HOUSTON - For the first time in history, fans in Houston will be able to watch the best bull riders in the world compete at RODEOHOUSTONâ„¢ when the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series visits Reliant Stadium at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012.

The BFTS features the best, highest-paid bull riders on the planet, including PBR World Champion Silvano Alves.

Fans will witness thrilling 8-second rides and jaw-dropping wrecks throughout the adrenaline-soaked performance as the PBR's insanely brave cowboys risk it all against monstrous animal athletes that can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds.

"The rich tradition of RODEOHOUSTONâ„¢ speaks for itself," said PBR CEO Jim Haworth. "We are honored to become a part of that legacy, and excited to bring a new level of bull riding excellence to fans in Houston."

Tickets begin at $15, and will go on sale Friday, Dec. 9, at www.Ticketmaster.com, and by telephone at (800) 745-3000. Each ticket includes general admission ticket for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest.

"As the world's largest livestock show and rodeo, we're proud to host the PBR event for its first time here in Houston.  It's sure to be an afternoon of exceptional talent and showmanship, held during the final day of our Go Texan weekend," said Skip Wagner, president, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

The PBR and Ford are offering a limited number of Built Ford Tough All aXXess passes for $250. In addition to providing the best seats, the passes are a special-edition credential and lanyard which allow the bearer to get autographs and photographs with PBR World Champion Silvano Alves, a photograph of World Champion Bull Bushwacker, VIP catering, and a PBR gift bag.

Part of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, RODEOHOUSTON is the largest and richest rodeo in the world, scheduled to pay $2 million in 2012. It is also an attendance leader, with more than 1 million fans annually, including 1,255,323 in 2011 when the PBR sanctioned the bull riding.

The 2012 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo will run Feb. 28-Mar.18 at Reliant Park in Houston.

Houston is the eighth of 28 stops on the 2012 BFTS schedule, which will open at world-famous Madison Square Garden in New York on Jan. 6-8. The season will conclude Oct. 24-28 in Las Vegas with the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals, where the PBR World Champion will be crowned and awarded a $1 million bonus. The richest bull riding event in the world, the World Finals has a total purse of more than $2 million.