“Bass Pro Shops and PBR are a perfect fit,” stated Randy Bernard, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the PBR. “Their customers and our fans are outdoor enthusiasts who share many of the same interests. It is a huge honor for me personally as I think the world of (Bass Pro Shops founder and CEO) Johnny Morris. Johnny is a true visionary and to be on his ‘team’ is a dream come true.”

“All of us at Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Marine are extremely excited about partnering with the Professional Bull Riders,” stated Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. “A lot of these cowboys are in a boat or in a treestand enjoying the outdoors when they’re not on the back of a bull. The PBR’s fan base are folks who love the outdoors.”

To kick-off the new partnership, Bass Pro Shops will be the event title sponsor for the 19th stop of the prestigious Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) in Omaha, Neb. The Bass Pro Shops Shootout presented by Tracker Boats will take place on April 24-25 at the Qwest Center. The Bass Pro Shops store in Council Bluffs will also host the PBR Fan Zone and Meet & Greet with the top 40 riders in the world on Saturday, April 25.

PBR and Bass Pro Shops will work hand in hand throughout the year on integrated marketing events at all Bass Prop Shops stores. Special activities, ticket promotions, and other benefits to both PBR fans and Bass Pro Shops customers are being planned nationwide.

“It has been exciting to brainstorm with the Bass Pro Shops team,” Bernard said. “We have many opportunities to showcase the Bass Pro Shops brand to our fans as well as their customers to the PBR. We are looking forward to pushing the envelope on partnership opportunities that deliver for both organizations.”

“I have had the good fortune to get to know Randy Bernard on several fishing trips and learn more about the huge fan base of PBR,” continued Morris. “Randy is a great guy and we are very proud and excited to team up.”

For more information regarding the new partnership between the PBR and Bass Pro Shops, please visit www.pbrnow.com or contact the Professional Bull Riders at 719.242.2800.

*As named by Sporting Goods Business magazine.

Don’t miss out on any of the action at the 2009 Built Ford Tough World Finals in Las Vegas, Nev. The world-class event will take place on Oct. 30-Nov 1 and Nov. 5-8 at the Thomas & Mack Center---get your tickets NOW at 866.PBR.SHOW or unlvtickets.com!

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About the PBR:
More than 100 million viewers tune in each year to the PBR on FOX, NBC, ESPN, 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 1.7 million live event attendees each year with it multi-tiered event structure which includes the prestigious Built Ford Tough Series, the Copenhagen Bull Riding 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., with additional offices in Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. The PBR prides itself in its 1,000 plus stock contractor relationships and over 1,200 PBR bull riders competing in more than 300 PBR sanctioned competitions in five countries.

About Bass Pro Shops:
Headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, Bass Pro Shops, also an international catalog and internet retailer, currently has 55 retail locations in 26 states and Canada visited by over 100 million people per year. In addition, Bass Pro Shops, also provides products and services for thousands of independent dealers world wide through its subsidiary company, American Rod & Gun. Bass Pro Shops gift cards can be purchased at over 132,000 retail outlets across America. For more information regarding Bass Pro Shops store locations, products or special events, please visit www.basspro.com. To request a free catalog call 1-800-BASS PRO.