Unleash the Beast Series

Last updated

The Unleash the Beast Series (UTB) is the Premier Series of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR). Monster Beverage Corporation is the current series sponsor for the premiership since 2018. From its founding in 1994 through 2002, it was sponsored by Anheuser-Busch (Bud Light Cup Series), and the Ford Motor Company (Built Ford Tough Series) from 2003 through 2017. [1] [2] [3] The UTB series is televised on CBS Sports Network since 2018 and streamed on Paramount+ since 2022. It has also been televised on TUDN and streamed on Vix Premium, both in Spanish, since 2024. The top 40 riders and top bulls compete at each event. It culminates at the PBR Unleash the Beast World Finals at the end of the regular season. The UTB series includes 24 events across the United States each year. Pyrotechnics, pulsating music, and special effects open each event. [1] UTB events range from one to three days, with all 40 riders competing in the long rounds, then the top 12 returning to the Championship Round to determine the event winner. [4]

Contents

Major events offered competition in different formats, bonus bulls, and more prize money. [4] The PBR did not visit New York City or Los Angeles in 2021 because of COVID-19 restrictions in said locations, and the Iron Cowboy event took place at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, that year in the summer instead of its usual run in the winter. [14] The UTB series returned to Madison Square Garden in New York City [15] and Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center) in Los Angeles in 2022. [16] Since said year, neither Cheyenne or Nashville are stops on the UTB schedule, as they are now stops on the PBR's Team Series schedule.

After a two-year hiatus, Majors returned to the Premier Series in 2024. These events include the Monster Energy Buck Off at the Garden in New York, New York; the Wrangler Long Live Cowboys Classic in Sacramento, California; and the Ty Murray Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico. [17]

15/15 Bucking Battles are offered at some UTB events. This type of event matches the top 15 bull riders against the top 15 bulls in attendance. The matching is random. There is a separate purse for this event. Points are earned at the rate of 1 and 1/2 times the round points. Points do not factor into the event winner but do count toward the UTB standings. The winner is the bull rider with the highest ride score. The 15/15 Bucking Battles are broadcast on CBS. [4]

Qualifying for the PBR World Finals used to be based on points earned at all of the PBR's tours, which included the UTB elite tour, mid-level (Velocity Tour), and entry level (Touring Touring Division) tour, and the International tours. International tours include Australia, Brazil, and Canada. [18] However, beginning in 2023, only points won on the UTB series count towards the PBR World Finals and world championship race. [19] Mexico also had a PBR tour, but the COVID-19 pandemic and financial struggles were major factors that led to its eventual shutdown in 2023. The top 40 riders in the UTB standings according to points earned, the Velocity Tour champion, the top three point earners in the Velocity Tour after the conclusion of its finals event, and the highest ranked finishing international rider not already ranked inside the top 35 of the UTB standings all compete at the World Finals.

Since 2024, the PBR World Finals are held at two different venues in two different cities in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex; the first six days at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, then the final two days at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. [20] The event's prize money also increased from $2.7 million to 3.13 million. This includes the $1 million bonus to the World Champion, who also receives a trophy cup and championship gold belt buckle. The latter of which the value increased from $10,000 to $20,000 in 2018. [3] [18]

2018 inaugural season

Monster Beverage Corporation took over sponsorship of the PBR's Premier Series, replacing the Ford Motor Company, including the new title of the Unleash the Beast Series. [1]

2020 season changes

In March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous stops on the PBR schedule were either canceled or rescheduled to later dates. In the spring in the United States, the PBR held events that were closed to the public, but in the summer, events were allowed to have limited and socially distanced crowds. The PBR's international tours in Canada and Australia were cleared to return later that year with similar rules for attendance, but there were no PBR events in Mexico and Brazil that year due to said countries' restrictions on large events.[ citation needed ]

The PBR World Finals was moved from its usual location at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas because of Nevada state restrictions on large events to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The World Finals consisted of a limited and socially distanced audience throughout the event. The event's format changed to where all the top 35 point-earners, the Velocity Tour Champion, the top-three finishers from the Velocity Tour Finals, and the top finishing international invitee competed in the first three rounds. Only the top 30 riders based on total points returned for the fourth round. The top 15 riders after four rounds advanced to the Championship Round.[ citation needed ]

2021 season changes

The number of riders who qualified for the Championship Round at Unleash the Beast Series events was cut from 15 to 12. [21]

