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The BFTS Returns to Chicago

By: Heather Croze
September 20, 2016

Wallace de Oliveira went 3-for-3 to win the 2016 Chicago Invitational and will look to defend his title in 2017. Photo: Andy Watson / BullStockMedia.com

Wallace de Oliveira went 3-for-3 to win the 2016 Chicago Invitational and will look to defend his title in 2017. Photo: Andy Watson / BullStockMedia.com

CHICAGO – The “toughest men on dirt” will return to Chicago for the 7thtime as the PBR’s (Professional Bull Riders) Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) will take over Allstate Arena with the Chicago Invitational next January. Fans will witness thrilling 8-second rides and jaw-dropping wrecks throughout the adrenaline-fueled event, as the Top 35 bull riders in the world risk it all against the best bucking bulls.

For the first time ever, PBR’s elite national series will hold a three-day event in Rosemont’s Allstate Arena, in response to growing popularity of the event.

The action starts at 7:45 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 13, continues at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14, and concludes at 1:45 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 15. Tickets, starting as low as $22, are available at the Allstate Arena box office, www.Ticketmaster.com, and by telephone at (800) 745-3000.

For the second year in a row PBR Elite Seats will be available for those wanting a true VIP experience. Located in an exclusive section of the arena immediately next to the bull chutes and all of the action, the PBR Elite Seats are priced at $500 each and will give fans the VIP experience of a lifetime including a pre-event reception with refreshments, backstage tours featuring a PBR 101 presentation and meet-and-greet with top PBR stars. These seats are also available now.

During Round 1 on Friday, Round 2 on Saturday and Round 3 on Sunday, the bull riders will face one bull each. Following Round 3, the Top 15 riders with the highest cumulative scores after the three rounds will advance to the Built Ford Tough Championship Round for one more ride and a chance at the event title.

In the first event of the 2016 season, 36-year old rookie Wallace de Oliviera captured his first-ever event win after going 3-for-3. Oliveira left the Windy City as the No. 1 bull rider in the PBR world standings and walked away with $36,700 in earnings.

Past event winners in Chicago include:

2016: Wallace de Oliviera
2015: Silvano Alves
2014: Marco Eguchi
2013: Billy Robinson
2011: Robson Palermo
2008: Adriano Moraes and Dustin Hall
2006: Austin Meier

The BFTS is televised every week on CBS, CBS Sports Network 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.

The 2017 BFTS schedule gets underway in New York’s Madison Square Garden, starting a fierce 26-stop tour that will see the world’s top bull riders visit cities like Anaheim, California, St. Louis, Kansas City, Nashville, and Dallas during its 18-state tour. The BFTS will culminate with the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals in Las Vegas where the 2017 PBR World Champion, the bull rider who earns the most PBR world points during the 2017 season, will receive the coveted World Championship belt buckle and $1 million bonus.

© 2016 PBR Inc. All rights reserved.

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