On December 3, 2022, the NFR reported 17,703 spectators at its Thomas & Mack Center performance. Cowboy Christmas recorded 40,894 visits that day, a single-day high identified in the organizer's announcement.
Reid Oftedahl's debut at the 2022 National Finals Rodeo ended after an injury during the second round of bull riding. The contemporary account reported that he was taken to a Las Vegas hospital and would not compete in the remaining rounds.
Stetson Wright won the second bull riding round of the 2022 NFR with an 88-point ride on Pookie Holler. The contemporary report connected the performance with his passage beyond $2 million in PRCA career earnings.
Trevor Brazile, Charmayne James and Ty Murray were the inaugural group celebrated through the Vegas NFR Icons program in 2022. The program combined a tribute luncheon with arena recognition, connecting personal appearances with a visible place in the Thomas & Mack Center's history.
Kaycee Feild opened the 2022 NFR with an 87.5-point bareback ride on Bronc Riding Nation. The official report listed him as the first-round winner, giving an established world champion an immediate place at the top of that night's results.