ProRodeo Sports News - Nov.20, 2020

GOLD CARD ROOM

The Gold Card Room has traditionally been a hot spot for PRCA Gold Card members to gather during the NFR. The tradition will continue in Arlington for the 2020 Wrangler NFR, but with some changes due to COVID-19. PRCA ProRodeo file photo

Gold Card Room tradition to continue in Arlington

BY MATT NABER I f the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo had a VIP section, the Gold Card Room would be it, since it takes 20 years of PRCAmembership to earn Gold Card status. Past competitors, stock contractors, contract personnel and more gather in the Gold Card Room to watch the NFR and have an unof- ficial reunion of sorts. “It’s important because it brings together a lot of people who have supported rodeo and been members for 30-40 years,” said eight-time World Champion Bull Rider Don Gay. “We have people who take pride in being a member for 20-plus years who never qualified for the NFR, but these are the people who helped make the NFR. When you continue to support the association, you can cock your hat to the side a bit more, because that’s really cool.” Gay, who won bull riding world titles in 1974-77, 1979-81 and 1984, was among the inaugural class of inductees to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1979. He has been a Gold Card member for about 30 years, but working at the Finals limits his appearances in the Gold Card Room. “I was always a real positive mental attitude kind of guy – don’t dwell on things we don’t have control over,” Gay said. “This deal (COVID-19) the administration has to deal with, this is a huge undertaking, and that can’t be stated enough. It’s not just putting on a rodeo.” Gold Card members will be able to continue the tradition of catching up with old friends while watching the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo from the

Gold Card Room. There will be some changes due to COVID-19, which led to the Wrangler NFR’s relocation to Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. A rodeo ticket will be necessary since the Gold Card Room will be inside the stadium’s “All You Can Eat Club.” Like the rest of the stadium, masks are required inside the Gold Card Room and are to be worn except when eating. Social distancing will be observed with tables spaced out and a limit of six people per table. The Gold Card Room will only be open to current Gold Card members who have renewed their membership, and guests are limited to one per member. Globe Life Field has a “no bag” policy, which means bags of any kind are prohibited, including purses. The only exception to the policy is medical bags and for those with babies, a diaper bag under a certain size with limited liquids in the bag. There will not be a full meal in the Gold Card Room this year, but there will be drinks (coffee, tea, soda, bottled water) and hors d’oeuvres or desserts. There will be a cash bar. The Gold Card Room’s guests will have trivia games with prizes as well as door prizes. Each round of the Wrangler NFR can be watched from the Gold Card Room’s large screens. The room will open at 5:15 p.m. each day and close immediately following the end of the performance.

DEC. 3-12, 2020

ProRodeo Sports News December 2020

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