BANGOR, Maine – Bangor’s Cross Insurance Center will return to live events in 2021 by hosting PBR’s (Professional Bull Riders) Bangor Classic for the 6^th straight season with three nights of action, July 23-25, 2021.

After selling out the Cross Insurance Center multiple times over the last five years, the Bangor Classic returns for the 2021 season as one of the only three-night regular events on the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT) Schedule.

Tickets for the 2021 Bangor Classic at the Cross Insurance Center will be available Friday, May 21 at 10 a.m. ET, and start at $15 each. They can be purchased online at PBRTIX.com, over the phone by calling 800-732-1727 or at TicketMaster.com.

During the 2020 season, the PWVT event in Bangor March 6-8 was PBR’s final fully fan-attended event before COVID-19 shut down global live sports and entertainment. Fans were treated to a top-notch performance by Stetson Lawrence (Williston, North Dakota), who won the event. Going 2-for-4, the North Dakotan known as “The Firewalker” rode his way back onto the elite Unleash The Beast tour after being cut the week before.

Other champions to be crowned in the shadow of Paul Bunyan include Australian Lawson Nobbs (Moura, Queensland, Australia) and Colten Jesse (Konawa, Oklahoma).

All-important points towards the PBR World Championship and the $1 million bonus are up for grabs as riders seek to reach the 8-second whistle before hitting the dirt in Bangor. The rider with the highest aggregate score over the four rounds of white-knuckle action will be the event champion, taking home bragging rights, the 2021 Bangor Classic buckle and thousands of dollars.

Tickets for the first event back inside Cross Insurance Center since the onset of COVID-19 will be sold at a limited capacity in cooperation with local and state guidance. Also, as a part of PBR’s industry-leading safety protocols to ensure fan, competitor and staff safety, tickets will be sold in PODs, minimizing fan crossover. PODs are available in groups from 2-8 seats.

As a part of PBR’s leading protocols that have allowed fans to return to venues safely and responsibly since July of 2020, precautions are being taken to fight the spread of COVID-19, such as:

• All persons entering the Cross Insurance Center are subject to State & Local health and safety guidelines.
• All PBR personnel will undergo COVID-19 testing within 48 hours of the event.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-informed screenings for staff and competitors each day.
• PBR’s pioneering POD seating, selling tickets in small groups, to minimize fan crossover and interaction.
• Social distancing will be encouraged at concessions and merchandise stands, restrooms and other high traffic areas.
• Arena equipment and other high traffic areas will be disinfected throughout the event and each night.

Throughout the 2021 season, PBR will continue to commit to providing a safe environment for fans, athletes, employees and crew by working with its venue partners to implement the industry-leading protocols for live events, while also following health guidance from local and state officials.

For an enhanced PBR experience, fans can now purchase PBR Elite Experiences, which provide a behind-the-chutes look into the toughest sport on dirt.

The 2021 PWVT season is scheduled to culminate at the 2021 PWVT Finals in Las Vegas. While in the Entertainment Capital of the World, the 2021 PWVT champion will don the cherished gold buckle and receive an automatic bid to the 2021 PBR World Finals. Former PWVT champions include some of the top riders on Earth today, such as Chase Outlaw (2016), Jose Vitor Leme (2019) and most recently Mason Taylor (2020).