NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Nashville Stampede, Music City’s first-ever professional bull riding team competing in the landmark PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series, today announced the team has officially signed No. 2 overall Draft pick and 2018 PBR World Champion Kaique Pacheco to a multi-year endorsement agreement.
“It’s very important for me to officially be a part of the Stampede team and this family. It makes me really happy,” says Pacheco. “I watched Justin McBride before I came to the United States. He’s one of the greatest bull riders we’ve ever seen, and it’s awesome having him behind me and supporting me.”
“I feel very lucky that as a coach of a brand-new franchise, Pacheco is the guy that lays the foundation for what the Stampede will be for years to come,” says Nashville Stampede Head Coach Justin McBride. “His past accolades speak for themselves, but his commitment to excellence and his calm demeanor are exactly what you want when tasking someone to lead a franchise.”
Pacheco has been one of the most consistent riders in the PBR since debuting on American soil in 2014.
The 2015 season marked the Brazilian native’s first in the PBR’s premier Unleash The Beast series, when he concluded the year No. 2 in the world, winning three elite tour events, including the stop in Nashville, and was also crowned Rookie of the Year.
In the seasons that followed, Pacheco finished No. 2 in the world in 2016 and No. 5 in 2017 before being crowned the 2018 PBR World Champion. After an incredible second-half surge during the regular season, Pacheco battled through torn ligaments in his left knee sustained days before the PBR World Finals to capture the coveted gold buckle. He concluded the year having gone 42-for-80 (52.5%).
While Pacheco spent the majority of 2019 sidelined as he recovered from injury, the “Ice Man” returned with a vengeance in 2020 when he concluded the season No. 6. In the two years since, Pacheco has finished runner-up to the world title in both 2021 and 2022.
During the most recent season, a resilient Pacheco, who was riding through a broken foot, contended for the gold buckle until the final out of the season. Throughout the 2022 PBR Unleash The Beast campaign, Pacheco logged two event wins and five 90-point rides. He also went a torrid 28-for-51, covering 54.90% of his bovine athlete opponents.
Pacheco is joined on the Nashville Stampede by fellow protected riders Dener Barbosa, Ryan Dirteater, Manoelito de Souza Junior, Joao Henrique Lucas, Fernando Henrique Novais, Lucas Fideles and Thiago Salgado. The team’s practice squad includes Jaxton Mortensen, Mason Moody and Dustin Ortiz.
Two-time PBR World Champion McBride leads the team as Head Coach, and Tina Battock helms the front office as the General Manager of the Nashville Stampede.
“Securing Kaique as a rider and our team captain is an important pillar in the foundation of the Stampede team along with the support of our coaching staff and ownership,” says Battock. “Our primary focus is to not only prepare for this season but to set us up for long-term success.”
“It’s awesome to be able to help our teammates get better and help Justin bring along the younger riders,” says Pacheco. “I’m excited for what’s to come.”
With one regular-season 2022 PBR Team Series event complete, the Nashville Stampede are currently fifth in the battle to bring Music City its next national title. At the season-launch event in Cheyenne, Wyoming, in late July, the Stampede went 1-1, including a 337.75-257.25 victory against the Carolina Cowboys in a dramatic shootout. In the team’s march to victory, Pacheco delivered a crucial 86.5-point ride on Mr. Winston.
When the PBR Team Series action continues in Kansas City, Missouri, Aug. 5-7 for Outlaw Days, the Nashville Stampede and Pacheco will look to climb the standings as they play the Ariat Texas Rattlers, Kansas City Outlaws and Arizona Ridge Riders in five-on-five bull riding games inside T-Mobile Center.
During the 2022 season for the groundbreaking PBR Team Series, which transforms bull riding from an individual sport into one where riders compete in teams, each of the eight founding teams will compete in 28 games, held at 10 regular-season events, leading into a championship in Las Vegas (Nov. 4-6). In addition to competing at two neutral site events, each of the eight teams will host a three-day homestand.
The Nashville Stampede will play in Music City for the first time Aug. 19-21 when the team hosts Stampede Days at Bridgestone Arena.
The bull riding action for the 2022 PBR Team Series’ Stampede Days at Bridgestone Arena begins at 7:45 p.m. CDT on Friday, August 19, 6:45 p.m. CDT on Saturday, August 20, and 12:15 p.m. CDT on Sunday, August 21, times subject to change.
Tickets for the three-day event are on sale now and start at $20, taxes and fees not included. Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, at the Bridgestone Arena Box Office, or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.
Three-day ticket packages will also be available, offering fans up to a 25% discount on select price levels.
For more information about Nashville Stampede, visit pbr.com/teams/stampede/, Nashville Stampede on Facebook, @NashvilleStampede on Instagram, or @Nash_Stampede on Twitter.