The PBR World Finals returned to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in 2021 and had an event format similar to the one from 2020. All contestants rode in Rounds 1 through 3, then the top 30 point earners in the event advanced to Round 4. The top 12 riders then competed in the Championship Round. [22] [23] [24]

2022 season changes

In the past, the Premier Series schedule consisted of events taking place throughout the regular calendar year with the concluding PBR World Finals taking place in the autumn. But in 2022, the season was shortened, taking place from winter to spring. All subsequent Premier Series seasons now run like this. [25]

The PBR World Finals moved from its longtime home in Las Vegas, Nevada, to Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Also, the event's format changed to a previous one that was used from 2004 to 2009. The World Finals was again an eight-round event split into two weekends where the first three rounds took place the first weekend, then the next five rounds took place the following weekend. [26]

The cut rules were changed for the 2022 World Finals. Previously, all riders participated in the first seven rounds before the cut based on the 15 highest scoring riders based on the combined score of the first seven rounds participated in the Championship Round. Starting in 2022, a two-tiered cut was imposed. The first cut, at the end of the sixth round, eliminated riders who failed to make a qualified ride. The second cut, at the end of the seventh round, was the top twelve riders in cumulative score who advance to the Championship Round. [27]

2023 season changes

The number of riders on the Premier Series was increased from 35 to 40; the last time being there were 40 riders in the Premier Series regular season was during the first five events of the 2012 season. [28]

Previously, points won by riders on the Premier Series, as well as the PBR's U.S. lower-level tours and international circuits counted for the world standings towards the world championship race. However, by 2023, only points won on the U.S. Premier Series counted towards the world championship race. [29]

From 2015 through 2022, the year-end champion from the U.S. PBR circuit's lower-level Velocity Tour, the top three finishers from the Velocity Tour Finals event, and the invitee rider representing one of PBR's four international circuits from Canada, Mexico, Brazil or Australia that placed the highest at the Velocity Tour Finals received wild-card berths; joining the top 35 riders who earned the most world points during the regular season at the PBR World Finals. In 2023, the rules were changed; The top 35 riders who earned the most points in the U.S. Premier Series (excluding the U.S. lower-level tours, as well as the international tours) qualified for the World Finals. As did the Velocity Tour champion and the highest-finishing international invitee at the Velocity Tour Finals. However, instead of the top three finishers from the Velocity Tour Finals, they would now be joined by the top three finishers from the Velocity Global point standings that were not already qualified for the World Finals.

2024 season changes

The PBR World Finals are now an eight-day event taking place at two different venues in two different cities in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex; the first six days being held at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, then the final two days taking place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

The World Finals' format was changed again. There are now ten rounds in eight days in a playoff-style competition:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheyenne Frontier Days</span> Annual festival in Cheyenne, Wyoming

Cheyenne Frontier Days is an outdoor rodeo and western celebration in the United States, held annually since 1897 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. It bills itself as the "World's Largest Outdoor Rodeo and Western Celebration." The event, claimed to be one of the largest of its kind in the world, draws nearly 200,000 annually. Lodging fills up quickly during the peak tourist season throughout southern and eastern Wyoming, into northern Colorado and western Nebraska. The celebration is held during the ten days centered about the last full week of July. In 2008, Cheyenne Frontier Days was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuff Hedeman</span> American bull rider

Richard Neale "Tuff" Hedeman is an American former professional rodeo cowboy who specializes in bull riding. He won the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) bull riding world championship three times, as well as the 1995 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) world championship. He also won the 1993 world championship for the now-defunct Bull Riders Only (BRO) organization. He is also one of the co-founders of the PBR and is known for having been one of rodeo icon Lane Frost's closest friends. Hedeman and the infamous bucking bull Bodacious had a few historic clashes. He later served as the President of the PBR and then the President and Ambassador of Championship Bull Riding (CBR). In 2018, he formed his own bull riding organization: the Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding Tour (THBRT).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Professional Bull Riders</span> International professional bull riding organization

The Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) is an international professional bull riding organization headquartered in Pueblo, Colorado, United States. It is the largest bull riding league in the world, sanctioning hundreds of events every year in the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Australia. Over 800 bull riders from said countries, as well as others hold PBR memberships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowtown Coliseum</span> Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, US

Cowtown Coliseum is a 3,418-seat arena in Fort Worth, Texas, United States, that hosts weekly rodeos. It also occasionally hosts concerts and local team sporting events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adriano Morães</span> Brazilian bull rider

