ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – When the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) bucks back into Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the PBR Ty Murray Invitational, presented by The Downs Racetrack and Casino, March 24-26, fans at The Pit will see the ultimate level of competition unfold as the world’s top bull riding athletes take on the rankest bucking bulls in the business.
During the 2023 season, the PBR will celebrate its 30th anniversary since 20 cowboys broke away from the traditional rodeo with the belief that bull riding could be a standalone sport. Since their trailblazing initiative, the PBR has grown into a global phenomenon awarding nearly $300 million in prize money.
In 2022, when the PBR was last in Albuquerque, Joao Ricardo Vieria (Itatinga, Brazil) climbed to the top of the Can-Am cage for the first pick of the championship round, making his intentions to win known by selecting 2021 YETI World Champion Bull Woopaa (Barker Bulls/ Hookin’ W Ranch).
Fans inside The Pit were on their feet and at full volume as Vieira climbed aboard the remarkable animal athlete.
Jump-for-jump, the veteran rider matched the bull who was part of the two highest scores in PBR history as the clock ticked down. Fans and fellow riders launched their cowboy hats in the air as the buzzer sounded. Vieira jumped to the dirt with ease as his 94.25-point event win-clinching score was announced.
Athletes just like Vieria from around the world will arrive in Albuquerque on the hunt for the coveted event buckle and Unleash The Beast standings points on the line.
The intense bull riding action at the PBR Ty Murray Invitational, presented by Downs Racetrack and Casino, begins at 7:45 p.m. on Friday, March 24, 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, and 1:45 p.m. on Sunday, March 26.
Tickets for the three-day event are on sale now and will range in price from $15 to $103. Fans can purchase tickets at www.PBR.com, The Pit Box Office, or online at www.Golobos.com/tickets.
PBR Elite Seats are available to provide close access to the action and an exclusive VIP experience. These tickets, available in three tiers, offer premium seats, a personal on-site concierge at the PBR fan loyalty booth, a $20 concession voucher and a souvenir credential and lanyard:
PBR Bronze Elite Seats ($210) also include a post-event photo on the dirt, available for digital download after the event.
PBR Silver Elite Seats ($280) include a 30th-anniversary collectible item, a pre-show tour with PBR talent and an on-the-dirt photo presented in a PBR 30th Anniversary Season branded frame and also available for digital download.
In addition to all of the above-mentioned amenities, PBR Gold Elite Seats ($380) offer the best views in the venue and a 2023 PBR Yearbook.
Fans can also purchase the official bull housing tour ($50) on Saturday, March 25. The experience includes a commemorative credential and lanyard and allows fans to get up close and personal with the bucking bulls and top stock contractors of the PBR.
For more information about the PBR and to see the full 2023 PBR Unleash The Beast schedule, visit PBR.com.