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PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour

PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour

Event details.

For two nights only, some of the best bull riders in the world will battle the sport’s rankest bovine athletes in the ultimate showdown of man vs. beast in one of the most exciting live sporting events to witness.

The bull riding action for PBR Bridgeport begins with Round 1 at 8:00 p.m. ET on Friday, March 1, followed by Round 2 and the championship round at 7:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 2. All 35 competing bull riders will get on one bull each in Round 1 and Round 2. The riders’ individual two-round scores will be totaled with the Top 10 advancing to the championship round for one more out and a chance at the event title.

Know Before You Go

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Heavy Traffic

Total Mortgage Arena would like to advise fans that heavy traffic conditions are expected near the venue before and after the event. 

Guests are encouraged to arrive early, carpool, or take the Metro-North Railroad New Haven line to the event to avoid heavy traffic areas.

Event day parking is available on a first-come first-served basis. The closest event day parking is located in the surface lots across from the arena located between Lafayette St & Broad St. and in the Harbor Yard Transit Garage on South Frontage Rd.   Prepaid parking is accepted at all of the parking locations below.

Surface Lots - $18 credit card only  Harbor Yard Transit Garage - $18 cash only

March 1 Parking

March 2 Parking

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Cashless Transactions

We now use a cashless experience for all box office, food, beverage, parking and retail purchases.

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Premium Suite Experiences

Whether it's a night out for a group of friends or fun for the whole family, Premium Suites at Total Mortgage Arena will provide the ultimate space for exclusive entertainment. Book your PBR suite here.  

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ANDREA BOCELLI RECORDS HIGHEST GROSSING SHOW AT TOTAL MORTGAGE ARENA AS VENUE HOSTS EVENTFUL DECEMBER

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PBR: Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour

  • Date April 13, 2024
  • Location Pinnacle Bank Arena
  • Tickets Tickets start at $30 Subject to applicable fees Kids 23 months & younger are free if on lap
  • On Sale Buy Tickets Now

$10.00 — Premium Parking Garage View Parking Map

  • Related Links PBR Facebook PBR Website View Clear Bag Policy

About The Event

The PBR’s Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT) began in 2014 as the premier expansion tour for the PBR. The Velocity Tour, the sport’s fastest-growing tour, brings the excitement and top-levels of cowboy and bovine talent that fans have come to expect from the sport to cities across the United States. The PWVT is proudly supported by Pendleton Whisky, Boot Barn, Cooper Tires, Rank 45, South Point Hotel & Casino, Tractor Supply, Kubota, the United States Border Patrol, Zip Recruiter and GovX. Every Velocity Tour event is carried on PBR RidePass on Pluto TV, PBR’s flagship digital network.

Event Dates

  • Saturday, April 13 7:00 PM Add to cal
  • Sat, Apr 13 7:00 PM Add to cal

More Information

  • Doors Doors open at 6:00 p.m.

CASHLESS AT CONCESSION STANDS

Effective September 1, 2021, our concession stands and bars are cashless. We accept all credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Wallet, Samsung Pay, and Downtown Lincoln Gift Cards.

CLEAR BAG POLICY

- Clear tote bag no larger than 12" x 12" x 6" (one tote is allowed per ticket holder) - One-gallon clear plastic bag - Small purses, clutches, wallets that aren't clear and no larger than 4.5" x 6.5" To view the clear bag policy and list of prohibited items, click here:   http://bit.ly/PBApolicy . *Exceptions will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection.

EVENT POLICIES

CAMERAS Cell phone photos are permitted. No professional cameras or cameras with detachable lenses. No audio or video allowed.

NO OUTSIDE FOOD & BEVERAGE No outside food or beverage brought into the venue. 

NO WATER BOTTLES No water bottles brought into the venue. 

NO WEAPONS No weapons including pocket knives and tasers. These items will be confiscated and not returned.

ADDITIONAL RESTRICTED ITEMS No signs. No selfie sticks. No iPads.

