Professional Bull Riders.
(PBR) is an international professional bull riding organization
situated in Pueblo, Colorado, USA. In the United States, PBR
events will be
televised on CBS and CBS Sports Network, starting in 2013. More than 800 cowboys in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Australia, and Mexico hold PBR
memberships.History of PBR
The organization began in
1992 throughout the efforts of 21 professional bull riders, who
gathered in a hotelroom in Scottsdale, Arizona and each contributed $1000. Ever since then, the organization has grown to include four
tours which collectively stage over 300 events worldwide annually. Prize money has developed from $250,000 in 1994 to over $11 million in
2008. In 2007, investment firm Spire Capital Partners acquired many stake in PBR
The PBR's premier tour, the Built
Ford Tough Series, includes 31 events across the countryevery year. Pyrotechnics, pulsating music and special effects open each event, and each features the top 30 riders in the world during the time (plus 10 alternates). The season culminates
in Las Vegas, in which the PBR World Finals are held.
Riders attempt toremain a bucking bull for eight seconds, and rides are judged dependant onboth rider's and the bull's performance, with two judges scoring the rider and two scoring the bull. At the end of each event, the top 15 riders compete from the short round, or "short go"; the rider with the highest point total from the entire event becomes the winner.
Riders attempt toremain a bucking bull for eight seconds, and rides are judged dependant onboth rider's and the bull's performance, with two judges scoring the rider and two scoring the bull. At the end of each event, the top 15 riders compete from the short round, or "short go"; the rider with the highest point total from the entire event becomes the winner.
Since 2007, PBR also hosts a group competition format called PBR World Cup, where 25
bull riders (altogether representing five different countries) compete to win
the title of best bull riders in the world.
Total viewership, including
event attendees and also the television audience, grew 52 percent between
2002 and 2004. In 2004, 16.4 million fans watched or attended a PBR event. In
2008, over 100 million watched the PBR on television, well as over 1.7 million attended a live event.
Randy Bernard became CEO on the PBR in 1995, a position he held until he resigned in 2010 to be the CEO of the Indy Racing League.On February 23, 2011, the PBR announced that Jim Haworth had become its new CEO.
Canada, Brazil, Australia, and Mexico each have their own personal PBR tours, and funds earned on those tours counts towards U.S. qualifier standings as well as a spot inside the PBR World Finals.
Randy Bernard became CEO on the PBR in 1995, a position he held until he resigned in 2010 to be the CEO of the Indy Racing League.On February 23, 2011, the PBR announced that Jim Haworth had become its new CEO.
Canada, Brazil, Australia, and Mexico each have their own personal PBR tours, and funds earned on those tours counts towards U.S. qualifier standings as well as a spot inside the PBR World Finals.
The PBR publishes its own magazine, Pro Bull Rider, six times each year.
