PUEBLO, Colo. – In less than a week, the Professional Bull Riders will invade Las Vegas for the 21st consecutive year, as the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals commence at the Thomas and Mack Center.
Not only do the World Finals include five action-packed nights of competition, culminating with the crowning of PBR’s 2014 World Champion, there will also be numerous activities that fans will not want to miss throughout the week, beginning Monday, Oct. 20.
On Monday, the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals Welcome Reception will be held at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, beginning at 8 p.m. Each of the 40 riders participating in the World Finals will be announced and receive their World Finals jacket and rings to each first-time World Finals qualifier during a special presentation.
Tuesday, the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa will host the PBR Heroes & Legends Celebration. Adam and Gilbert Carrillo, along with Bobby Berger will be enshrined in the PBR Ring of Honor. The special event will include a reception with drinks and hors d’ oeuvres, prior to the induction ceremony.
The Tyson Fan Zone & Marketplace at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino will open on Wednesday at 10 a.m., prior to the first round of competition, which takes place at the Thomas and Mack Center at 6 p.m. The fan zone will be open to the public Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, Oct. 26, from 8 a.m. to noon. Admission to the fan zone is complimentary. For more information regarding parking and shuttles, click here.
Interactive opportunities at the fan zone include climate-controlled shopping, PBR sponsor booths from Ford Trucks, Jack Daniel’s, Cooper Tires, Monster Energy Drink, the Express Clydesdales, as well as PBR Entertainer Flint Rasmussen’s “Outside The Barrel” Show, among other experiences. A special feature returning this year is “Champions Alley,” featuring appearances by select PBR legendary bulls from past years. The Global War on Terror Wall of Remembrance, a memorial that was created in 2011 for the 10-year remembrance of 9/11, will also be on display.
The Tyson Gold Buckle Plaza at Thomas and Mack will be open from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and will reopen following the event. On Sunday, the Tyson Gold Buckle Plaza will open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wednesday will also be the first of five days for each of the Top 40 riders in the world to walk the Ford Blue Carpet where fans can get pictures and autographs of their favorites, beginning at 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The CBS Sports Network preshow will also take place starting at 5:30 p.m. before each of the first four rounds of competition and at 12:30 p.m. prior to the final two rounds of the World Finals.
On Thursday, The PBR will have Tough Enough to Wear Pink night during the second round of competition. Riders, staff and fans alike are all encouraged to sport their favorite shade of pink to support a night dedicated to cancer awareness.
The International Chili Society (ICS) will kick-off the 48th Annual World’s Championship Chili Cookoff (WCCC) on Friday at 8:30 a.m., in the fan zone. The WCCC schedule includes Traditional Red Chili, Chili Verde, Salsa and Homestyle Chili from Oct. 24-26. There will be approximately 350 judges and a total prize package of $55,000 – with $25,000 being awarded to the winner of the Traditional Red Chili contest.
Each day following select cook-offs, a People’s Choice Chili Sampling will take place. All proceeds from the samplings will go to offset the medical expenses of Jaxson Kidd, the first recipient of the PBR’s Adopt a Child program.
Saturday marks the Official PBR 21st Birthday presented by Jack Daniel’s, which will be held at the fan zone. Admission is free and doors open to the general public at 8:30 p.m.
The red carpet will begin at 9 p.m., and will include PBR bull riders; Scott Eastwood and Britt Robertson of “The Longest Ride,” the feature film based on Nicholas Sparks best-selling novel; actress and supermodel Lydia Hearst; “Storage Wars” star Barry Weiss and more. To wrap up the evening, country and rock musician Casey Jamerson will be performing.
Wrangler National Patriot Night will be on Saturday, which is a year-round program to help raise funds for American military veterans and their families. PBR highly suggests everyone in attendance of the fourth round of the World Finals wear their red, white, and blue clothing to support such a great cause.
The final two rounds of the World Finals will start at 1 p.m., at the Thomas & Mack Center. This is the day fans wait for all year long, the day in which one lucky bull rider will be crowned PBR World Champion. The bull rider who earns the most points during the 2014 season will earn the World Champion title, receive the coveted World Championship belt buckle and a $1 million bonus. This will also be the last appearance of two-time PBR World Champion bull Bushwacker, as he will retire to his home in Oakdale, Calif., following the World Finals.
Entertaining after-parties at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino and PBR Rock Bar on the Strip follow the competition Wednesday through Saturday, where the bull riders will attend draws and drafts each night, as well as a retirement party for Bushwacker on Sunday.
Ticket prices for the World Finals start at $25. They can be purchased at UNLVTickets.com or by calling 702 739 FANS (3267).
For more information on the world finals schedule, please visit worldfinals.pbr.com.
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