SEE FULL LIST OF PROHIBITED ITEMS https://www.pinnaclebankarena.com/plan-your-visit/a-z-guide/preview

GUEST CODE OF CONDUCT

The Pinnacle Bank Arena Guest Code of Conduct was developed for all guests attending events at our arena to enjoy the experience in a responsible manner. Pinnacle Bank Arena and our promoters ask the guests to assist us in creating an enjoyable and safe environment by:

Respecting each other as well as our arena team members

Consuming alcoholic beverages in a responsible manner

Not displaying indecent or obscene messages on clothing

Refraining from fighting, horseplay, excessive taunting or threatening remarks or gestures

Not creating a disruption to the progress of the event by behavior that is unruly, disruptive, or illegal

Do not throw any objects in the direction of the stage

Not accessing areas without a proper ticket, pass and/or credential or misusing tickets, passes and/or credentials

Following instructions from arena team members regarding arena operations and emergency procedures

Allowing each other to be free to support their team or entertainer while remaining respectful and courteous to their fellow peers, referees or opposing team fans and players

Not using offensive language or obscene gestures, to include the use of such language or gestures concerning a person’s race, ethnicity, color, gender, religion, creed, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or national origin; or to instigate, incite or encourage a confrontation or physical assault

HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Buy tickets at the following:  - Ticketmaster.com - Ticketmaster App on your mobile device - The Pinnacle Bank Arena Ticket Office is open on Tuesdays from 11AM-3PM and 1 hour prior to doors opening on event day. If you have further questions, please call the Ticket Office at 402.904.5600 or email  [email protected] .    

TICKET DELIVERY : Pinnacle Bank Arena tickets purchased online will be mobile delivery.

MOBILE TICKETS : Your mobile phone is your ticket. Your tickets  will not  be available for print or emailed to you. To access your ticket(s):  Download the Ticketmaster App or visit Ticketmaster.com on your mobile phone; log in to your Ticketmaster account and locate the order with your tickets; tap and show at the entrance into the event. Your phone will be scanned for entry and you’re in! 

View Step-by-Step Instructions: How To Access Your Mobile Tickets Apple/IOS App -  View Here Android App -  View Here Mobile Web -  View Here Mobile Entry Is Easy We recommend viewing your Mobile Entry tickets prior to arriving at your event. The Ticketmaster App will save your ticket(s) and will allow you to view them in the event, even if you lose internet access. See Example  Here . If you're using the Ticketmaster mobile internet site instead of the Ticketmaster App, you will also be given the option to save your tickets if viewed prior to losing internet connection. 

HELPFUL HINT :  Prior to the public on sale, please go NOW to Ticketmaster.com or log into the Ticketmaster App on your mobile device to create an account or refresh your existing Ticketmaster account for a quicker purchasing experience. You can also add your ticket(s) to your phone’s “wallet.” Be sure your mobile phone has a fully charged battery.

NEED HELP WITH AN EXISTING ORDER Need help  with an existing  Ticketmaster order, please visit help.ticketmaster.com for answers to frequently asked questions. If you require further assistance, sign into your Ticketmaster.com account and click “contact us” to send an email to Ticketmaster.com.

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

For information on accessible seating and ticketing, click  here  to view our Accessibility page. For special accommodations, please contact Barbara Wilhide at 402.904.5599 or email  [email protected]

pbr velocity tour 2024

Home of the Western Lifestyle

PBR Announces 2024 Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Schedule

pbr velocity tour 2024

By: Kacie Albert

pbr velocity tour 2024

PUEBLO, Colo. – The PBR (Professional Bull Riders) today announced its 2024 competition schedule for the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour, set to bring some of bull riding’s preeminent talents to 30 cities across 20 states, headlined by a historic 11 double-up event weekends.

The announcement comes on the spurs of one of the organization’s most dynamic individual seasons in 2023, as the PBR Velocity Tour broke and reset numerous attendance and competition records en-route to its most successful season to date.

In 2023, the expansion Velocity Tour hosted more than 289,000 fans, setting 21 event attendance records, while selling out 17 events.

