ARIAT WORLD SERIES OF TEAM ROPING (WSTR)

When the construction of South Point Hotel and Casino Equestrian Center was completed in the spring of 2006, the dream of a world class equestrian center on the Las Vegas strip was a reality. But for sure, the cherry of all events would be the one selected to compliment the NFR. There were lots of options, and every producer of any type of horse event or rodeo lined up and gave their pitch to the South Point.

Team roping during the 1990's had become the biggest segment of the western lifestyle. There were many advisors to SP suggesting that the big event during the NFR should be a major team roping. The Gentrys that had built the United States Team Roping Championships, had retired from producing roping events, but it was suggested that they should be encouraged to come out of seclusion for the venture. Michael Gaughan, owner of South Point Casino, had been around rodeo forever, but he was very skeptical about how the recreational team roping demographic would mix with a gaming operation. But after lots of discussions with some of the Gaughan's close friends in the roping world, the Gaughan's were persuaded to give the Gentrys' a one-year shot. Everything would ride on one try, one spin of the wheel.