The BFTS Makes its Debut in San Jose

SAN JOSE, Ca. – For the first time, the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) will ride into SAP Center in San Jose, CA, for the San Jose Invitational presented by Ariat on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 15-16.

Amid a tight and exciting race to the PBR World Championship, the San Jose Invitational will be one of only two-regular season events left until the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals in Las Vegas at the new T-Mobile Arena.

After the most recent event in Nampa, ID, two-time and reigning PBR World Champion J.B. Mauney took home his first event win of the season with a 92.5-point championship–round ride earning him 505 points toward the world standings. This win puts Mauney in third place in the world standings, trailing the world’s number-one bull rider Kaique Pacheco by 700.33 points.

The 2015 PBR World Finals event winner and No. 2 rider in the world standings, Cooper Davis, finished second in Nampa, earning 385 total world points. Davis now trails Pacheco by 490.33 points, making the upcoming San Jose Invitational crucial in the race to win the title of 2016 PBR World Champion.

The two-day event will feature a heated competition among the most talented bull riders in the world, including Mauney, three-time World Champion Silvano Alves (2011-12, 2014), 2008 World Champion Guilherme Marchi and 2004 World Champion Mike Lee.

San Jose also will see the PBR’s hottest young guns, including the leading 2016 PBR Rookie of the Year contender, 19-year-old phenom Jess Lockwood, as well as Derek Kolbaba, Nevada Newman and Davis all chasing Pacheco, who has won three events this year and stars in the new Netflix docu-series, “Fearless.”

The riders will go head-to-head with their 2,000-pound bovine opponents and risk everything in an effort to claim the $30,000 event winnings and valuable points that go toward the world standings.

After Round 1 on Saturday, fans will see the PBR’s 15/15 Bucking Battle. This special round of competition features the Top 15 riders in the world facing the Top 15 bulls in the competition for a chance to earn additional money and valuable PBR world standings bonus points needed to win the $1 million PBR World Champion title. This will be the last 15/15 Bucking Battle of the season and will air on CBS Television Network on Sunday, Oct. 16 at either 3-4 p.m. ET or 5-6 p.m. ET. Check local listings for more details.

Ticket prices for the two-day event range from $15 to $101. Tickets can be purchased at the SAP Center ticket office, all Ticketmaster locations, ticketmaster.com and via phone at (800) 745-3000.  The San Jose Invitational will begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16.

For an enhanced PBR experience, fans can purchase PBR Elite Seats, which provide a behind-the-scenes look into the toughest sport on dirt. This experience includes early entry; tickets to a premium seating section; a catered reception; a 60-minute, backstage tour by a PBR Host, featuring a PBR 101 presentation and visit with the sport’s fiercest bulls; and the opportunity for photos and autographs from the top PBR stars. After the event, PBR Elite Seat ticketholders will be given premium dirt access, a complimentary 8 Seconds PBR program, Elite Seat lanyard and other memorabilia autographed by the world’s Top 35 bull riders.

The PBR Elite Seats are available for $350 and can only be purchased by contacting the PBR Customer Service Department at 800-732-1727.

The BFTS is televised every week on CBS, CBS Sports Network – the home of the PBR – and networks around the world. BFTS telecasts are produced for the PBR under a multi-year agreement with David Neal Productions, a Los Angeles-based production company led by 34-time Emmy® Award winner and Peabody Award winner David Neal, who serves as executive producer.

Fans also can watch each round in real time on PBR LIVE available at no charge. Fans also can watch the action via the PBR LIVE app, available for download on Google Play and iTunes.