On the dirt, Josh Frost (Randlett, Utah) was crowned the 2023 PBR Velocity Tour Champion, concluding the season 113.5 points ahead of runner-up Claudio Montanha Jr. (Ribeirao dos Indios, Brazil). The two battled it out until the final outs of the season at the tour’s Finals. Frost was crowned the Velocity Tour Champion just days before being selected by the Carolina Cowboys with the second overall pick in the 2023 PBR Teams Draft.

Throughout the upcoming five-month 2024 season, the Velocity Tour will hold 29 regular-season events, headlined by 11 double-up event weekends, including the tour’s season-launch weekend when it will hold events in Lexington, Kentucky (Jan. 5-6|Rupp Arena), and Portland, Oregon (Jan. 6|Moda Center).

Following the series’ opening weekend, the Velocity Tour will return to the iconic National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado, holding one of its two three-day events, and lone mid-week tour stop, Jan. 8-10.

To conclude the intense slate of January events, the Velocity Tour will host three consecutive double-up shows, traveling to Charleston, West Virginia (Jan. 12-13|Charleston Coliseum), and Spokane, Washington (Jan. 13|Spokane Arena), concurrently, followed by simultaneous events in Reno, Nevada (Jan. 19-20|Reno Events Center), and Grand Rapids, Michigan (Jan. 19-20|Van Andel Arena), and synchronized tour stops in Laredo, Texas (Jan 26-27|Sames Auto Arena), and Greenville, South Carolina (Jan. 26-27|Bon Secours Wellness Arena).

Throughout February, the Velocity Tour will bring events to eight cities across as many states, including South Carolina, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and Massachusetts.

During the campaign, the Velocity Tour’s reach will be on full display as it holds events more than 2,500 miles apart, visiting North Charleston, South Carolina, at North Charleston Coliseum on Feb. 2-3 and Bakersfield, California, at Mechanics Bank Arena on Feb. 3.

To kick off its March campaign, the tour will debut in Bridgeport, Connecticut, at Total Mortgage Arena. Across all levels of PBR competition, the Touring Pro Division has held four events in the city, last travelling to Bridgeport in 2011.

As the month continues, Bangor, Maine, will host the second three-day event of the 2024 season on March 8-10.

The March slate of events will also include a return to Palm Springs, California, at Acrisure Arena on March 15-16. The Velocity Tour debuted in Palm Springs in 2023 to much fanfare, selling out both performances of the two-day event.

In the final month of the season, the Velocity Tour will traverse the Western United States, visiting Fresno, California (April 5-6|Save Mart Center), Eugene, Oregon (April 12-13|Matthew Knight Arena), and Wichita, Kansas (April 20|INTRUST Bank Arena), before Grand Forks, North Dakota and Alerus Center host the regular-season finale on April 27.

For the third consecutive year, the prestigious PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals will be held in Corpus Christi, Texas, launching the well-known Buc Days celebration. Riders will be vying for the title of 2024 PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Champion with five spots also on the line to qualify for the 2024 PBR World Finals.

DATE-CITY-VENUE

Jan. 5-6, 2024 Lexington, Kentucky Rupp Arena Jan. 6, 2024 Portland, Oregon Moda Center Jan. 8-10, 2024 Denver, Colorado National Western Stock Show Jan. 12-13, 2024 Charleston, West Virginia Charleston Coliseum Jan. 13, 2024 Spokane, Washington Spokane Arena Jan. 19-20, 2024 Reno, Nevada Reno Events Center Jan. 19-20, 2024 Grand Rapids, Michigan Van Andel Arena Jan. 26-27, 2024 Laredo, Texas Sames Auto Arena Jan. 26-27, 2024 Greenville, South Carolina Bon Secours Wellness Arena Feb. 2-3, 2024 North Charleston, S.C. North Charleston Coliseum Feb. 3, 2024 Bakersfield, California Mechanics Bank Arena Feb. 9-10, 2024 Cedar Park, Texas H-E-B Center Feb. 9-10, 2024 Reading, Pennsylvania Santander Arena Feb. 16-17, 2024 Youngstown, Ohio Covelli Centre Feb. 17, 2024 Memphis, Tennessee FedExForum Feb. 23-24, 2024 Hampton, Virginia Hampton Coliseum Feb. 24-25, 2024 Worcester, Massachusetts DCU Center March 1-2, 2024 Bridgeport, Connecticut Total Mortgage Arena March 2, 2024 Knoxville, Tennessee Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center March 8-10, 2024 Bangor, Maine Cross Insurance Center March 15-16, 2024 Palm Springs, California Acrisure Arena March 15-16, 2024 Wheeling, West Virginia WesBanco Arena March 22-23, 2024 Dayton, Ohio Nutter Center March 23, 2024 Lincoln, Nebraska Pinnacle Bank Arena March 30, 2024 Oakland, California Oakland Arena April 5-6, 2024 Fresno, California Save Mart Center April 12-13, 2024 Eugene, Oregon Matthew Knight Arena April 20, 2024 Wichita, Kansas INTRUST Bank Arena April 27, 2024 Grand Forks, North Dakota Alerus Center *May 3-4, 2024 Corpus Christi, Texas American Bank Center

