PBR Challenge keeping ticket prices low for its fans

Posted Friday, July 17, 2009

SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas – Producers of one of the premier sporting events to hit this region are reaching out to the people of east Texas.

When the Texas Heritage National Bank PBR Challenge arrives at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center on Aug 21-22, coming with it is an entertainment value that is just hard to beat.

“We understand how unstable economic times have hit, and we’ve set ticket pricing and seating structure that reflects that,” said Jim McLain Jr. of TwoBulls Group, who is producing the event with Emory ranchers Donny Gowin and Jay Weddle for the second year.

A tiered seating system is in place, with advanced reserve tickets costing $17 ($22 at the door) and general admission being $15 ($20 at the door).

Tickets go on sale at 4 p.m. Friday, July 24, at Texas Heritage National Bank, 215 N. Hillcrest, Sulphur Springs.

“Last year we had such a tremendous welcome to Hopkins County by the fans who want to see these great bulls, world-class bull riders and the athletic bullfighters that we had to adjust our seating format to help eliminate the long wait in line,” McLain said. “This year’s event will feature reserve seating that allows you to know exactly where you are sitting as soon as you purchase your ticket instead of everyone having to stand in long lines in the heat to get a good seat. It going to cost us more to do the tickets and seating this way, but to us the investment is worth it to make sure our fans get to enjoy world-class entertainment at an economical price.

“We’re very concerned about what’s happening with the economy, and we want to do our part in helping alleviate some of the stress that comes with it.”

The goal was to keep ticket prices affordable, so the event offset the $17 reserve ticket – which only increased $1 over last year’s general admission ticket – and decreased the general admission ticket to $15.

“The reserve section will be on the north and south sides of the arena closest to the action and will each have separate entrances to eliminate the long lines last year’s fans endured,” McLain said. “General admission and VIP seating will also have separate entrances to the building. Hopefully this will help our fans get in and seated and ready for a great show with as little waiting as possible.”

With this reserve seating structure, the seats will be sold starting with the closest to the chutes selling first and moving back section by section as they sell. So the fans who want to be closest to the action will want to get their tickets as soon as they go on sale. Those first section tickets will only be available at the Ticket Kickoff from 4-7 p.m. July 24 at the Texas Heritage National Bank. All remaining tickets will be available at Circle E Western Store and Hopkins County Regional Civic Center box office starting Saturday, July 25.

“Last year, we had the best athletes, whether it was the cowboys, the bullfighters or the bulls,” Gowin said. “We expect to make it better every year. That’s our goal.”

And Gowin, Weddle, McLain and Co. are doing it by making sure fans get the most bang for their bucks.