Everything you need to know about the Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by Camping World
The PBR Teams exhibition games begin with the hometown New York Mavericks taking on the Florida Freedom in New York City on Jan. 3.
By Darci Miller
FORT WORTH, Texas – Good news, PBR fans: PBR Camping World Team Series action is about to start back up months earlier than the start of the official 2025 season.
The Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by Camping World, is the latest addition to the Unleash The Beast schedule, bringing a taste of Teams into the individual season we all know and love.
Beginning in New York City on Jan. 3-5, when the Florida Freedom take on the New York Mavericks riding across the river from their home arena, all but two regular-season UTB events in 2025 will feature a PBR Teams rivalry game baked into Round 1. For those 15 weekends, the final 12 outs of the opening round will be a 6-on-6 game, with all outs counting both towards the UTB event and the game results.
The head-to-head rivalry games are: Arizona vs. Oklahoma; Austin vs. Texas; Carolina vs. Nashville; Florida vs. New York; and Kansas City vs. Missouri.
Don’t fret, UTB fans! The tried-and-true events we’re used to won’t be changing their format. Round 1 at all these events will be the same as always, with the highest-scoring rider winning the round of individual competition. The PBR Teams game will simply be the final 12 outs, whose scores will contribute to dual purposes – showcasing team competition and contributing to each participating athlete’s UTB season.
Have more questions? Read on to learn more about the METC ahead of its debut in New York City!
Q: What is the Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by Camping World?
The Monster Energy Team Challenge (METC), presented by Camping World, is a PBR Teams showcase that brings head-to-head, team-vs.-team bull riding games to new venues during Unleash The Beast events, beginning in New York City on Jan. 3 and ending on April 26 in Tacoma, Washington (15 total games). Each team will play three METC games against the same rival.
Q: How does it work?
On the first night of the UTB event, two rival PBR Teams will play one 6-on-6 game as the final 12 outs of competition. (PBR Teams games are usually 5-on-5, but with each team having three METC games, they’re 6-on-6 to give as many riders the chance to participate as possible.) Riders participating in the rivalry game will attempt one bull each that night. Rider scores during the game are counted for the UTB event and UTB standings. In addition, their scores will count in the UTB event aggregate and the UTB standings for the World Championship. The UTB-qualified riders in this game at the end of the first round will compete the remainer of the UTB weekend. If a rider who hadn’t qualified for the UTB event gets a score in his game, he can continue in the UTB weekend as well. The team with the highest aggregate score at the end of the game wins.
Q: Do these games count for the PBR Teams season?
Game results do not count toward the 2025 PBR Teams regular-season standings nor the 2025 PBR Teams Championship. Riders’ points in the METC will count toward the UTB standings and that weekend’s UTB event championship, won by the top rider in the aggregate, as well as their UTB and PBR Teams historical records.
The big thing on the line is bragging rights, plus $180,000 in added money for participating team riders throughout the 15 games.
Q: How is each Team’s six-rider starting lineup selected?
If a team has six UTB-qualified riders out of eight on its protected roster, all six must compete in the game.
If a team has more than six UTB-qualified riders on its protected roster, all riders will be competing in the UTB event (if they are healthy and able). The head coach will select which of his six riders he wants to compete for his team in the game.
If a team has fewer than six UTB-qualified riders on its protected roster, it still needs six riders to compete in the game, so the team first must choose any rider on its protected roster who is not qualified to compete in the UTB event. If a team is still not able to field six starting riders, the team can sign a free agent who is not UTB-qualified to compete. Therefore, the total number of riders in the field will be flexed for the first night, but only to a maximum of 42 riders. (For example, if a team has four UTB-qualified riders, it will need to add two riders to fill the game. As a result, the total field of riders competing on the first night will feature two extra riders.)
If a team signs a non-UTB-qualified free agent to compete, the rider is only allowed to ride for that team for that one game. The rider immediately becomes an unrestricted free agent after the game concludes.
Q: Will coaches pair riders and bulls as they do in Teams, or will it be a random draw like UTB?
Coaches can select the starting lineup order of riders but NOT the bull matchups. Random draw on bulls will take place as in any other UTB event.
Q: What happens in re-ride situations? Does that rider remain in competition, or like during Teams, can a coach reassign the out?
For the riders competing for their teams in the rivalry game, as in any other PBR Teams event, the decision to accept or decline re-ride options will be at the discretion of the head coach during their game, and a blend of PBR and PBR Teams re-ride rules apply. For example, the head coach will be aware of the list of re-ride bulls during the METC because the METC is taking place within a UTB event. During the PBR Teams regular season, the head coach does not know what bull is next with respect to re-rides.
Q: Is it mandatory for head coaches to be at all METC games?
The head coach can designate an alternate coach if he will not be attending a UTB event when his team is playing the METC. The designation could be given to an assistant coach or a rider who then becomes a rider/coach.
Q: Is it mandatory for team riders to compete in the METC? Can riders decline? What if a rider is entered in a Velocity Tour event that weekend?
If a rider does not want to or is not able to compete for their team in their full team uniform, they can use one of the three excused absences afforded each UTB season and not participate.
Q: What if a rider is injured in the chute before the gate opens?
Teams must have six riders on site and available to compete. Since the game is on the first night of competition, injuries before competition should be limited. It is the team’s decision whether to have an alternate on site and available to step in and replace an injured rider. If a rider is injured in the chute prior to the gate opening and the team does not have an alternate, the team will not be able to have a rider ride a second bull.
Should this situation arise, the PBR’s competition department will have a Mount Out Rider (MOR) on site for all METC events. If a rider is injured in the chutes, the MOR will be geared up and on the chutes, ready to ride for either team at a moment’s notice. The MOR could get on more than one bull (one for each team) if such a rare instance were to arise, but the MOR will not get on more than one bull for a team. The MOR will be eligible to remain in the UTB event with a qualified ride. The results of the first bull will be the official record for Round 1 of the UTB event and count towards the game. The second bull will not count for any part of the UTB event but would count toward the game as well.
