LAS VEGAS – PBR management and leadership held a press conference on Saturday morning to announce a few changes in PBR events and new opportunities for people to get involved.
The big change that directly affects the riders is that will see riders choosing their own rides, based on the riders’ order of finish.
The "pick-your-own-ride" will take place in the second round of three-round events. The riders, in order of finish in round one, will be able to choose the bulls they will each ride in round two. First pick would go to the highest scoring rider of round one, and that rider would have his choice from the pen of all 45 bulls set for round two.
The process would then repeat, with the second highest scorer, then the third, etc.
When all riders with qualified rides have chosen their bulls, the selection process would continued based on the length of time ridden before being bucked off. The longer the ride, the higher the pick.
As both Ty Murray and Cody Lambert explained, this will provide an opportunity for fans to get to know more about the riders. It also offers the riders to pick the bulls they have wanted to ride and/or believe will give them the best chance at a top score.
As Murray and Lambert eloquently explained, it will give the riders a chance to put-up-or-shut-up about some of the toughest bulls in the PBR’s pens.
At the events when the pick-your-ride process takes place, the selection process will be open to the public, Lambert said.
Another change explained at the press conference that, immediately following the PBR Fanzone "meet and greet," had a packed house audience of fans and press, is an opportunity for more people to buy into the action by buying into a team of bulls.
Lambert gave a somewhat confusing explanation of how people will – for a $50,000 price tag – have the chance to buy into a team of six bulls. There will be payoffs for each team that includes the highest scoring bull of an event, and a half-million dollar prize for the highest placing team at the end of the World Finals.
More on that opportunity when the PR Department translates the terms into English.
If you’ve ever wanted to ride a bull, the next best thing to being there is coming, thanks to the PBR and Crave.
In 2008, fans are expected to see the release of a new PBR video game that will give fans playing the game the chance to ride bulls. The best part? Virtual reality is virtually painless, unless you strain a thumb on the game’s controller.
The new game should be available in versions for PC and all video game platforms, including Playstation and Nintendo wii in the coming year.
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