Fort Worth Weekly With the NFR in Arlington, many tourists are packing the cowpoking shops, often without masks. By Edward Brown Photo by Edward Brown When the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) moved to Arlington this year, many saw the move as an economic coup. The 10-day-long event had spent the previous 15 years in Las Vegas. COVID-19-related restrictions in Nevada that prevent large ticketed events was perhaps the biggest reason the NFR decided to leave Las Vegas. The 2020 NFR runs through Saturday at Globe Life Field. For the past several days, Fort Worthians have warmly welcomed the influx of thousands of rodeo contestants, NFR staff, and fans. For local businesses and city officials, the visiting rodeo fans represent a much-needed economic boost. Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams recently said his city was excited to accept “rodeo fans who will be traveling from across the country to cheer on these professional cowboys.” Locals visiting the Stockyards recently have told me they have noticed the swells of new faces who sport NFR or other out-of-town attire and appear insatiably interested in posing for photographs near historic landmarks in the Stockyards.