LOUISVILLE, Ky. – They’re here!
Today, 47 of the toughest men on dirt will converge on the KFC Yum! Center in preparation for the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) BlueDEF Finals presented by Pneu-Dart, taking place Friday and Saturday, Oct. 9-10 at the KFC Yum! Center. It’s the season finale of the 2015 PBR BlueDEF Velocity Tour (BDVT), featuring the top emerging talent of the PBR and the stars of the elite PBR Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS).
Since Monday, Oct. 5, the riders have stopped around Louisville to pervade the city with the excitement of the PBR as fans enjoy such community events as bull weigh-ins; go-kart racing; PBR star appearances at the Slugger Museum, Fort Knox, and 4th Street Live!; a pre-event concert featuring the Allen Lane Band on the KFC Yum! Center Plaza at 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, and after-parties at PBR [Bar] Louisville.
For the first time ever, athletes from the PBR’s BFTS, the major leagues of the PBR, will compete in Louisville, taking on the Top 30 of the sport’s freshest athletes on the BDVT and the PBR’s international invites from Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico. It’s the riders’ last chance to gain the valuable points needed to qualify for the prestigious $2.3 million PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals that will take place in Las Vegas on Oct. 21-25. The best in the world will be on the road to Las Vegas and it goes through Louisville.
Joining these stars will be the winners of the PBR BlueDEF Bucking Madness: Bull Rider Reality Series search for the next generation of PBR greats. Ryan Miller and Dustin Ratchford will also be competing this weekend for their share of the $150,000 BlueDEF Finals total event purse. With $50,000 going to the overall BDVT season champion, and at least $25,000 to the BlueDEF Finals winner, there is plenty at stake for all of the competitors.
Kaique Pacheco, the 2015 BFTS leading rookie, who is also the No. 1 man on the BDVT, will be one of the Top 47 men competing, along with 2013 PBR World Champion and current No. 1 man in the PBR world standings,J .B. Mauney; world No. 3-ranked rider and 2013 PBR Rookie of the Year Joao Ricardo Vieira; four-time PRCA Champion Bull Rider J.W. Harris, and PBR fan favorites Neil Holmes, Matt Triplett, Michael Lane and Reese Cates.
Prior to 2015, the PBR’s international champions had an automatic bid into Rounds 1 and 2 of the PBR World Finals. In 2015, only the top international finisher at the BlueDEF Finals will advance to compete during all five days at the PBR World Finals. The best from PBR Australia, PBR Brazil, PBR Canada and PBR Mexico will be battling for that single spot.
On both Friday and Saturday nights, each of the competitors will ride one bull a piece in Rounds 1 and 2. The scores from the two rounds will then be combined, and the riders with the Top 15 highest totals will return for a final ride in the championship round. The winner will be the rider who has earned the most event points after all three rounds.
The results of the BlueDEF Finals will be life-changing for all of the competitors and Kentucky fans will be able to witness all the action live and in person on Oct. 9-10. The competition begins at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Tickets, starting at $15, are available now at the KFC Yum! Center Box Office, on Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800 745 3000.
All of the action will also be streamed live via PBR LIVE at www.pbr.com/live.
For more information and the complete event schedule, please view the BlueDEF Finals schedule on www.pbr.com.
© 2015 PBR Inc. All rights reserved.