NEW YORK CITY – For the fifteenth time in league history, PBR (Professional Bull Riders) will buck into “The World’s Most Famous Arena,” holding the elite Unleash The Beast’s Monster Energy Buck Off at The Garden, presented by Ariat, one of the initial events for the 2022 season featuring the Top 30 bull riders in the world, at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 7-9.
Adding to the significance of the tour stop, the PBR premier series’ event in New York City will be one of three Majors held in 2022, offering competing riders both an increased event purse and world points.
For three nights only, the Top 30 bull riders in the world will compete in one of the most exciting live sporting events to witness, going head-to-head against the sport’s rankest bovine athletes in the ultimate showdown of man vs. beast.
The 2022 PBR Unleash The Beast event at Madison Square Garden will mark the sport’s 15th event inside the iconic venue following a one-year hiatus in 2021 due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
When PBR was last in New York City, no rider was more dominant than veteran contender Joao Ricardo Vieira. Going a perfect 4-for-4, Vieira captured the fourth Major victory of his career and first in New York City. His flawless performance catapulted him to No. 1 in the world standings, a position he held for three weeks throughout the year before concluding the 2020 season No. 2 in the race for the gold buckle.
Positioned at the start of 2022, the PBR Monster Energy Buck Off at The Garden, presented by Ariat, will play a crucial role in shaping the initial championship race to the PBR World Finals in late May in Fort Worth, Texas, which awards a gold buckle and million-dollar bonus to the world’s best bull rider.
In recent history, the New York City event was instrumental to one rider’s campaigns that etched his name in the league record books.
In 2019, Jess Lockwood made history inside Madison Square Garden. As one of three riders to go a perfect 4-for-4, Lockwood won the New York City Major for the second time in his career, joining the elite company of two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney (2007, 2009, 2014) and 11-time World Finals qualifier Valdiron de Oliveira (2008, 2011) in taking the prestigious event in multiple seasons.
Lockwood first won the event in 2017, a victory which was a valuable stepping stone en route to the Montana cowboy, then 20, becoming the youngest World Champion in league history that November.
Lockwood’s victory at the 2019 Monster Energy Buck Off at The Garden, presented by Ariat, propelled him to an early world No. 1 and set him on a path that led him to become the youngest two-time World Champion in league history to end the 2019 season.
Other past New York City event winners include Shane Proctor (2010), Cody Nance (2012), Robson Palermo (2013), Fabiano Vieira (2014), Guilherme Marchi (2015), Paulo Lima (2016) and Gage Gay (2018).
The bull riding action for the PBR Monster Energy Buck Off at The Garden, presented by Ariat, begins with Round 1 at 7:45 p.m. EST on Friday, January 7, followed by Round 2 at 6:45 p.m. EST on Saturday, January 8. The event will conclude with Round 3 and the championship round at 1:45 p.m. EST on Sunday, January 9. All competing bull riders will get on one bull each in Rounds 1-3. Following Round 3 on Sunday afternoon, the riders’ three-round scores will be totaled. The Top 12 will advance to the championship round for one more out and a chance at the event title.
Tickets for the three-day event go on sale Monday, October 4 at 10:00 a.m. EDT, and start at $16, taxes and fees not included. Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com, PBR.com and MSG.com, or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.
All guests age 12 and older are required to provide proof of COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccination. All event-goers must have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine before attending. Madison Square Garden’s comprehensive COVID-19 guidelines, including those regarding children under 12, can be found here.
PBR Elite Seats are available for avid fans who want an exclusive VIP experience while enjoying the world’s top bull riding circuit. These tickets offer premium seats, a question-and-answer presentation with some of the top bull riders and stock contractors in the world, a behind-the-scenes look at the event from the back of the bucking chutes, and a souvenir credential and lanyard.
For an enhanced PBR experience, fans can now purchase add-on PBR Premium Experiences, including the Elite Experience on Friday, January 7, Saturday, January 8, and Sunday, January 9.
The Elite Experience, available for $75, will include a Q&A session with a select group of the league’s top riders, bullfighters and stock contractors, a pre-event photo on the bucking chutes, arena concession voucher and commemorative credential and lanyard.
Fans will also have the opportunity to purchase a complete travel package, including a three-day hotel stay, event tickets, daily food and beverage voucher, behind-the-scenes tour, and more. Travel packages start at $2,000 for two fans.
For more information on PBR Premium Experiences and travel packages, and to purchase the Elite Experience for the PBR Monster Energy Buck Off at The Garden, presented by Ariat, in New York City, visit https://pbr.com/tickets/premium-experiences/.