The PBR (Professional Bull Riders) will return to Grand Rapids, Michigan as the top-ranked cowboys of the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT) take on the rankest bulls in the sport at Van Andel Arena on Saturday, Aug. 21 for the Grand Rapids Classic.
Tickets for the intense night, will go on sale Friday, June 18 at 10 a.m. PBR is selling the entire seat, but most fans will only use the edge. Advanced ticket pricing ranges from $15 to $125 and can be purchased online at PBR.com, and at Ticketmaster.com.
Each rider will face one bull during Round 1 before the 10 riders with the highest scores advance to the championship round. The overall event winner will be the rider who has earned the most points over two rides on Saturday night.
Though an event buckle and check are on the line the riders competing at the Grand Rapids Classic will battle it out in front of Michigan fans for the coveted world standings points up for grabs.
In early 2020, New Mexico cowboy Joseph McConnel (Bloomfield, New Mexico) took home the first PWVT win of his career in front of a sold-out crowd.
McConnel was the only rider to make an 8 second qualified ride in the Championship Round riding Peep Show (Cornwell Bucking Bulls) for an 85-point score. This ride earned him 38 world points and an invite to the PBR’s premier tour event in St. Louis.
The 2021 PWVT season will culminate with the Velocity Tour Finals at South Point Arena in Las Vegas, leading into the PBR’s 2021 World Finals at T-Mobile Arena. The winner of the PWVT Finals, the second- and third-place finishers, the top international performer, and the 2021 PWVT Tour Champion, will each qualify to compete at the PBR World Finals and a chance to be the 2021 PBR World Finals Event Champion.
About PBR (Professional Bull Riders)
PBR is the world’s premier bull riding organization. More than 700 bull riders compete in more than 200 events annually across the televised PBR Unleash the Beast Tour (UTB), which features the Top 30 bull riders in the world; the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT); the PBR Touring Pro Division (TPD); and the PBR’s international circuits in Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico. PBR’s digital assets include RidePass, which is home to Western sports. PBR is a subsidiary of IMG, a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media. For more information, visit PBR.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/PBR, Twitter at Twitter.com/PBR, and YouTube at YouTube.com/PBR.
About the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour
The PBR’s Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT) began in 2014 as the premier expansion tour for the PBR. The Velocity Tour, the sport’s fastest-growing tour, brings the excitement and top-levels of cowboy and bovine talent that fans have come to expect from the sport’s leader to cities across the U.S. The tour, which is fully produced and operated by PBR, will visit more than 30 cities in the 2020 season. The PWVT is proudly supported by Pendleton Whisky, Lucas Oil, K&N Filters, the United States Border Patrol, Boot Barn, Pneu-Dart and the South Point Hotel and Casino. The Velocity Tour is broadcast on RIDE TV’s hit series – PBR Ride to Glory, airing in prime time every Tuesday night.
About ASM Global
Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place and DeVos Performance Hall are managed by ASM Global. ASM Global is the world’s leading venue management and services company. The company was formed by the combination of AEG Facilities and SMG, global leaders in venue and event strategy and management. The company’s elite venue network spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 300 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention and exhibition centers, and performing arts venues. From Aberdeen to Anchorage, and Sydney to Stockholm, its venues connect people through the unique power of live experiences.
ASM Global’s diverse portfolio of clients benefit from the company’s depth of resources and unparalleled experience, expertise and creative problem-solving. Each day, the company’s passionate employees around the world deliver locally tailored solutions and cutting-edge technologies to deliver maximum results for venue owners, and operations, and amazing experiences for guests. By consistently looking for new ways to envision, innovate and empower the spaces and places that bring people together, ASM Global elevates the human spirit while delivering the highest value for all stakeholders. For more information, please visit asmglobal.com.
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