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Unleash The Beast Returns to Manchester, New Hampshire’s SNHU Arena December 17-18

By: Kacie Albert

MANCHESTER, N.H. – For the third time in history, PBR’s (Professional Bull Riders) elite Unleash The Beast will buck into SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire, holding the PBR Manchester Invitational Dec. 17-18.

For two nights only, 35 of the best bull riders in the world will go head-to-head against the sport’s rankest bovine athletes, showcasing the ultimate showdown of man vs. beast in one as attendees are set to witness one the most exciting live sporting events.

During the 2023 season, the PBR will celebrate its 30th anniversary, celebrating when 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, having awarded nearly $300 million in prize money to date.

The upcoming PBR Manchester Invitational will be just the fourth event of the new individual season. Eventgoers will watch on as riders vie for early points in the race to be crowned the 2023 PBR World Champion.

PBR’s return to Manchester comes on the spurs of a historic season for young gun Daylon Swearingen (Piffard, New York) as he became the first rider from New York to be crowned the PBR World Champion in 2022.

Clinching the title compliments of a victory at the prestigious PBR World Finals, Swearingen went a torrid 26-for-60, covering 43.33% of his animal athlete opponents during his 2022 gold buckle campaign.

Swearingen earned $1,697,481.63, including $1,394,000 for his career-first PBR World Championship and World Finals event win. Swearingen is now 17th in all-time money earned in PBR competition with his career earnings topping more than $2.21 million.

The PBR’s premier series last bucked into Manchester in October 2021 as young gun Jesse Petri (Dublin, Texas) won his first-ever Unleash The Beast event.

Petri brought the electric Granite State crowd to its feet in Round 1 when he delivered the second-best score of the evening, marked 89 points atop Dr. Campbell (Nancy Haverty/Clay Struve/ Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger). During the Championship Round in the first fan-attended event inside SNHU Arena in more than 600 days, Petri covered WSM’s Foghorn Leghorn (WSM’s Auctioneers/Clay Struve/Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger) for a championship round-winning 87.5 points.

Petri earned a crucial 126 world points and surged six positions in the world standings, rising from No. 19 to No. 13, while also making significant moves in the race for the 2021 PBR Rookie of the Year honor by rising to No. 3 in the battle amongst first-year premier series riders.

When the PBR debuted in Manchester in 2020, two-time PBR World Champion Jess Lockwood (Volborg, Montana) rode supreme en route to concluding the season ranked No. 5 in the world.

The bull riding action for the PBR Manchester Invitational begins with Round 1 at 6:45 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 17, followed by Round 2 and the championship round at 1:45 p.m. CT on Sunday, December 18. All competing bull riders will ride one bull each in Rounds 1-2. Following Round 2 Sunday afternoon, the riders’ individual two-round scores will be totaled with the Top 12 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 Monday, August 8 at 10:00 a.m. ET, and start at $15, taxes and fees not included. Fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets early, with all price levels set to increase by $5 on event day. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, PBR.com and SNHUArena.com, 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 the world’s top bull riding circuit. These tickets, available in three tiers, offer premium seats, personal on-site concierge at the PBR fan loyalty booth, $20 concession voucher, a souvenir credential and lanyard.

Also available, for $250, the PBR Bronze Elite Seats include a post-event photo on the dirt which, will be available for digital download after the event has concluded.

Priced at $325 are the PBR VIP Elite Seats and $375 is the PBR Premier Elite Seat, which include a 30th anniversary collectible item, pre-show backstage tour with PBR talent and a photo on the dirt in front of the bucking chutes presented in a PBR 30th Anniversary Season-branded frame to take home after the show. The photo will also be available for digital download.

Additionally, the PBR Premier Elite Seats, which will offer the best views in the venue, will also include a 2023 PBR Yearbook.

For more information about the PBR and to see the full 2023 PBR Unleash The Beast schedule, visit PBR.com.

© 2022 PBR Inc. All rights reserved.

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