* 2024 PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals

For more information about the PBR and the 2024 PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour schedule, or to purchase tickets, visit PBR.com .

Stay tuned to PBR.com for the latest news and results and be sure to follow the sport on all social media platforms at @PBR.

Photo courtesy of Andre Silva/Bull Stock Media

© 2023 PBR Inc. All rights reserved.

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pbr velocity tour 2024

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The PBR’s Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT) began in 2014 as the premier expansion tour for the PBR. The Velocity Tour, the sport’s fastest-growing tour, brings the excitement and top-levels of cowboy and bovine talent that fans have come to expect from the sport to cities across the United States. The PWVT is proudly supported by Pendleton Whisky, Boot Barn, Cooper Tires, Rank 45, South Point Hotel & Casino, Tractor Supply, Kubota, the United States Border Patrol, Zip Recruiter and GovX. Every Velocity Tour event is carried on PBR RidePass on Pluto TV, PBR’s flagship digital network.

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Pbr announces 2024 pendleton whisky velocity tour schedule, including a stop at acrisure arena.

Posted on August 30, 2023

PBR Image

Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour again charters action-packed season, including 11 weekends with simultaneous tour stops

The PBR (Professional Bull Riders) today announced its 2024 competition schedule for the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour, set to bring some of bull riding’s preeminent talents to 30 cities across 20 states, headlined by a historic 11 double-up event weekends.  The tour will make a stop at  Acrisure Arena  in Greater Palm Springs on March 15 and 16, 2024.   

The announcement comes on the spurs of one of the organization’s most dynamic individual seasons in 2023, as the PBR Velocity Tour broke and reset numerous attendance and competition records en-route to its most successful season to date.

In 2023, the expansion Velocity Tour hosted more than 289,000 fans, setting 21 event attendance records, while selling out 17 events.

On the dirt,  Josh Frost  (Randlett, Utah) was crowned the 2023 PBR Velocity Tour Champion, concluding the season 113.5 points ahead of runner-up  Claudio Montanha Jr.  (Ribeirao dos Indios, Brazil). The two battled it out until the final outs of the season at the tour’s Finals. Frost was crowned the Velocity Tour Champion just days before being selected by the Carolina Cowboys with the second overall pick in the 2023 PBR Teams Draft.

Throughout the upcoming five-month 2024 season, the Velocity Tour will hold 29 regular-season events, headlined by 11 double-up event weekends, including the tour’s season-launch weekend when it will hold events in Lexington, Kentucky (Jan. 5-6 | Rupp Arena) and Portland, Oregon (Jan. 6 | Moda Center).

Following the series’ opening weekend, the Velocity Tour will return to the iconic National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado, holding one of its two three-day events, and lone mid-week tour stop, Jan. 8-10.

