Event & Arena News

PUEBLO, Colo. (September 11, 2007) - The Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) brings the top 45 bull riders in the world matched up against the finest bull athletes in the business to the city of Columbus, Ohio, Oct. 12th and 13th. The Rocky Boots Invitational concludes the regular season of the elite Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler (BFTS) and provides the final opportunity for PBR bull riders to qualify for the $3.2 million PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals presented by Wrangler in Las Vegas, Nev., on October 26-28 and November 1-4.

Not only will the Rocky Boots Invitational feature the most electrifying man versus beast competition, but also it will determine the 2007 Alpha Trade National Champion - the bull rider with the highest Built Ford Tough Series point total at the conclusion of the BFTS regular season, which will be Saturday, Oct. 13th. Justin McBride (Elk City, Okla.) has led the race in BFTS points all season and despite being out of competition for a few events due to injury, he remains in the lead by 1,244.50 points ahead of J.B. Mauney (Mooresville, N.C.).

The AlphaTrade National Champion will automatically earn a bonus of $50,000 with an opportunity for an additional $150,000 as part of The AlphaTrade National Champion Bounty Bull program. This additional bonus will make the total purse available an astonishing $200,000 if the rider wins the National Championship and covers the Bounty Bull just following Saturday’s championship round on Oct. 13th.

Fans also will have the opportunity to participate in the AlphaTrade National Champion Bounty Bull text messaging promotion. One lucky fan will win an all expenses paid trip to the Rocky Boots Invitational event and have a chance to win $10,000 if the National Champion is unsuccessful on the Bounty Bull picked by the fans. For the official rules on the AlphaTrade National Champion Award and the fans’ participation, visit www.alphatrade.com.

Nationwide Arena hosts the Rocky Boots Invitational, Friday, Oct. 12th and Saturday, Oct. 13th at 7:50 p.m. nightly. This event is critical for riders trailing McBride in the BFTS standings to gain valuable points toward the PBR World Championship title. Recently, McBride sustained a dislocated left shoulder (free arm) in the first round of competition during the Chihuahua Challenge in Chihuahua, Mexico on August 24. This injury, keeping him out of competition for a few events, has opened the door for the men who trail him. 2006 PBR Daisy Rookie of the Year J.B. Mauney who has trailed McBride all season long, is sharply focused on his chance to earn his first world champion title at the PBR World Finals this year. Meanwhile, 2005 and 2006 Reserve PBR World Champion, Guilherme Marchi (Leme, Brazil) is closing the gap, recently adding two consecutive event titles (The Chihuahua Challenge and the Reno Classic) to his repertoire and now only trails McBride by 2,397.50 points. Additionally, Columbus fans will have the treat of watching bull riding legends like current and three-time PBR World Champion Adriano Moraes (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and two-time PBR World Champion Chris Shivers (Jonesville, La.) compete during those two days.

Tickets for the Rocky Boots Invitational start at $10 and guarantee fans more than two hours of bull riding action that includes rock & roll music, pyrotechnics and an up close and personal view of the toughest sport on dirt! Tickets are available at the Nationwide Arena Box Office, ticketmaster.com or by phone at 614-431-3600.

The format of the event consists of three rounds of competition. The first two rounds feature the same 45 qualified riders randomly matched against the sport's rankest bulls. The top 15 riders based upon their total cumulative score after the two rounds qualify for a final decisive round of action, which takes place at the conclusion of the second performance on Saturday, Oct. 13th. The rider with the highest score on three bulls will earn the coveted Rocky Boots Invitational event title. This event also marks the last of three PBR competitions airing on FOX this fall. The final and championship rounds of the Rocky Boots Invitational air on FOX Sunday, October 14 at 4:30 p.m. (ET) and as regularly scheduled, the Friday performance of the Rocky Boots Invitational will air on VERSUS Saturday, Oct. 13 at 10:30 p.m. (ET). Viewers should visit http://ww.pbrnow.com/ for an updated TV schedule or check their local listings for additional details.

For additional information on the Rocky Boots Invitational, the AlphaTrade National Champion Award or the Professional Bull Riders, Inc., please visit http://www.pbrnow.com/ or call Jodie Edmonds at 719-242-2800 ext. 3366.

About PBR:
More than 100 million viewers tune in each year to the PBR on FOX, NBC, VERSUS and on a host of foreign networks across the globe. With approximately 500 hours of prime time programming annually PBR ranks among the most prolific sports on air, in addition to attracting over one and one half million live event attendees each year with its multi-tiered event structure which includes the marquee Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler, the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Tour, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tour, and the Discovery Tour, designed specifically for entry level contestants. The PBR is headquartered in Pueblo, Colo., and has over 1,200 PBR bull riders competing in more than 300 PBR sanctioned competitions in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico.