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Riders React to Competing in Private Setting at Gwinnett Invitational

By: Justin Felisko

PUEBLO, Colo. – For viewers at home, it was a somewhat odd scene when the CBS Sports Network and RidePass cameras turned on Saturday night from Duluth, Georgia.

CBS Sports Network lead commentator Craig Hummer welcomed the PBR on the air with PBR exclusive entertainer Flint Rasmussen – san his normal makeup – standing next to him atop the Can-Am shark cage.

Meanwhile, the rest of Infinite Energy Center was in darkness.

Those thousands of blue seats empty.

The concourse silent.

The cowboys of the PBR on the dirt in a circular formation, awaiting to be announced to the viewers worldwide by in-arena announcers Matt West and Clint Adkins.

 
“As this empty arena attests, there is no denying the news and the changing circumstances and conditions that everyone around the world is dealing with,” Hummer said. “That said, you and I both know the PBR has always prided itself on being unique.”

Rasmussen, who would be serving as a co-host for the RidePass broadcast, replied, “Whether you’ve been with us watching PBR for 26 years, or you’re a first-time viewer, our real fans know that week after week, year after year, we put on a great show in front of thousands of people in arenas across the country. And tonight, the arena’s empty. But tonight also, our athletes are ready to go, and they’re ready to ride in front of an empty arena. They’re ready to ride for the competition, for the passion, but most of all, for the fans watching at home.”

As a result of decisions made by local authorities, the Infinite Energy Center in Duluth, Georgia, was not open to public gathering this weekend. However, PBR wanted to find a way to bring the event to fans through television and digital stream in a safe way.

In addition to not allowing fans into the building, the sport established a series of protective measures, including health screenings following CDC guidelines for anyone entering the building, allowing only essential personnel in, operating with a skeleton crew, creating six different locker rooms for riders, and separating various groups of the personnel working the event.

The event would be voluntary for riders – there would be no penalty for riders choosing to opt out – but the cowboys were eager to go.

Once the arena lights went on, and the bulls were loaded into the bucking chutes, though, things began to somewhat look familiar for two hours on Saturday evening. It would be a brief, but welcome distraction amidst the reality of the COVID-19 outbreak throughout the world.

Alex Cerqueira bucked the trend of bull domination in the PBR from a week ago in Little Rock, Arkansas, by riding Apocalypse for 84.5 points for the first ride of the evening in Georgia.

Cody Casper picked up the first qualified ride of his premier series career in a scenario he never would have imagined possible when he recorded 85.5 points on Twinkle Toes.

“It is kind of nice to get the monkey off my back,” Casper told Kate Harrison on CBS Sports Network. “I haven’t gotten one rode up here. It just feels pretty good. It was definitely a practice pen feel. It is a lot quieter back here. It is still bull riding. We are all having fun are doing what we love.”

Speaking of fun.

Stetson Lawrence, who is back on the Unleash The Beast following a one-week detour to the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour, brought viewers at home, and his buddies on the back of the steel bucking chutes, his usual celebratory dance once he conquered Snake Eyes for 80.75 points.

 
Lawrence proceeded to jump on the shark cage and joke with RidePass announcer Scott Grover about his celebration.

“It feels good,” Lawrence said. “Like everybody said, it is a good practice pen. The fans are loud in here. It is amazing.”

Whitehorse also alluded to a practice pen feel after he rode Sunny for 82.75 points.

The 22-year-old was sitting on the side fencing of the arena following his ride when he looked at his friends on the chutes and raised his arms, asking them to make some noise.

“We are just out here having fun,” Whitehorse said live on CBS Sports Network. “Not letting anything get in the way. Just being able to enjoy the moment. This goes back to all of our roots, going to jackpots and stuff. Just allowing that moment to stay with us and enjoy every second.”

There were a total of 11 qualified rides in Round 1.

Rookie of the Year leader Cole Melancon knew things would be different this weekend because of the circumstances, but that did not stop him from riding Burn Out for 86 points.

“It is really hard,” Melancon said to Harrison. “You don’t know how hard it is to get pumped up at a practice pen, to just get on some nice bulls compared to getting on some buckers here. But luckily, I had a really nice bul,l and just a good one to get started on.”

Melancon finished fifth in Round 1 for seven world points, increasing his lead in the Rookie of the Year race to 177.5 points on Andrew Alvidrez.

However, Mauricio Moreira may be entering that conversation shortly. The 20-year-old Brazilian won Round 1 with an 87.75-point effort aboard Freakin Wicked.

 
Moreiera jumped from No. 43 to No. 33 in the world standings, and he will become Rookie of the Year eligible if he cracks the Top 30 of the world standings on Championship Sunday.

Fans can watch the conclusion of the Gwinnett Invitational on CBS Sports Network and RidePass beginning at noon ET Sunday.

“It’s hard to describe how happy I am – just to be able to compete against the best in the world and win a round at this level, it’s so amazing,” Moreira said. “I’ve been working hard and am going to continue to show I’m better and better every weekend.”

ADDITIONAL SOCIAL MEDIA REACTION TO THE GWINNETT INVITATIONAL

 

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Playing to an empty arena provides for some unique moments. Tune in live on @CBSSports and @RidePass.

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It was an honor to stand with this team tonight and do what we love to do! #PBR

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In my career as the official @PBR Photographer, I’ve covered nearly 600 PBR events. I’ve gone to the catwalk to set strobes and looked over the empty arena knowing it would be exploding with thousands of fans having the time of their lives watching one of the greatest sporting events in the world. As a result of the #covid_19 outbreak, this time it will be much different… This is what it will look like all weekend. These great #cowboys will now truly battle one on one with these amazing #bulls, not able to hear all of your cheers from your living rooms. I hope everyone enjoys this unique experience for what it is, and I hope we are back entertaining live audiences as soon as we can.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Tune into @CBSSports Network tonight @7PM ET and tomorrow at 12PM ET for full coverage. Both rounds will also be live on @RidePass.⁠⠀How do you plan to watch?

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