Q: What is PBR Teams?
PBR Teams takes what was nearly 30 years an individual sport and puts riders on teams. The world’s best compete on teams in 5-on-5 bull riding games during an 11-event season culminating in a championship at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Oct. 20-22.
Q: How many teams are in the league?
There are eight teams competing in the 2023 season, with the possibility of expansion in the future. The founding teams are the Arizona Ridge Riders, Austin Gamblers, Carolina Cowboys, Kansas City Outlaws, Missouri Thunder, Nashville Stampede, Oklahoma Freedom, and Texas Rattlers.
Q: What is a game?
Two of the eight teams face off in a head-to-head battle, and the team with the highest aggregate score from their five riders wins the game.
Q: How does a team win a game?
All eight teams compete in head-to-head, 5-on-5 games against a different opponent each day (totaling four games per event day). The team with the highest aggregate score from the respective matchup will win that game.
Q: How does a team win an event?
The event winner is the team with the most game wins across an event. In the event of a tie for first place, extra outs are held to determine the event winner. If both teams fail to record a ride score after five outs, both teams are given a loss. Teams win prize money for event wins, which do not affect the regular season standings. As with other team sports leagues, game wins and losses are crucial. Wins and losses at the end of the 10-event regular season determine the playoff seeing going into the PBR Teams Championship, held Oct. 20-22 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. All eight teams qualify for the PBR Teams Championship playoffs. The two teams that finish first and second in the regular-season standings will receive a first-round bye.
Q: How do extra outs work?
During the regular season, if two or more teams are tied for first place at the conclusion of the event, extra outs – up to three additional rounds of bull riding competition – come into play. Extra outs will feature one rider per team per round if tied for first place in the event standings. The team coach designates any rider from the final event roster to compete in each extra out. The high-marked qualified score in an extra out round will result in a win for the rider’s team, and the event will conclude. If there is no qualified ride in the first extra out, there will be a second extra out, and then a third if there still are no qualified extra-out rides. If there are no qualified rides after three extra outs, the tiebreaker will be the aggregate score from the event.
Q: What does a team’s roster consist of?
Teams have a roster of up to seven “protected roster” riders and up to five “reserve roster” riders. Teams can then use free agency to sign riders to their rosters. During competition, teams have five starters and up to seven riders on their bench. These riders can be subbed in/out of games throughout an event weekend, giving teams flexibility for optimal performance.
Q: Can substitutions be made during games?
In regular-season and Championship games as well as during extra outs, a coach may make an in-game roster substitution, but only in the instances of a re-ride award, if the team is mathematically unable to win the game, or if the team has clinched the game win. The rider must consent to the substitution.
Q: Are the rules for a rider on a bull the same as in the PBR’s individual series and tours?
Yes – for the most intense 8 seconds in sports, hang onto the bull rope and don’t touch the bull with your free arm or the ground.
Q: How will riders be matched against bulls in the games and extra outs?
Five bulls via eight bull pens will be randomly drawn to teams. Coaches will work with their riders to determine bull assignments, which may change from game to game within an event.
Q: What is the playoff format for PBR Teams?
The 2023 season culminates with the PBR Teams Championship in Las Vegas on Oct. 20-22 at T-Mobile Arena. Our Championship is an elimination-tournament format with all teams participating. The top two teams in the regular season receive first-round byes. The elimination format includes a Last Chance Game for losing teams to attempt to win their way back into the championship race before Championship Sunday.
Q: Will there be any individual championship within the team format:
There will be a $100,000 League MVP based on the highest individual aggregate score total across all outs in the season and a $10,000 event MVP for the highest aggregate score across each event.
Q: Can riders ride more than once in a game?
Riders cannot compete twice in a given game or round. However, a rider who rides in a game on the final day of an event is eligible to ride in extra outs if there is a first-place tie to be broken. If a team doesn’t have five available riders for a game, they forfeit the rides.
Q: Can teams make trades?
Teams may trade protected roster riders up until the trade deadline, which is Sept. 28, 2023. In addition, teams can trade future draft picks, cash and/or future considerations. Teams cannot trade riders on the reserve roster.
Q: If a rider gets hurt in Round 1 of an event, does the team call up another rider?
All teams will bring at least six riders to each regular-season event. Each game features five riders designated by the coach. Throughout an event, coaches may rotate their starting lineup as they see fit. There are also up to five riders on the reserve roster who may be called up to compete.
Q: Other sports have an “IR” – is there an injured reserve?
There are three types of injured reserve: Pre-Season, Regular Season and Full Season. Teams may have up to two riders on Pre-Season and Regular Season IR at any one time. Riders on Pre-Season IR have to miss a minimum of the first five events. Riders on Regular Season IR have to miss a minimum of two events. Teams may have as many riders as they want on Full Season IR, but riders on Full Season IR are not eligible to ride again until the 2024 season.
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media