MEMPHIS, Tenn. – For the third consecutive year, and fourth time in league history, PBR’s (Professional Bull Riders) Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour will buck into Memphis, Tennessee, returning to FedExForum on Feb. 12, 2022, with the PBR Bluff City Classic.
For one night only, some of the best bull riders in the world will battle the sport’s rankest bovine athletes in the ultimate showdown of man vs. beast in one of the most exciting live sporting events to witness.
In 2021, the impact of the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour on a rider’s season was on full display.
With multiple riders traveling to Memphis on the bubble of qualifying to the elite Unleash The Beast, Andrew Alvidrez (Seminole, Texas) delivered a perfect 2-for-2 performance inside FedExForum, winning the event and collecting enough world points to once again earn a seeded position on the premier series.
Drawing Leroy (Davis Rodeo Ranch) in Round 1, Alvidrez electrified the crowd with an 87.5-point ride to enter the championship round tied for second on the event leaderboard.
After his first bull in the championship round fouled himself coming out of the chutes, Alvidrez was awarded a re-ride aboard Dang It (Davis Rodeo Ranch/Ed & Cindy Fogle). The two danced around the dirt for an 89-point ride to secure the Texan’s walk-off win with the final ride of the night.
The PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour has made two additional appearances in Memphis. Seven-time PBR World Finals qualifier Matt Triplett (Canton, South Dakota) won the inaugural PBR Bluff City Classic in 2016, while nine-time World Finals qualifier Fabiano Vieira (Perola, Brazil) topped the field in 2020 in the Volunteer State.
The Memphis tour stop will tentatively mark the 11th Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour event of the year, with PBR’s fastest-growing tour first stopping in cities including Portland, Oregon; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Jacksonville, Florida; and North Charleston, South Carolina.
The bull riding action for the 2022 PBR Bluff City Classic begins at 7:00 p.m. CST on Saturday, Feb. 12 at FedExForum.
On Saturday evening, all 40 competing riders will attempt one bull each in Round 1. Following the opening round, the Top 10 will then advance to the championship round, where they will attempt one final bull, all to be crowned the event champion.
Tickets for the one-day event go on sale Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 10:00 a.m. CDT and start at $15, taxes and fees not included. Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, at the FedExForum Box Office, or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.
PBR Elite Seats are available for $175 for avid fans who want an exclusive VIP experience while enjoying the world’s top bull riding circuit. These tickets offer the best seats in the venue, a question-and-answer presentation with some of the top bull riders and stock contractors in the world, $10 concession voucher, souvenir credential and lanyard, and post-event photo opportunity from the dirt.
For an enhanced PBR experience, fans can purchase add-on PBR Premium Experiences which will include the Elite Experience on Saturday, Feb. 12.
The Elite Experience, available for $50, will include a Q&A session with a select group of the league’s top riders, bullfighters and stock contractors, photo opportunity, and commemorative credential and lanyard.
For more information on PBR Premium Experiences or to purchase the Elite Experience for the PBR Bluff City Classic in Memphis, visit https://pbr.com/tickets/premium-experiences/.
