Pat Christenson, President of Las Vegas Events, speaks during an announcement for the return of Americas Party fireworks display at the Fashion Show Mall Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021.
Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022 | 9:10 a.m.
Pat Christenson, who during more than two decades as president of Las Vegas Events helped bring the National Finals Rodeo, Electric Daisy Carnival and college basketball tournaments to town, will retire Dec. 31, 2023.
Christenson started his tenure at Las Vegas Events in 2001, tasked with a simple yet complicated marching order: Bring signature events here.
The nongaming economic impact of such events swelled from $108.9 million in 2001 to an average of $535.8 million from 2015 to 2019, officials said.
Las Vegas Events supported 21 events in 2001; it now averages 41 annually.
Christenson came to Las Vegas in 1980 as a venue management coordinator with UNLV and was eventually elevated to assistant director of the Thomas & Mack Center, which opened in 1983.
He eventually started overseeing the Silver Bowl, which became Sam Boyd Stadium.
Even after he added the job with Las Vegas Events, he remained director at UNLV of the Thomas & Mack and Sam Boyd.
The venues sold out every show they hosted from 1991 to 1995, averaging more than 135,000 tickets per year, according to Las Vegas Events.
Acts included the Eagles, Metallica, Dave Mathews Band, N’Sync, George Strait and U2. He also brought the Grateful Dead to the Silver Bowl.
Christenson coordinated with Cox Communications to provide funding for Cox Pavilion, home to the UNLV women’s volleyball and basketball programs.
His most significant work arguably came in growing the rodeo, which starting in 1985 has brought millions in tourism dollars to Las Vegas during the slow period around the holidays.
He created the NFR Experience at the Las Vegas Convention Center, a massive shopping and viewing experience that brings 400,000 visitors to town, officials said.
