For the 20th consecutive year, the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) will return to Oklahoma City for the longest running elite tour event in the state, taking over the Chesapeake Energy Arena on February 1-2 for the Express Employment Professionals Invitational on February 1-2.
For two days, dirt-flinging bull riding battles between the best athletes in the business — riders and bulls — await OKC PBR fans in whatis arguably the toughest, most intense, heart-stopping entertainment Chesapeake Energy Arena has to offer.
Last January, Oklahoma’s own Ryan Dirteater (Hulbert) recorded his high-marked ride of the season, 93.25 points in the championship round, en route to winning the 2018 Express Employment Professionals Invitational.
Dirteater’s victory-sealing ride came aboard fellow Oklahoma athlete and two-time YETI World Champion Bull SweetPro’s Bruiser (D&H Cattle Co./Buck Cattle Co.). In going a flawless 3-for-3, the 28-year-old not only earned his first victory of the 2018 PBR season, but also the first-ever in his home state.
Over the years, 17 athletes have captured the Oklahoma City event title. They are: Dirteater (2018); Derek Kolbaba (2017); Cooper Davis (2016); Matt Triplett (2015); Nathan Schaper (2014); Sean Willingham (2013); Valdiron de Oliveira (2012);Paulo Lima (2011); Jordan Hupp (2010); Ednei Caminhas (2009); Jody Newberry (2006); Ross Johnson (2005); Brendon Clark (2004); Gilbert Carrillo (2003); Justin Volz (2002); Jason Bennett (2001, 2000); Tater Porter (1999).
The Oklahoma City event will feature several PBR World Champions including, 2017 World Champion Jess Lockwood, 2016 World Champion Davis, two-time world champion J.B. Mauney; and three-time world champion Silvano Alves.These four are anticipated to ride alongside Oklahoma natives Dirteater , Brennon Eldred (Sulphur) and Colten Jesse (Konawa), as well as the 2017 winner Kolbaba.
The Express Employment Professionals Invitational will consist of three rounds of competition with the first two rounds featuring the Top 35 bull riders randomly matched against the PBR’s rankest bovine athletes. The scores from the two rides will be combined and the Top 15 riders will advance to the championship round on Saturday where they will attempt one final bull.
The action begins at 7:45 p.m. CT on Friday and at 6:45 p.m. CT on Saturday. Tickets start at $15 and are on sale at www.ticketmaster.com, the Chesapeake Energy Arena ticket office, or by phone at 800-745-3000.
The PBR Elite Seats will be available again this year for fans that are wanting a true VIP experience. The seats are priced at $400 each and will give fans the experience of a lifetime; a pre-event catered reception, backstage tours featuring a PBR 101 presentation, and meet-and-greets with some of the PBR’s top stars. These seats are also on sale now. Contact the PBR Customer Service Department at 800-732-1727 for more information.
The Express Employment Professionals Invitational will be the fifth event on the 2019 PBR: Unleash The Beast premier series. The season will consist of 27 stops, traveling to such cities as New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Nashville and more. The year will culminate with the PBR World Finals in Las Vegas on Nov. 8-10 when the 2019 PBR World Champion, the bull rider who earns the most world standings points during the season, will receive the coveted World Championship belt buckle and $1 million bonus.