What started as a small contest with only 20 bull riders soon grew into one of the most prolific sports in the history of television. More than 600 bull riders from all over the world gather to compete week in and week out in a rock concert-like environment. The danger isn’t the only factor these top bull riding athletes face, there are other parts to the game, including drama, thriller, and heroic accomplishments. The PBR market has witnessed an exponential growth that can be easily indicated with the value of more than $140 million in prize money.
If you are interested in this year’s schedule, here are some of the upcoming events that you should keep an eye on.
PBR and the Coronavirus
The PBR took their time to return to the ring after a long 41-day break due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Lazy E Arena was closed to fans to avoid the transmission of the virus. Since Oklahoma was the center of many live supports, its lockdown due to the coronavirus led to other major shutdowns of major events. The chain reaction that happened in one sport led to a series of closings that stopped the industry in its tracks. Pro-level competitions gradually started returning with the event that was hosted by the PBR after the reopening of the Lazy E Arena and Ranch. The Beast event that took place in Las Vegas started with Taylor Toves winning the first round with the 41 cowboys in this two-day event.
The PBR Global Cup
The world-renowned five-nation international competition known as the PBR Global Cup is set to take place in the AT&T Stadium of Arlington, Texas. CBS Sports will be televising the Professional Bull Riders major event on their channels. CBS Sports is also planning to widen its scope and include other PBR events like the World Champions Rodeo Alliance.
Unleash the Beast Series
Unleash the Beast is the main series of PBR, and its name used to be Built Ford Tough Series from 2003 to 2017. The opening events of the series take place in Madison Square Garden in New York. Thirty-five riders and bulls compete at each of the series events, reaching the PBR World Finals by the end of the year. The two-day event splits the riders and bulls into 1 round per day. Only 15 riders are taken to the championship. The event starts on April 25 and ends on the 26th. The Monster Energy sponsored event will take place in Las Vegas, closed off to a live audience.
Upcoming PBR Events
The series is set to resume on the 20th of June; the first two rounds will take place on the 20th and the 21st in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The next event will be on the 26th of June, and it will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah. A two-week break and another event will start on the 9th of August; the first and second rounds will take place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on the same day. The conclusion of the season will be on the 8th of November in Las Vegas.
The PBR events have stood strong against the numerous lockdowns in the western sports industry. It still sustained significant damage that has translated to over a 40-day break. The matches are all televised, but the audience will not be present due to the current conditions of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
