Prepare to be dazzled when the World Cup Finals of Dressage and Jumping light up Las Vegas like never before, April 20-24, 2005. Tickets are still available for two of the world’s most prestigious and glamorous equestrian events, but they are selling fast. For the first time ever, the two World Cup Finals will be held concurrently in one location, the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV.
Plenty of good seats remain for the Las Vegas World Cup Finals, but Las Vegas Events President Pat Christenson warns, “Orders are coming in fast, and we urge everyone to reserve their seats now so they won't miss out on what promises to be the most spectacular equestrian event the world has ever seen!”
A variety of all-session ticket packages are available. Series tickets are available for the Jumping World Cup at $1,000 for VIP seating, $300 for Plaza seating, and $150 for Balcony seating. For dressage, series tickets are $600 for VIP, $300 for Plaza, and $150 for Balcony. Special pricing is available for those interested in attending both events.
“Due to the tremendous success of the 2000 and 2003 Jumping World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, we have a hot ticket on our hands for the unprecedented dual World Cups in 2005,” said Christenson. “Somewhat surprisingly, dressage is outselling jumping at the moment, but we do expect the house to be full for both events. Those who attended the spectacular events in 2000 and 2003 know that Las Vegas presents equestrian sport in an amazing, exhilarating manner not to be found anywhere else. There is no doubt that whoever comes to Las Vegas next April will go home even more excited than those who were here in previous years!”
Started in 1979, the Show Jumping World Cup Final is an annual international showdown among the world’s best jumping horses and riders. Approximately 45 riders qualify from 13 leagues around the world. In the 26 finals held in 2004, American riders have emerged with the most titles, having won the championship seven times.
This will mark the sixth Jumping World Cup Final to be held in the United States, following Finals in Baltimore, MD, in 1980; Tampa, FL, in 1989; Del Mar, CA, in 1992 and the two in Las Vegas in 2000 and 2003.
First held in 1986, the Dressage World Cup Final has been held in the U.S. only once--in 1995 in Los Angeles. Germany and The Netherlands have dominated the competition, winning six titles each through 2004. The United States won its first title in 2003 when Debbie McDonald of Hailey, ID, and the mare Brentina emerged as champions. Brentina is owned by Parry and Peggy Thomas of Las Vegas, for whom the Thomas & Mack Center, the venue for the World Cup Finals, is named.
The return of the Dressage Final to the United States is sure to provide a huge boost to the sport, just as the hosting of the Jumping Final in Las Vegas in 2000 helped increase that discipline’s popularity.
Las Vegas Events, Inc. (LVE), the 2005 Las Vegas World Cup Finals producer, previously hosted two World Cup Jumping finals, the highly-acclaimed Budweiser World Cups in 2000 and 2003. LVE is a non-profit company whose mission is to produce and sponsor events that drives tourism to Southern Nevada. LVE is responsible for producing the annual National Finals Rodeo and America’s Party New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show and sponsoring events such as NASCAR, NHRA, PGA & LPGA golf. Annually, LVE produces or sponsors nearly thirty events for the Southern Nevada area.
For more information on the 2005 Jumping and Dressage World Cup Finals, please call Las Vegas Events, Inc. at (702) 260-8605 or visit the official website at www.worldcuplasvegas.com.