NCHA News

Fort Worth, TX — The National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) proudly announces the 2025 NCHA Metallic Cat World Championship Futurity will take place inside the John Justin Arena at the Will Rogers Memorial Center. 

With renovations continuing at the historic Will Rogers Coliseum, this year’s Futurity will temporarily relocate. NCHA is committed to ensuring the event maintains its prestige, tradition, and the world-class atmosphere of cutting’s largest stage.

“Our staff and show team have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to make this transition as seamless as possible,” said NCHA Executive Director Jay Winborn. “While the setting may be different, the Futurity will continue to provide the same world-class experience our members and fans expect.”

• Dates: November 10 – December 6, 2025
• Arena: John Justin Arena
• Western Bloodstock Futurity Sales: December 1–6 in Watt Arena
• NCHA World Finals: November 21–22 and November 26–29 — the historic last performances in Watt Arena before the event permanently moves to the John Justin Arena following Coliseum renovations.

To better support competitors and families, the final rounds of the Non-Pro and Open divisions will be held Friday and Saturday evenings, allowing participants to enjoy Thanksgiving with loved ones.

NCHA is dedicated to creating a smooth and enjoyable seating experience, with thoughtful planning to ensure fairness, familiarity, and accessibility.

Box Seat Holders: 

• Box Seat holders will retain the same seat counts and proximity to the working area.
• VIP in-seat wait service will continue.
• Every effort has been made to honor the value of box seats while enhancing the overall experience.

Ticket Sales: 

• A limited number of tickets on the warm-up side of the arena will be offered to NCHA members beginning October 1 on a first-come, first-served basis. 
• Any remaining tickets will be released to the general public on October 15. 
• Pricing will remain fair and competitive, reflecting the NCHA’s commitment to accessibility.

Complimentary Tickets:

• Fully paid Futurity entries: four access tickets for standing-room areas in the John Justin Arena as well as the James L. West Sale Arena.
• Tradeshow vendors: two tickets; NCHA Directors, one ticket.
• Competitors advancing to the Non-Pro Finals, Open Semi-Finals, and Open Finals: four complimentary reserved-seat tickets for competition-side seating section for owners and riders.

Simulcast Viewing:

• During the Open Finals, an additional 670 seats will be available inside the James L. West Sale Arena, featuring live commentary and simulcast.

VIP Seating: 

• Limited VIP seating on the upper concourse of John Justin Arena will be offered first to previous VIP table holders, with any remaining seats available on October 15.

World Finals Admission: 

• Admission to the NCHA World Finals remains free to the public, continuing a long-standing tradition of accessibility for fans. 

Best of The West Tradeshow

This year’s Best of the West Tradeshow will expand across multiple venues to maintain the robust experience exhibitors and fans expect:

• John Justin Arena Concourse
• Brown-Lupton North & South
• A new Exhibit Hall inside the Richardson Bass Building

All prior Futurity vendors will be accommodated. Vendor inquiries may be directed to Paula Abney at paula.ncha@gmail.com.  

Practice Pen & Stalling

NCHA understands that practice and stalling are essential to a smooth competitor experience and has taken steps to expand these resources.

Practice Pen Options: Exhibitors will enjoy the same expanded opportunities offered at recent Triple Crown events, including: 

• 5 pens for cattle works
• 4 flags
• 2 mechanical cows

Works will be available in the Watt Arena, Multipurpose Building, Pavilion, and Sheep Arena.

Stalling: Stalls will be assigned by the NCHA Show Department and distributed across multiple facilities for convenience:

• Partial use of the Burnett Stalls
• All of Cattle Barns 1–4
• Small Exhibits and Multipurpose Stalls
• Moncrief and Multipurpose Buildings are reserved for World Finals and Sale horses. 

Exhibitors are encouraged to submit stall requests as early as possible to ensure preferred placement. 

A Historic Year Ahead

The 2025 Futurity and World Finals are projected to pay well over $5 million, reaffirming NCHA’s commitment to keeping the event among the most prestigious and rewarding in the Western performance horse industry.

“Our members can be confident that every detail has been carefully considered,” said NCHA Executive Director Jay Winborn. “From payout to practice, seating to sales, our goal is to honor the legacy of the Futurity while continuing to move it forward.” 

From the historic last performances in Watt Arena to new opportunities inside the John Justin Arena, this year promises to be an unforgettable chapter in the history of cutting.  NCHA looks forward to welcoming competitors, exhibitors, owners, and fans to Fort Worth this November.