars or wherever. We are debating on getting Mad Dash tickets for one night this year, but can't decide if that is what we want to do or not. I have heard there is a lot to do outside the T&M before & after the rodeo. Can anyone clue me in on what all there is to do? Also, has anyone ever gone to the rodeo using the Mad Dash tickets? Or can anyone suggest a Vegas show that was really good? Seems like a lot of the big shows aren't running during the NFR.
The PRO RODEO FAN ZONE is outstide the THomas and Mack. It has a big bar with mechanical bull, several games set up by different vendors, usually someone preforming in the Preifert round pen (the last couple of years it has been Guy McLean)... You can see with Preifert draft horses, look at what Dodge has to offer coming out in the new year, and last year they had the NFR preshow being filmed on a stage out there.
We usually go early to see some of it, but its basically the same thing every year.
As far as Vegas shows, you cant go wrong with any Cirqe show. They are all good. Zarkana was my favorite (although lots of people dont like it), Ka is good but they have taken out the best part IMO... Blue Man Group is good also, its a good first time show. I would take watching the rodeo over going to ANY show though. |
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Pig-Bear Dog Lover
| There will probably be a couple empty seats somewhere. |
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 Leggs
Posts: 4680
Location: lexington KY | I have never experienced the Mad Dash tickets, but I have been to a performance and I think everyone should experience it. However, I paid for nice lower level seats and it was an experience I will never forget. The rest of the week I watched it at a bar. |
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Location: Lost with the rest of the MINIONS! | CYA Ranch - 2013-12-03 5:52 PM My brother and his fiance are going for the 2nd time. The last time they got tickets for 3 perfs. This year they are spending $400 each and going to one perf sitting in good spots. The rest of the week they'll watch it in a drunken stupor at the bar..
Sounds like my kind of trip to Vegas!!  |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Sleepy H Ranch - 2013-12-04 8:42 AM CYA Ranch - 2013-12-03 5:52 PM My brother and his fiance are going for the 2nd time. The last time they got tickets for 3 perfs. This year they are spending $400 each and going to one perf sitting in good spots. The rest of the week they'll watch it in a drunken stupor at the bar.. Sounds like my kind of trip to Vegas!!
LOL.....he thought I should go along. Maybe some year I will. |
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Member
Posts: 48
| I did the mad dash tickets for my daughter a few rounds when we went. It was the way to go with her because she was only 10 and could just sit on our lap if there wasn't an open seat around ours. I thought they were much less than $65, we went 2 yrs ago. You would probably be safe finding a few seats together until the last few rounds then it could be harder. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | we used to always go to the rodeo as be would get tickets with our travel package.....but then the agents couldn't get tickets anymore and i find them way to higha price(i refuse to sit in the upper portion) so we watch it at whatever hotel we are closest to, drinks are cheaper for sure...lol
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Expert
Posts: 2604
Location: Texas | Is beer REALLY expensive at the rodeo? Like more than they are at a major hotel bar?
As I mentioned earlier, we have been to an NFR perf before, just has been quite a few years. Wish I could afford to buy the good lower level seats! Would definately go then!
Seems like all the good Vegas shows (Cirque) are not running during the NFR. :( |
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Expert
Posts: 2678
Location: Mi | I did the Mad Dash seats a few years back, paid $75.00 for them. There was 5 of us who went, we got lucky and found 5 seats next to eachother, and didn't have to move at all, we were pretty high up in the belcony and it was during the 4th round. I'm sure the later rounds will be harder to get seats in. |
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Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | CYA Ranch - 2013-12-03 6:52 PM My brother and his fiance are going for the 2nd time. The last time they got tickets for 3 perfs. This year they are spending $400 each and going to one perf sitting in good spots. The rest of the week they'll watch it in a drunken stupor at the bar..
This is basically what we did last year and I had the best time out of all my trips there. We bought seats 2 rows up from the dirt between the 1st barrel and the bucking chutes for just one perf and then watched the other perfs in the MGM theater. I will never by cheaper seats again for the rodeo and the theater at MGM was as close to being there as you can get! We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at MGM. I've stayed about everywhere there is to stay there and watched the perfs about every way available and last year was by far the best. |
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Expert
Posts: 2604
Location: Texas | We always stay at the MGM and watch the NFR in the MGM Theater as well. And there is always a live band and rodeo party going on at MGM too. Maybe I should just splurge for the good seats if we go. |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | ThreeCorners - 2013-12-04 11:52 AM CYA Ranch - 2013-12-03 6:52 PM My brother and his fiance are going for the 2nd time. The last time they got tickets for 3 perfs. This year they are spending $400 each and going to one perf sitting in good spots. The rest of the week they'll watch it in a drunken stupor at the bar.. This is basically what we did last year and I had the best time out of all my trips there. We bought seats 2 rows up from the dirt between the 1st barrel and the bucking chutes for just one perf and then watched the other perfs in the MGM theater. I will never by cheaper seats again for the rodeo and the theater at MGM was as close to being there as you can get! We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at MGM. I've stayed about everywhere there is to stay there and watched the perfs about every way available and last year was by far the best.
They are also splurging on hotel and staying at the Belagio. They'll have a blast.  |
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 Pork Fat is my Favorite
Posts: 3791
Location: The Oklahoma plains. | TBone - 2013-12-04 11:19 AM Is beer REALLY expensive at the rodeo? Like more than they are at a major hotel bar?
As I mentioned earlier, we have been to an NFR perf before, just has been quite a few years. Wish I could afford to buy the good lower level seats! Would definately go then!
Seems like all the good Vegas shows (Cirque) are not running during the NFR. :(
Beer is about as expensive as at any major sporting event- my guess is double that of the MGM bar. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1037
| TBone - 2013-12-04 11:19 AM Is beer REALLY expensive at the rodeo? Like more than they are at a major hotel bar?
As I mentioned earlier, we have been to an NFR perf before, just has been quite a few years. Wish I could afford to buy the good lower level seats! Would definately go then!
Seems like all the good Vegas shows (Cirque) are not running during the NFR. :(
Ka (dark Sunday, Monday), Zarkana (dark Wednesday, Thursday), Love (dark Wednesday) are all playing. Which one are you looking for?
And yes, all beer and food is expensive at the Thomas and Mack. |
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NFR - Attend Actual Perf or Watch Simulcast