To conclude the intense slate of January events, the Velocity Tour will host three consecutive double-up shows, traveling to Charleston, West Virginia (Jan. 12-13 | Charleston Coliseum) and Spokane, Washington (Jan. 13 | Spokane Arena) concurrently, followed by simultaneous events in Reno, Nevada (Jan. 19-20 | Reno Events Center) and Grand Rapids, Michigan (Jan. 19-20 | Van Andel Arena), and synchronized tour stops in Laredo, Texas (Sames Auto Arena| Jan 26-27) and Greenville, South Carolina (Jan. 26-27 | Bon Secours Wellness Arena).

Throughout February, the Velocity Tour will bring events to eight cities across as many states including South Carolina, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and Massachusetts.

During the campaign, the Velocity Tour’s reach will be on full display as it holds events more than 2,500 miles apart, visiting North Charleston, South Carolina at North Charleston Coliseum on Feb. 2-3, and Bakersfield, California at Mechanics Bank Arena on Feb. 3.  

To kick off its March campaign, the tour will debut in Bridgeport, Connecticut at Total Mortgage Arena. Across all levels of PBR competition, the Touring Pro Division has held four events in the city, last travelling to Bridgeport in 2011.

As the month continues, Bangor, Maine, will host the second three-day event of the 2024 season on March 8-10.

The March slate of events will also include a return to Palm Springs, California at Acrisure Arena on March 15-16. The Velocity Tour debuted in Palm Springs in 2023 to much fanfare, selling out both performances of the two-day event. 

In the final month of the season, The Velocity Tour will traverse the Western United States, visiting Fresno, California (April 5-6 | Save Mart Center), Eugene, Oregon (April 12-13 | Matthew Knight Arena) and Wichita, Kansas (April 20 | INTRUST Bank Arena), before Grand Forks, North Dakota and Alerus Center hosts the regular-season finale on April 27.

For the third consecutive year, the prestigious PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals will be held in Corpus Christi, Texas, launching the well-known Buc Days celebration. Riders will be vying for the title of 2024 PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Champion with five spots also on the line to qualify for the 2024 PBR World Finals.

For more information about the PBR and the 2024 PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour schedule, or to purchase tickets, visit  PBR.com .   

Stay tuned to PBR.com for the latest news and results and be sure to follow the sport on all social media platforms at @PBR.

About the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour:

The PBR’s Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT) began in 2014 as the premier expansion tour for the PBR. The Velocity Tour, the sport’s fastest-growing tour, brings the excitement and top-levels of cowboy and bovine talent that fans have come to expect from the sport to cities across the United States. The PWVT is proudly supported by Pendleton Whisky, Boot Barn, Cooper Tires, Rank 45, South Point Hotel & Casino, Tractor Supply, Kubota, the United States Border Patrol, Zip Recruiter and GovX. Every Velocity Tour event is carried on PBR RidePass on Pluto TV, PBR’s flagship digital network.

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Is Mike Trout elite again? Two things Angels star has changed in 2024 and one thing that remains the same

Trout is off to a fantastic start, and we think we can explain why.

trout-usatsi.png

There used to be a rule of thumb among baseball writers that the season wasn't "real" until Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout led the majors in Wins Above Replacement. It never took him long to climb the leaderboard, but once he did -- and he always did --  you could feel more confident in analyzing individual performances. 

It's been a while since that guidepost was helpful. Trout's rash of injuries, plus former teammate Shohei Ohtani's historic brilliance, has made the latter more befitting of being the standard bearer. Despite what you might be expecting us to write next, Trout is not actually atop the leaderboard right now. He is pretty close though, sitting sixth on FanGraphs and tied for eighth on Baseball Reference . That's a result of him batting .290/.362/.710 (202 OPS+) with seven home runs and 10 RBI over his first 16 games.

Mike Trout with a two-run homer to left and the #Angels take a 2-1 lead in the eighth inning. It's his seventh of the year. pic.twitter.com/C0tVNjfMPw — Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) April 16, 2024

With that in mind, we decided this would be the opportune time to dig in on Trout. What we found is that two notable things have changed about his game while one has remained the same. Scroll slowly with us while we reveal all, won't you?

