HAMPTON, V.A. – Host to one of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour’s longest-tenured events, Hampton, Virginia, will welcome the organization’s expansion series for the eleventh consecutive season February 23 - 24 when the GOVX PBR Hampton takes over Hampton Coliseum.

For just two thrilling nights, 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 and unpredictable live sporting events to witness.

Last year in front of a sold-out Saturday night crowd in Hampton, Virginia, Claudio Montanha Jr. (Ribeirao dos Indios, Brazil) and Michael Lane (Tazewell, Virginia) tied for the event win inside Hampton Coliseum.

Montanha began his outing in the Old Dominion State with a bang, topping Round 1 with an 88-point effort on Two Hands before completing his perfect evening by covering Here I Am for 86.5 points.

Virgina’s Lane also went a perfect 2-for-2 to tie the enigmatic Brazilian.

Sitting in third after Round 1 following his 86-point ride atop Krampus, the veteran cowboy surged to the top of the standings when he recorded the high-marked ride of the event in the championship round, outlasting Eager Snake for 88.5 points.

Other past PBR Hampton Classic event winners include Eduardo Aparecido (2022), Marcos Gloria (2021), Bruno Scaranello (2020), Brady Sims (2019), Nathan Burtenshaw (2018), Brandon Davis (2017), Juliano Antonio Da Silva (2016), Gage Gay (2015) and Josh Birks (2014).

Josh Frost (Randlett, Utah) was crowned the 2023 PBR Velocity Tour Champion, concluding the season 113.5 points ahead of runner-up Claudio Montanha Jr. (Ribeirao dos Indios, Brazil). The pair dueled back and forth until the final outs of the season at the tour’s Finals in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Shortly after being crowned the Velocity Tour Champion, Frost was taken by the Carolina Cowboys with the second overall pick in the 2023 PBR Teams Draft.

The Hampton Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour event marks the 16th stop of the 2024 season. In 2023, the expansion tour hosted more than 289,000 fans, setting 21 event attendance records while selling out 17 events, including the Hampton stop.

The bull riding action for GOVX PBR Hampton begins at 8 p.m. EST on Friday, February 23, and 7:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, February 24 at the Hampton Coliseum. 

Forty-five bull riders will get on one bull in Round 1. Round 2 on Saturday evening will feature the Top 30 riders from Round 1; the riders’ individual two-round scores will then be totaled, with the Top 15 advancing to the championship round for one more out and a chance at the event title.

Tickets for the two-day event are available on Ticketmaster on Friday, November 17, at 10 a.m. EST and start at $15, taxes and fees not included. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, at PBR.com or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727. Tickets are also available at the Hampton Coliseum Box Office or at HamptonColiseum.org. 

PBR VIP Elite Seats are available starting at $225 for avid fans who want an exclusive VIP experience while enjoying some of the world’s best bull riders. These tickets offer the best seats in the venue, a post-show photo experience on the dirt, a commemorative VIP wristband and a personal on-site concierge at the PBRewards Booth on the concourse.

Photo courtesy of Annette Holloway Photography