OAKLAND, Calif. ― For the first time since 2008, the Built Ford Tough Series returns to Oakland, Calif., this weekend with the Ariat Invitational at Oracle Arena. It's the 21st stop on the 2013 BFTS and one of only 26 cities to host the series this year.

The bull riding action begins at 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6, and at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7. Tickets for the Ariat Invitational start at $15 and are on sale online at www.Ticketmaster.com, by telephone at (800) 745-3000 and all Ticketmaster outlets, including Chavez Supermarkets. For more information, visit www.pbr.com.

During this two-day event, fans will witness the Top 35 bull riders in the world in a head-to-head battle with the best bucking bulls in the sport. The non-stop action of exhilarating 8-second rides and heart-stopping wrecks will bring fans to the edge of their seats as they watch the PBR's courageous cowboys risk it all against their 2,000-pound opponents.

The Ariat Invitational will feature Ariat athlete and 'streak-slayer,' J.B. Mauney, who recently achieved what seemed a nearly impossible feat when he rode Bushwacker during the BFTS event in Tulsa. After nine attempts throughout his career, Mauney successfully covered the otherwise unrideable Bushwacker to break the bull's 4-year, 42 consecutive buckoffs streak.

Mauney will face Mate (Flying U/Cindy Rosser Bucking Bulls) on Friday in an attempt to repeat his success in Thackerville last week, after winning the WinStar World Casino Invitational.

Two-time PBR World Champion (2011, 2012) Silvano Alves is scheduled to compete in Oakland alongside four other champions including Renato Nunes, (2010), Kody Lostroh, Guilherme Marchi (2008) and Mike Lee (2004). Fan favorites Shane Proctor and Douglas Duncan, and young guns Chase Outlaw and Jory Markiss are in the lineup as well.

Currently No. 1 in the PBR World Standings, Alves will go up against Nitro Circus (Keith Garber), while No. 2 Joao Ricardo Vieira will attempt to ride Merlot Man (Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls) in Round 1 on Friday night.

Duncan finds himself facing Super Cool Cat (Humpz and Hornz/Sis & Stan Bucking Bulls) again, a bull he was bucked off of in 2.57 seconds while in Fresno, Calif., this past spring. Lachlan Richardson has also been paired up with a bull, Rack City (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve), that he lasted only 3.83 seconds on last year in Pueblo, Colo, This will also be the last time for fans to watch Ariat riders Brendon Clark and Luke Snyder in California, as both men announced that the 2013 Built Ford Tough Series will be their last and they will retire following the 2013 PBR World Finals.

All Top 35 bull riders will get on one bull each in Rounds 1 and 2 on Friday and Saturday. After Round 2 on Saturday evening, the riders' individual two-round scores will be totaled and the top 10-15 riders on two bulls will advance to the Built Ford Tough Championship Round for one more ride and a chance at the $30,000 event title.                       

Following Oakland, the PBR Built Ford Tough Series will make five more stops this season, culminating with the Built Ford Tough World Finals in Las Vegas on Oct. 23-27. The Finals will crown the 2013 PBR World Champion, who will receive the coveted championship buckle, a $1 million bonus and a new pickup truck from Ford, the title sponsor of the Built Ford Tough Series. Tickets sales and additional information about the World Finals can be found at www.worldfinals.pbr.com.