The Professional Bull Riders league is back in Tucson this weekend for the season opener of its “Unleash the Beast” competition series.
The professional bull riding series returns to the Tucson Arena, 260 S. Church Ave., at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15, and Saturday, Nov. 16.
Tickets are still available for the two-day event. Spectators can purchase single-day tickets or a dual ticket package for both days. Ticket prices range from $15 to $107.
Brady Oleson rides Shuler Bucking Bulls’ Pickle Moonshine for 90.75 during the Championship round of the Tucson Unleash The Beast PBR event at Tucson Arena in November 2022.
This year’s event at the TCC marks the third straight year PBR has selected Tucson as its season opener location.
At last year’s Tucson PBR event, Caden Bunch, a 21-year-old from Oklahoma, took home the 2023 PBR Tucson Invitational Champion title after completing an 89.25-point ride aboard Concho.
But, 23-year-old Arizona native JaCauy Hale is looking to take home the champion title and gold belt buckle this year.
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JaCauy Hale during the first night of the PBR teams event in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Sept. 20, 2024.
“It means everything to be in my home state competing and doing what I love,” he said. “And the crowd loves it, too, and I think they should be really pumped for it (the event) and I just can’t wait and I’m excited to get it going.”
Hale was born into a rodeo family and grew up in Ganado, a chapter of the Navajo Nation, where he dreamed of becoming a cowboy one day.
Now, he’s competing in the top bull riding competition in the U.S., which he says is the “best of the best” when it comes to riders and bulls.
“It’s very hard to make it big out here and I’m just happy that I did,” Hale said. “And the journey with PBR has been really great. I also got drafted to the Arizona Ridge Riders, another state team, and there was no better feeling to be drafted by them. It’s been a ride and I’m loving every minute of it and I’m happy to be living my dream.”
Parking is available in Parking Lot A Garage, located off Church Avenue. Parking in Lot B is accessible via Granada and Lot C, which is accessible off of Granada, has limited parking spaces due to construction, according to a PBR press release. Attendees are asked not to park in surrounding neighborhoods.
If you can’t make it to Tucson Arena, viewers can watch the event live on PBR’s YouTube channel.
For more information about PBR’s “Unleash the Beast” series, visit tucne.ws/pbrtuc.
Ednei Caminhas attempts to ride Platinum Bull Company’s Bamboozle during the first round of the Tucson Unleash The Beast PBR event at Tucson Arena in November 2022.
Contact Elvia Verdugo, the Star’s community sports editor, at everdugo@tucson.com. A journalism and history graduate from the University of Arizona, she hopes to share stories that show what makes Tucson and its community special.
Elvia Verdugo
Community Sports Editor
