Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Returns to Charleston, West Virginia Jan. 13-14
By: Kacie Albert
CHARLESTON, W.V. – For the second time in history, PBR’s (Professional Bull Riders) Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour will buck into Charleston, West Virginia, returning to Charleston Coliseum on January 13-14, 2023 with the PBR Capital City Classic.
Following the overwhelming enthusiasm and demand for the debut PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour event in Charleston in 2022, the organization expanded the show to be a two-day event in January 2023.
For two nights only, some of the best bull riders in the world will battle the sport’s rankest bovine athletes in the ultimate showdown of man vs. beast in one of the most exciting live sporting events to witness.
During the 2023 season, the PBR will celebrate its 30th anniversary since 20 cowboys broke away from the traditional rodeo with the belief that bull riding could be a standalone sport. Since their trailblazing initiative, the PBR has grown into a global phenomenon awarding nearly $300 million in prize money.
The upcoming PBR Capital Cities Classic will mark the third event of the new individual season for the PBR’s expansion series. Eventgoers will watch on as riders vie for early points in the race to be crowned the 2023 PBR Velocity Tour Champion.
When the PBR debuted in Charleston in March 2022 to a sold-out crowd, Joao Henrique Lucas (Bastos, Brazil) delivered a perfect 2-for-2 effort to clinch the inaugural event win.
Lucas was paired with Oreo (Dustin Denning) in Round 1 of the night, firing out from the chutes for an impressive 89 points.
The extraordinary animal athletes of the PBR dominated half of the matchups in the championship round, but the Brazilian cowboy conquered Hard & Often (Sho-Me Rodeo) for 87 points as the night ended to clinch the victory.
Following the event in Charleston, Lucas’ winning ways continued. Logging an additional three Top 10 finishes across all levels of competition, Lucas concluded the individual season with his third consecutive qualification to the PBR World Finals. He concluded the year No. 25 in the world.
The bull riding action for the PBR Capital City Classic begins with Round 1 at 8:00 p.m. ET on Friday, January 13, followed by Round 2 and the championship round at 7:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 14. All 45 competing bull riders will get on one bull each in Round 1. The Top 30 riders from Round 1 will advance to Round 2 Saturday evening. The riders’ individual two-round scores will be totaled, with the Top 15 advancing to the championship round for one more out and a chance at the event title.
Tickets for the two-day event go on sale Thursday, September 15 at 10:00 a.m. ET, and start at $15, taxes and fees not included. Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, at the Charleston Coliseum Box Office or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.
PBR Elite Seats are available for avid fans who want an exclusive VIP experience while enjoying one of the world’s top bull riding circuits. These tickets, available in three tiers, offer premium seats, personal on-site concierge at the PBR fan loyalty booth, on-the-dirt photo available for digital download following the event, $10 concession voucher and souvenir credential and lanyard.
Priced at $165 is the PBR Plus Seats and $195 is the PBR VIP Elite Seats. In addition to the above benefits, the VIP Elite Seats also include a pre-event, backstage tour by some of the PBR’s top riders, stock contractors and personnel.
Available at $245, the PBR Premier Elite Seats, which will offer the best views in the venue, will also include limited-edition 30th anniversary season hat and a pre-event tour.
For more information about the PBR and to see the full 2023 PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour schedule, visit PBR.com.
Photo courtesy of Michael Pintar/Bull Stock Media
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