• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, September 16, 2025

PBR Looks To Bring Back Fans To Events In July

  • The PBR was one of the first U.S. professional sports leagues to return to live action on April 25.
  • It has had to “cut every expense that is non-critical to the operation here, because we don’t have any fan revenue.”
Photo credit: Matt Breneman

The Professional Bull Riders was one of the first U.S. sports leagues to return to live action during the coronavirus pandemic. Now it also wants to be one of the first to bring fans back as well.

PBR CEO Sean Gleason said on Front Office Sports’ digital interview show Fundamentals that the organization is planning to have fans back at its events in July.

“We’re planning right now to be be back bucking bulls in July. The question is where and how many fans can we have in the building that we go into,” Gleason said. “We have some very specific plans that I can’t divulge the details of today, but we will be back in front of fans in July.”

The PBR suspended its competitions after holding an event on March 15 in front of alongside nearly all of professional sports.

However, it has since returned, holding its “Unleash the Beast” competition on April 25 and 26. It also held the Cooper Tires Invitational on May 9 and 10.

Those events were held at the Lazy E Ranch in Guthrie, Oklahoma in front of no fans. The PBR instituted several protection measures for the athletes and staffers involved, including significant testing and screening, reducing the size of worker groups, making everyone wear masks, and housing everyone on-site in socially distanced trailers.

PBR is scheduled to host another event in Guthrie before moving to Las Vegas, Gleason said. The organization is expected to make an additional announcement soon regarding its additional events.

Typically, the PBR takes a break over the summer. However, this year it will roll out a new format that will see it continue holding events in the next several months and that will be televised live, Gleason said.

Gleason said the PBR has had to “cut every expense that is non-critical to the operation here, because we don’t have any fan revenue,” referencing money from tickets, concessions, and merchandise.

However, PBR does have a media rights deal with CBS, which is “its biggest audience,” Gleason said. “We miss our fans here, but it’s still important that we get these events done.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

US Open Set Attendance Record, Men’s Final Ratings Surged 82%

Attendance and television viewership of the tennis major again reach historic levels.

WNBA Hits 3M Attendance Milestone in Season’s Final Week

The WNBA extended the season to a record 44 games this year.
Jul 14, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Valkyries fans acknowledge local basketball alumni during a time out against the Phoenix Mercury during the second quarter at Chase Center.

Valkyries Set WNBA Attendance Record in Inaugural Season

The Valkyries joined the WNBA as an expansion team this season.

The Fastball and the Furious: Bristol MLB Game Will Set Attendance Record

The league makes history with the special-event game in Tennessee.

Featured Today

Premier Lacrosse League

‘The Circus Is Coming to Town’: Why Upstart Leagues Start on Tour

In their ambitious plans, a traveling schedule is only temporary.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 19: A detailed view of the MLB Debut patch on the jersey of Patrick Monteverde #44 of the Miami Marlins prior to game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
September 13, 2025

The Tiny Jersey Patch at the Center of the MLB Rookie Card..

Autographed cards containing a piece of baseball history have upended the market.
September 11, 2025

Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl Rematch Could Set More NFL Ratings Records

Fox will nationally televise Sunday afternoon’s matchup.
September 10, 2025

ESPN’s ‘MNF’ Ratings Up 8% As NFL Surges to Strong Start

ESPN posts its second-best Week 1 “Monday Night Football” audience.
FIFA

Saudis Awarded 2034 World Cup in Uncontested Vote

Saudi Arabia was the only option after Australia decided not to bid.
May 20, 2024

Top Sports Business Jobs This Week (May 2024)

Each week, our staff combs through the thousands of job listings from…
The stands at the Solheim Cup
September 13, 2024

LPGA Apologizes for Solheim Cup Fan Bus Debacle That Left Stands Half-Empty

The USA-Europe women’s team golf event teed off Friday morning.
Sponsored

How World Series Champ Dexter Fowler Became a Premier League Team Owner

Dexter Fowler discusses navigating retirement and embracing new roles as an owner & investor.
October 3, 2022

Real Madrid President Renews Call for Super League

Real Madrid’s president believes that soccer is losing ground.
August 10, 2022

PGA Tour Touts Projected Earnings to Keep Players

The PGA Tour is asking its players to consider their potential futures.
August 10, 2022

Bayern Munich to Make Growth Push in U.S. Market

Bayern Munich is looking to expand its reach in the U.S.
Nintendo-logo
August 3, 2022

Nintendo Profits Underwhelm, Switch Sales Decline

Nintendo failed to meet expectations in the company’s latest earnings report.