AUSTIN, Texas – In preparation for its fourth season, PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Teams today announced that the league will hold the 2025 New Rider Draft in Austin, Texas May 20 at ACL Live at Moody Theater, followed by a concert by Shane Smith & The Saints. 

During the Draft, a fan-ticketed event which will get underway at 7 p.m. CDT, the league’s 10 teams, including the 2024 PBR Teams Champion Austin Gamblers, will select from dozens of newly declared bull riders for the 2025 season, including a talent-packed field of international athletes. 

The inaugural PBR Teams draft was held in Arlington, Texas in 2022, followed by Fort Worth, Texas (2023) and Nashville (2024).

“The PBR Teams Draft marks the official start of the Teams season, shaping the future of each team while finding new stars driving the excitement of our growing sport,” said Sean Gleason, Commissioner and CEO, PBR. “This year’s concert following the teams’ highly anticipated picks will bring a new level of entertainment value to fans.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome the PBR Teams Draft to Austin, especially as we celebrate our hometown Gamblers’ championship season,” said Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. “This event perfectly blends Austin’s proud Western heritage with our identity as the Live Music Capital of the World. Having Shane Smith & The Saints perform makes this a true Austin experience that showcases what makes our city special. We look forward to hosting bull riding fans and athletes from around the world this May.”

“Hosting the PBR Teams 2025 New Rider Draft is a testament to the Austin Gamblers and the tremendous success they have had in the league since its inception,” said Drew Hays, Executive Director of the Austin Sports Commission. “Without their partnership, this event would not be possible in Austin. Hosting this event not only highlights Austin’s growing reputation as a world-class sports destination but also showcases our unique ability to blend sports with what our city is known for – live music! I encourage everyone to come and experience the ‘kick-off’ to the 2025 PBR Teams campaign, and we hope to see fans in Austin again at Gambler Days this August.” 

The Draft has had a significant impact on each Teams season: 

-    In the 2022, the Austin Gamblers selected Jose Vitor Leme with the first overall pick, followed by the Nashville Stampede, who picked Kaique Pacheco and won the inaugural Teams title. Leme would be named the league’s MVP the first two seasons. Pacheco signed with the Gamblers mid-season in 2024, helping lead the team to the 2024 PBR Teams championship.

-    In 2023, the Carolina Cowboys selected Sage Kimzey with the first overall pick. Following the 2024 season, he would also join the Gamblers, now helping defend the championship. Also of note, the Kansas City Outlaws selected Cassio Dias in the first round with the 5th overall pick, and Dias would go on to win the PBR individual world championship in 2024.

-    In the 2024, the Florida Freedom used their No. 1 overall pick to select John Crimber, who would lead the team to a third-place regular season finish and be named the league’s MVP. 

“When we took part in the inaugural 2022 PBR Teams Draft, we knew this was an event we would want to bring to Austin,” said J.J. Gottsch, CEO, Austin Gamblers. “To have it happen the year after we won our first championship, hosting it at ACL Live, will be very special for our team and fans.”

Austin is also the home of several PBR and Gambler partner brands, with companies like Tecovas, YETI and Rhino USA all headquartered in the capital city. 

Riders are able to declare for the 2025 Draft until May 1. Among the Brazilian riders who have declared, top picks in the three-round draft are expected to include Jhon Carlos Moreira, Alex da Silva Oliveira, Elzisclay Rodrigues dos Santos, Eudimar Novais and Riquelme Silva dos Santos, who were evaluated at a scouting combine all 10 teams attended in February in Icem, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Additionally, rising Brazilian star Vinicius Pinheiro Correa, already riding in the U.S. at World No. 35 (10-for-24: 46.7%), has declared for the draft. 

From Australia, Macaulie Leather and Boston Leather, popular sibling riders known as The Leather Brothers and winners of the 2023 and 2024 PBR Australia Championships, respectively, have declared for the draft. 

Via the 2024 PBR Camping World Team Series results and trades made, the Arizona Ridge Riders will hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 Draft along with the No. 1 pick in the second and third rounds.

The New York Mavericks will pick second in the first round, followed by the Kansas City Outlaws with picks No. 3, 4 and 9. The Missouri Thunder have the fifth pick, followed by the Texas Rattlers (No. 6.) Florida Freedom (No. 7), Austin Gamblers (No. 8) and Carolina Cowboys (No. 10).

“The Outlaws are very excited for the Draft,” said Jim Smith, General Manager of the Kansas City Outlaws. “With three of the first nine picks, we have a lot of options to explore. The phone is ringing non-stop, and draft day should be very interesting.” 

The PBR Teams 2025 Draft will be broadcast live on PBR’s YouTube Channel, PBR RidePass and the PBR app beginning at 7:30 p.m. CDT on May 20.

American red dirt country band Shane Smith & The Saints have headlined concerts at venues such as Red Rocks Amphitheater and the Ryman Auditorium and have had their music featured on the hit show “Yellowstone” in addition to performing in an episode featuring the inauguration of the fictional governor of Montana, played by Kevin Costner. Following the popularity of the band’s “Yellowstone” performance, Texas Governor Greg Abbott asked them to perform at his 2023 inauguration. 

Fans can purchase tickets to the 2025 PBR Teams New Rider Draft, which range from $89 to $159 by going to AXS PBR Teams Draft or ACL Live Events.

The 2025 PBR Camping World Team Series season will begin on July 11 in Oklahoma City and crown the league’s fourth champion in Las Vegas Oct. 24-26 inside T-Mobile Arena when all 10 teams participate in a progressive-elimination tournament featuring three three-way Last Chance Games. 

For more information on the 2025 PBR Camping World Team Series, and to purchase tickets to one of the league’s upcoming events, visit PBR.com.

For more information about Austin Gamblers, visit www.austingamblers.com, Facebook – @AustinGamblers https://www.facebook.com/AustinGamblers, @austin_gamblers on Instagram, @austin_gamblers on X and @Austin_Gamblers on YouTube.

Photo courtesy of Todd Brewer/Bull Stock Media