World’s Best Bull Riders Return to Louisville, Kentucky April 26-27

By: Kacie Albert

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For the fifth time in history, PBR’s (Professional Bull Riders) premier Unleash The Beast will buck into KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky, holding Cooper Tires PBR Louisville April 26-27.

For two nights only, the Top 40 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 of the most exciting and unpredictable live sporting events to witness.

Tickets for the two-day event go on sale Friday, December 11 at 10 a.m. EST, and start at $15, taxes and fees not included. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, at the KFC Yum! Center 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 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, and more. For more on elite seats, visit https://pbr.com/elite-seats-unleash-the-beast, or call (800) 732-1727.

For the second consecutive season, Cooper Tires PBR Louisville will mark the regular season finale for the 23-event Unleash The Beast. Inside KFC Yum! Center riders will be competing for crucial points in the race to qualify for the 2024 PBR World Finals and be crowned the 2024 PBR World Champion.

When PBR’s Unleash The Beast last travelled to Louisville in April 2023, the Nashville Stampede’s Dener Barbosa (Paulo de Faria, Brazil) further established himself as a World Championship contender, going a perfect 3-for-3 to win Cooper Tires PBR Louisville and vault to No. 5 in the world standings.

Barbosa travelled to the Bluegrass State ranked No. 9 in the 2023 gold buckle battle. He was quick to strike in Round 1, delivering the top marks when he rode I’m Legit Too (Hart Cattle Co./Hale) for 89.5 points.

The reserved Brazilian then maintained his spot atop the event leaderboard compliments of an 85.75-point effort aboard Crunch Time (Sterk Bucking Bulls) in the second round.

In the championship round, Barbosa remained centered aboard Blue Duck (Cord McCoy/Grin/Jacobson/ Davis Rodeo Ranch/McCoy Rodeo) en route to the whistle, erupting into celebration once on the dirt. However, the arena quickly quieted as the ride was reviewed for a slap. Upon review, the qualified ride stood with Barbosa awarded a monstrous 90.25 points, his second 90-point ride of the season.

The golden finish garnered Barbosa a pivotal 139 Unleash The Beast points. He catapulted to No. 5 in the standings, inching within 354.17 points of Stampede teammate and No. 1 Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba, Brazil), who did not compete in Louisville due to injury.

At season’s end, following a ninth-place finish at the 30th Anniversary PBR World Finals, Barbosa finished a career-best No. 6 in the world.

The 2023 event marked the first time in two years the Unleash The Beast had travelled to Louisville. In March 2021, Kaique Pacheco rode red-hot, delivering a 2-for-3 effort to win the event.

After besting Nailed (Kruger Bucking Bulls) in Round 1 for 88.25 points, Pacheco earned his second consecutive round win when he conquered Mr. Winston (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve) for 89.75 points in Round 2.

With the first pick in the championship round draft, Pacheco chose Mike’s Motive (Blake Sharp/High Voltage Cattle). Despite being sent to the dirt in 7.5 seconds, his opening scores were enough to clinch the victory.

Prior to the 2021 event, PBR’s premier series hadn’t visited Louisville since 2013. That year, 11-time PBR World Finals Qualifier Cody Nance (Paris, Tennessee) was dominant, going a perfect 3-for-3 to capture the event victory.

In two additional stops in the Derby City, 1996 PBR World Champion Owen Washburn (Lordsburg, New Mexico) won the elite tour event in 2002, while PBR Co-Founder Adam Carrillo (Stephenville, Texas) claimed the victory in 1999.

The bull riding action for Cooper Tires Louisville PBR begins with Round 1 at 7:45 p.m. ET on Friday, April 26, followed by Round 2 and the championship round at 6:45 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 27. All competing bull riders will get on one bull each in Rounds 1-2. Following Round 2 Saturday evening, 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.For more information about the PBR and to see the full 2024 PBR Unleash The Beast schedule, visit PBR.com.

Photo courtesy of Josh Homer/Bull Stock Media

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