ALBANY, N.Y. – For the second consecutive season, PBR’s (Professional Bull Riders) premier Unleash The Beast tour will buck into Albany, New York, taking over MVP Arena with the PBR Albany Dec. 29-30.

For two nights only, more than 30 of the best bull riders in the world will go head-to-head against the sport’s rankest bovine athletes, showcasing the ultimate showdown of man vs. beast in one of the most exciting live sporting events to witness.

The upcoming PBR Albany will be the fifth event of the new individual season as riders vie for early points in the race to be crowned the 2024 PBR World Champion.

In December 2022, PBR’s Unleash The Beast returned to Albany for the first time in more than 14 years. In the Empire State, Andrew Alvidrez (Seminole, Texas) delivered a flawless 3-for-3 effort to earn his second consecutive Unleash The Beast victory, winning the 2023 iteration of the PBR Albany to overtake the then No. 1 rank in the race for the 2023 PBR World Championship.

The charismatic Texan began his march to the winner’s circle in Round 1 when he went the distance atop Skull Crusher (Shuler Bucking Bulls) for 87.5 points. Positioned second on the event leaderboard, Alvidrez then went head-to-head with Red Mosquito (Cord McCoy/Zach Muegge/McCoy Rodeo) in Round 2. Remaining in perfect time with his animal athlete counterpart, the two danced to the 8-second whistle, awarded 87.75 points.

With the second selection in the championship round, Alvidrez architected a rubber match with Pickle Moonshine (Shuler Bucking Bulls), who he dominated for a commanding 89.25 points to surge to the event lead, enough to clinch the victory.

The golden finish earned Alvidrez a crucial 132.5 Unleash The Beast points. After traveling to Albany ranked No. 4 in the World Championship race, Alvidrez catapulted to the No. 1 position, propelled 68.5 points ahead of then-No. 2 Cooper Davis (Jasper, Texas).

While Alvidrez remained a World Champion contender for the remainder of the season, he narrowly missed earning his first gold buckle, concluding the individual season ranked No. 7 in the standings.

Before the premier series event in Albany in December 2022, The elite PBR Unleash The Beast last traveled to New York’s capital in 2008 when Travis Briscoe (Edgewood, New Mexico) went a perfect 3-for-3 to win the event.

Apart from the premier series, the PBR’s expansion series, the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour, has traveled to Albany twice, holding back-to-back events in the city in 2016 and 2017.

Cody Campbell (Summerville, Oregon) won the event in 2016, and Skeeter Kingsolver (McLouth, Kansas) rode supreme in 2017.

The bull riding action for the PBR Albany begins with Round 1 at 7:45 p.m. ET on Friday, December 29, followed by Round 2 and the championship round at 6:45 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 30. All competing bull riders will get on one bull each in Rounds 1-2. Following Round 2 Saturday evening, the riders’ two-round scores will be totaled, with the Top 12 advancing to the championship round for one more out and a chance at the event title.

Tickets for the two-day event go on sale Monday, August 7 at 10:00 a.m. EDT and start at $15, taxes and fees not included. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, at the MVP Arena Box Office or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.

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, available in three tiers, offer premium seats, personal on-site concierge at the PBR fan loyalty booth, and more. For more on elite seats, visit https://pbr.com/elite-seats-unleash-the-beast, or call (800) 732-1727

For more information about the PBR and to see the full 2024 PBR Unleash The Beast schedule, visit PBR.com.

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media