1. Improved contact rate

Last August, we observed that Trout had made a philosophical shift to his game by prioritizing slugging over contact . Not only was he whiffing more frequently, he was pulling the ball more often. It wasn't too surprising of a development: the all-or-nothing approach to hitting has become MLB's house style.

If Trout's season to date is any indication, that might be changing.

Trout has significantly improved his contact rate, connecting so far on more than 83% of his swings. That would represent a new career-best figure if he's able to maintain it over the rest of the season. Additionally, he's nearly halved his overall whiff rate from last year. He's also improved his contact rate on two-strike pitches, lifting it from 65.5% to 80.7%. Trout, in turn, has seen his strikeout rate dip from 28.7% to 18.8%.

Observant readers might be thinking to themselves that this all sounds a bit like what Cody Bellinger did last year, when he authored his finest season in ages. That comparison works in another respect, too.

2. Different exit velocity

Part of what made Bellinger such a polarizing free agent was the effect his contact-heavy approach had on his exit velocity. Simply put, he wasn't hitting the ball with the force you would expect from someone who once launched 47 home runs.

Trout is following a similar pattern. His average exit velocity is down more than 2 mph in 2024 and his hard-hit percentage (that is, the share of batted balls with a 95 mph exit velocity or greater) has declined from 51.9% to 36.7%. That's the difference between being in the top 5% of the league or being around the league-average mark.

deep in his bag like a grandma with a peppermint 👝 #RepTheHalo pic.twitter.com/P6s9D33hwj — Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) April 10, 2024

Intuitively, it tracks that a heightened emphasis on making contact would result in a lower average exit velocity; you're probably employing your B-hack more often, resulting in more squibblers, flares, and dumps. 

The difference between Trout and Bellinger is that Trout is still showing top-end power. He's already clobbered two balls over 110 mph, including one that clocked in over 113 mph; Bellinger's peak last season was 109.2 mph. 

That's part of why, if we had to guess, we suspect Trout will see his aforementioned hard-hit percentage improve over the coming weeks. There's simply too much strength in his swing for him to be hitting the ball hard at a league-average rate.

As for that part of Trout's game that hasn't changed ....

3. Disciplined approach

A few years ago, some coach told a reporter that he was showing heat maps of Trout's swing rate to a young hitter to educate them on making better decisions. We would love to share the specifics of that story, but Google was unhelpful in uncovering it. As such, you'll have to take our word for it. Besides, we don't know that the finer details matter here: we suspect many coaches have used Trout as the model.

Trout, as a rule, doesn't swing very often. When he does, he swings at strikes. And, when he's in an early count -- say fewer than two strikes -- he'll look for one pitch in one area. If he gets it, he'll unleash; if he doesn't, he'll bide his time. 

If you think about Trout's approach too much you'll become convinced hitting is that simple. Right, and Beethovan just tapped some keys.

Anyhow, Trout remains incredibly disciplined. He's sporting his lowest swing rate (42.3%) and chase rate (18.2%) since the 2021 season. His swing rate heat map in zero-strike counts hasn't achieved the same orderly look of those earlier in his career, when there was one neat little glowing area, but it still informs that he has a few favorite spots he likes to hunt and he otherwise doesn't bother:

export-4.png

Take Trout's vision (and we mean that in multiple senses) and combine it with a renewed focus on making contact (while maintaining displays of immense raw strength). What do you get? A white-hot start to the season that has us remembering that Trout still has it.

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  1. Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour

    Experience the thrill of bull riding and the stars of the PBR in a dynamic showcase of raw skill and established prowess. Find out how to purchase tickets, view the event calendar, and get real-time results and standings for the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour.

  2. Buy PBR: Velocity Tour Tickets

    Friday 07:30 PMFri 7:30 PM 5/3/24, 7:30 PM. Corpus Christi, TX American Bank Center Arena PBR: Velocity Tour. Find tickets 5/3/24, 7:30 PM. EXCLUSIVE | Ticketmaster now offers hotel deals! Save up to 57% off your stay when you bundle your ticket with a hotel. Promoted.

