Veterans and Immediate Families to Receive Free Tickets Through Partnership with Vet Tix

Spectra by Comcast Spectacor, the provider of Venue Management and Food Services & Hospitality to Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall and the Convention Center, have announced the return of the rodeo to Atlantic City for the 39th Annual American Finals Rodeo on November 11 and 12, a two-day event over Veteran’s Day Weekend.

The American Professional Rodeo Association (APRA) is based in Pennsylvania and sanctions rodeos throughout the northeast.  The top 12 contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, breakaway roping, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding – based on money won during the regular season  qualify to compete at the American Finals Rodeo.

Ticket prices range from $15.00 to $99.00 and will go on sale in May. In partnership with Vet Tix, all veterans and their immediate families can enter a lottery system to receive free tickets to the event.  In addition, local area casinos will be offering hotel and ticket packages. For more information visit: www.americanfinalsrodeo.com.

“Our partnership with American Finals Rodeo, helps veterans and their families create long lasting memories,” said Brandi Shannon, Chief of Community Relations of Veteran Tickets Foundation.  “We’re excited to make this experience possible and are grateful for their generous donation.  American Finals Rodeo has chosen a perfect time to thank all of our Military, Veterans, and their families for their service and sacrifice this upcoming Veteran’s Day 2016.”

The event will feature competitors from all over the world; who will have competed as part of the regular season in states as far west as Indiana, south as Tennessee and north as Maine.  Atlantic City provides a convenient location in the heart of the northeast corridor, within a 150-mile driving radius that reaches 40% of the nation’s population.

“We are excited to partner with Boardwalk Hall and the people of Atlantic City to provide family entertainment year after year,” said Dr. Allan Detweiler, Chairman of the American Finals Rodeo.

“We’re excited to bring back a Rodeo to Atlantic City, as it’s proven to be popular in the past, and we were able to negotiate a deal that worked for both us and Malibu Ranch to work to grow a great event here in Atlantic City,” said Spectra’s Fran Rodowicz, General Manager of Boardwalk Hall.  “We look forward to making this event successful and growing it for years to come.”

APRA Mission: The purpose of the association shall be to promote rodeo as a sport and profession, striving at all times to insure honesty and fairness to both the contestant and the producers; to create an amicable relationship among stock contractors, producers, and contestants; to organize, sanction, and advertise rodeo being sponsored within the association standards and to the prevention of cruelty to animals.

About Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix): Vet Tix is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation supporting our military community.  Vet Tix has provided over 1.6 million free event tickets to currently serving military, veterans, and family members of those killed in action to sporting events, concerts, performing arts and family activities.  Our military and veterans experience many difficult transitions as they reintegrate into their families, communities and eventually, into civilian life.  Attending events improves morale, strengthens family bonds through shared interests and encourages service members to stay engaged with local communities and American life.  In gratitude for their service and to support their reintegration, Vet Tix is dedicated to giving back to those who gave us so much. Donations are eligible for tax deductions.  Please visit our website at wee.VetTix.org.

About Spectra: Spectra by Comcast Spectacor is the expert in hosting and entertainment, partnering with over 300 clients at 400 global properties to create memorable experiences for millions of visitors every year. Spectra’s expertise is embodied within three divisions: Venue Management (formerly Global Spectrum), Food Services & Hospitality (formerly Ovations Food Services) and Ticketing & Fan Engagement (formerly Paciolan). Learn more at SpectraExperiences.com.

Comcast Spectacor is part of Comcast Corporation, a Fortune 50 media and technology company that operates Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pa., in addition to Spectra, Comcast Spectacor owns and operates the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers and the Wells Fargo Center venue. Visit us at ComcastSpectacor.com, PhiladelphiaFlyers.com and WellsFargoCenterPhilly.com for more information.

About the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) www.njcrda.com and www.twitter.com/njcrda

The only agency of its kind nationwide, the CRDA has used Atlantic City casino reinvestments as a catalyst for meaningful, positive improvement in the lives of New Jersey residents, investing nearly $2 billion in more than 400 projects statewide since 1984. Under the 2011 Tourism District Act, CRDA’s mission evolved from statewide projects to becoming the state’s key economic development agency for Atlantic City. CRDA responsibilities expanded to include land use regulation, clean and safe initiatives, tourism marketing, ownership and oversight of the Atlantic City Convention Center and Boardwalk Hall, and partnership with the Atlantic City Alliance to brand and market Atlantic City. The former ACCVA, now a division of CRDA, is the first destination marketing organization in New Jersey to achieve prestigious Destination Marketing Accreditation by the Destination Marketing Association International.

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