Adriano Silva Morães is a Brazilian former professional rodeo cowboy who specialized in bull riding. He was one of the leading bull riders in the world from the mid-1990s to 2000s, with two titles at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) and three Professional Bull Riders (PBR) world titles to his credit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J.B. Mauney</span> American bull rider

James Burton "J.B." Mauney is an American former professional rodeo cowboy who specialized in bull riding. At the very beginning of his career, he rode in both the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and Championship Bull Riding (CBR) circuits, before deciding to ride full-time in the PBR in early 2006. He won the PBR Rookie of the Year title that same year and was a top contestant in said organization for several years; eventually winning the PBR world championship in 2013 and 2015. During the last few years of his career, he competed full-time in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). He is considered one of the greatest bull riders of his generation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Built Ford Tough Series</span> Professional Bull Riders competition

The Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) was the Premier Series tour name of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) competitions from 2003 through 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Lee (bull rider)</span> American bull rider

Michael "Mike" Lee is an American professional rodeo cowboy who specializes in bull riding. He was the 2004 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) PBR World Champion. He competed consistently in said organization from 2001 through 2017. However, he announced his retirement from the PBR in November 2017. He then competed in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), Championship Bull Riding (CBR), and Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding Tour (THBR) circuits, but later mainly rode in regional semi-professional bull riding organizations for the next five years. In the summer of 2022, he announced on his Instagram page his return to the PBR. He would ride sporadically in the PBR in 2022 and 2023 before returning to the semi-pro circuit in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Championship Bull Riding</span> Rodeo organization in Texas, USA

Championship Bull Riding, Inc. (CBR) was a professional bull riding organization that was based in Weatherford, Texas, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bud Light Cup Series</span> Professional Bull Riders competition

The Bud Light Cup Series (BLC) was the first tour and in its first year was the only tour of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR). When other tours were created, it became the major league tour of the PBR.

Bonner Bolton is an American fashion model and former professional rodeo cowboy who specialized in bull riding. He won the 2007 world championship for the now-defunct Championship Bull Riding (CBR) organization. He also competed in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) circuits. He placed fourth at the PBR World Finals in 2015. He performed as a stunt double for Scott Eastwood in the movie The Longest Ride, being the only one of four doubles who managed to make a virtually eight-second ride on the PBR top ranked bull Rango for an ending scene. His bull riding career was cut short by a neck injury sustained during a dismount from a bull he had just finished making an 8-second ride on at a PBR Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) event in January 2016. He sustained a break to his C-2 vertebra. Bolton was temporarily paralyzed, but made a full recovery. The parent company, IMG, of the PBR made an offer to contract him as a fashion model in May 2016. Bolton now works steadily as a fashion model.

Bruiser #32Y was an American bucking bull. He is the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Champion Bull for 2016, 2017, and 2018. He is one of only two bucking bulls to win the title in three consecutive years. He is also the 2017 Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) Bucking Bull of the Year. Bruiser and Bodacious are the only bulls to win both titles and they also did it in the same year: Bruiser did it in 2017 and Bodacious in 1995. Bruiser is the PRCA Reserve Bucking Bull of the Year in 2015. Bruiser tied for the PBR title in 2016 with two other bulls, and the tiebreaker went to him. Bruiser won the 2017 PBR title in a close race against Pearl Harbor. Bruiser won the title outright in 2018. Bruiser is also the American Bucking Bull (ABBI) Classic Final winner in 2015. He also won several other notable titles. SweetPro's Bruiser was retired from competition in 2021 at the age of ten. He died at age 11 on May 17, 2022.

James William Harris, known as J.W. Harris is an American former professional rodeo cowboy who specialized in bull riding. He competed on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), Championship Bull Riding (CBR), and Professional Bull Riders (PBR) circuits. He won the PRCA bull riding world championship four times at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR). Harris is the first bull rider since Don Gay to win four PRCA world bull riding titles. He is also the first since Gay to win three of them consecutively. Harris was also the 2014 PBR Rookie of the Year. In 2022, he was inducted into the Bull Riding Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mason Lowe</span> American bull rider (1993–2019)

Mason Lowe was an American professional rodeo cowboy who specialized in bull riding, and competed in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) circuit. He was ranked 18th in the PBR world standings at the time of his death.