  3. Buy PBR: Velocity Tour Tickets

    Saturday 07:00 PMSat 7:00 PM 4/13/24, 7:00 PM. Eugene, OR Matthew Knight Arena PBR Two-Day Package Ticket Includes Access to all days. Find tickets 4/13/24, 7:00 PM. EXCLUSIVE | Ticketmaster now offers hotel deals! Save up to 57% off your stay when you bundle your ticket with a hotel.

  4. PBR: Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Tickets Apr 13, 2024 Lincoln, NE

    Availability and pricing are subject to change. Resale ticket prices may exceed face value. Learn More. Accept & Continue. Buy PBR: Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour tickets at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, NE for Apr 13, 2024 at Ticketmaster.

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  6. PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour

    For two nights only, some of the best bull riders in the world will battle the sport's rankest bovine athletes in the ultimate showdown of man vs. beast in one of the most exciting live sporting events to witness. The bull riding action for PBR Bridgeport begins with Round 1 at 8:00 p.m. ET on Friday, March 1, followed by Round 2 and the ...

  7. PBR: Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour

    April 13, 2024. The PBR's Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT) began in 2014 as the premier expansion tour for the PBR. The Velocity Tour, the sport's fastest-growing tour, brings the excitement and top-levels of cowboy and bovine talent that fans have come to expect from the sport to cities across the United States.

  8. PBR Announces 2024 Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Schedule

    By: Kacie Albert PUEBLO, Colo. - The PBR (Professional Bull Riders) today announced its 2024 competition schedule for the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour, set to bring some of bull riding's preeminent talents to 30 cities across 20 states, headlined by a historic 11 double-up event weekends. The announcement comes on the spurs of one of the organization's most dynamic individual seasons ...

  9. PBR: Velocity Tour Tickets Jan 06, 2024 Portland, OR

    Buy PBR: Velocity Tour tickets at the Moda Center in Portland, OR for Jan 06, 2024 at Ticketmaster.

  10. PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour

    Saturday, February 3, 2024 The PBR's Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT) began in 2014 as the premier expansion tour for the PBR. The Velocity Tour, the sport's fastest-growing tour, brings the excitement and top-levels of cowboy and bovine talent that fans have come to expect from the sport to cities across the United States.

  11. PBR: Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour 2024

    The Professional Bull Riders Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour is the top expansion series of the PBR. Featuring some of the best athletes of the sport going head-to-head with the fiercest bulls in the country. The PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour will bring all the high-energy sound, lighting, special effects and edge of your seat action that fans have come to expect from the World leader in ...

  12. PBR Velocity 2024 Schedule

    PBR Event Schedules. Premier Series. Velocity Tour. US Touring Pro Div. PBR Canada. PBR Team Series. << PBS Event Results. PBR Velocity Tour full event schedule with results - 2024 season.

  13. PBR Announces 2024 Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Schedule, Including a

    Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour again charters action-packed season, including 11 weekends with simultaneous tour stops. The PBR (Professional Bull Riders) today announced its 2024 competition schedule for the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour, set to bring some of bull riding's preeminent talents to 30 cities across 20 states, headlined by a historic 11 double-up event weekends.

  14. PBR Grand Forks

    Pendleton Whiskey Velocity Tour Apr 27, 2024 PBR Grand Forks Pendleton Whiskey Velocity Tour Buy Tickets. Date. Apr 27, 2024; Venue. Alerus Center; Event Starts. 7:00 PM; Availability. On Sale Now; Apr 27 / Saturday 7:00 PM Buy Tickets; facebook Follow.

  15. PBR: Velocity Tour Tickets

    PBR: Velocity Tour. Matthew Knight Arena · Eugene, OR. From $30. Find tickets from 51 dollars to PBR - Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour on Saturday April 20 at 7:00 pm at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, KS. Apr 20. Sat · 7:00pm. PBR - Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour. INTRUST Bank Arena · Wichita, KS.

  16. Is Mike Trout elite again? Two things Angels star has changed in 2024

    His average exit velocity is down more than 2 mph in 2024 and his hard-hit percentage (that is, the share of batted balls with a 95 mph exit velocity or greater) has declined from 51.9% to 36.7%.