Jess Lockwood is an American professional rodeo cowboy who specializes in bull riding, and competes in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) circuit. He joined the PBR in 2015 and was named Rookie of the Year in 2016. On November 5, 2017, he became the youngest PBR World Champion. He won his second PBR world championship on November 10, 2019. He also became the youngest bull rider to win two PBR world championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sage Kimzey</span> American bull rider

Sage Steele Kimzey is an American professional rodeo cowboy who specializes in bull riding. For most of his career, he competed in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), winning seven bull riding world championships. He also competed in the now-defunct Championship Bull Riding (CBR) organization, where he won three world championships. Since 2023, he has ridden for the Carolina Cowboys during the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Team Series season. As of 2024, he competes full-time in the PBR.

Spotted Demon #35 is an American retired bucking bull. In his career, he competed in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and Professional Bull Riders (PBR) circuits. He was the 2018 PRCA Bucking Bull of the Year, as well as the 2018 Bull of the National Finals Rodeo (NFR).

Jason "Boudreaux" Byron Campbell Jr. is an American professional rodeo cowboy who specializes in bull riding. He competes in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) circuits. He also competed in the now-defunct Championship Bull Riding (CBR) organization. In 2022 and 2023, he rode for the Carolina Cowboys during the PBR Team Series season. As of 2024, he rides for the Missouri Thunder.

José Vitor Leme Batista is a Brazilian professional rodeo cowboy who specializes in bull riding. He is the 2020 and 2021 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Champion, and holds the record on the bull Woopaa for the highest-scored ride in PBR history with 98.75 points. During the PBR Team Series season, he rides for the Austin Gamblers and has won the PBR Team Series Regular-Season MVP title in 2022 and 2023.

Woopaa #124 is an American retired bucking bull. He is the 2021 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Champion Bull.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Monster Energy Expands Relationship with Professional Bull Riders". Professional Bull Riders. www.pbr.com. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  2. ↑ 2020 PBR Media Guide, PBR Tours and World Finals, p. 8.
  3. 1 2 2020 PBR Media Guide, The PBR & Bull Riding Basics - PBR Belt Buckle, p.25.
  4. 1 2 3 4 2016 PBR Media Guide, PBR USA Tours - Built Ford Tough Series, p.43.
  5. ↑ "2017 PBR World Champion Lockwood Wins Monster Energy Buck Off At The Garden". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Joao Ricardo Vieira earns third Iron Cowboy title". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Kaique Pacheco Wins Third Career Last Cowboy Standing". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  8. ↑ "PBR Last Cowboy Standing To Be Held At Cheyenne Frontier Days In 2019". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Cheyenne Frontier Days canceled for 1st time in 124 years". 9 News. May 27, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  10. ↑ "PBR Last Cowboy Standing 2021". Professional Bull Riders. July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Teel Wins Music City Knockout In Nashville". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Professional Bull Riders in Nashville". Visit Nashville TN. July 12, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  13. ↑ "PBR Returns to Nashville in 2021". Professional Bull Riders. August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  14. ↑ "PBR Iron Cowboy 2021". Professional Bull Riders. August 29, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  15. ↑ "PBR Returns to New York City". Professional Bull Riders. January 8, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  16. ↑ "PBR Returns to Los Angeles". Professional Bull Riders. February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Major events returning to PBR Premier Series in 2024". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  18. 1 2 2016 PBR Media Guide, Built Ford Tough Series Scoring - World Finals Qualification, p.29.
  19. ↑ "New points system for PBR in 2023". Profesional Bull Riders. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  20. ↑ "PBR goes old school, set to open World Finals with Elimination Rounds inside historic Cowtown Coliseum May 9-12". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  21. ↑ "PBR announces format change for Unleash The Beast events". 406 MT SPORTS. January 15, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  22. ↑ deFabry, Megan (September 15, 2021). "PBR World Finals 2021". Cowboy Lifestyle Network. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  23. ↑ "2021 PBR World Finals Format". Professional Bull Riders. November 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  24. ↑ "PBR World Finals returned for Final Time in Las Vegas". Professional Bull Riders\access-date=November 7, 2021. November 7, 2021.
  25. ↑ "2022 PBR Unleash the Beast Series Schedule". Professional Bull Riders. October 12, 2021.
  26. ↑ "PBR World Finals Moving to Fort Worth in 2022". Professional Bull Riders. August 31, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Results of First PBR World Finals at Dickies Arena". Professional Bull Riders. May 22, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Number of riders on PBR Premier Series goes back up to 40 after a decade". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  29. ↑ "New points system for PBR in 2023". Profesional Bull Riders. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  30. ↑ "World Finals 101: Everything you need to know about new format". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved May 4, 2024.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.