The Toughest Sport on Dirt is pleased to present Kansas City’s most stunning new bar. Everyone is invited to the official grand opening of the PBR Big Sky – a brand new cowboy bar located in the Kansas City Power and Light District – this Thursday at 8 p.m.

“We are very excited to open the first of many bars to come,” said Randy Bernard, CEO of the Professional Bull Riders.

Thursday night will feature a performance by Justin McBride, who will perform songs from his debut album “Don’t Let Go.” Fellow bull riders Luke Snyder, Matt Bohon, Sean Willingham, and J.B. Mauney will also travel to Kansas City for the grand opening (before heading over to Omaha, Neb., for this weekend’s Build Ford Tough Series event).

Following a capacity-crowd private party last month, PBR Big Sky – located at 111 E. 13th Street – was described as “cowboy cool meets urban chic.”

“The bar has a great feel to it,” said Sean Gleason, CMO of the Professional Bull Riders. “When you walk in the door the overall atmosphere sets the tone for a fun time in a surrounding that features great PBR memorabilia and thematic elements.”

The PBR was introduced to bar-owner The Cordish Co. by Jonathan Fine, a PBR friend and business partner who owns nightclubs and other interests in Las Vegas.

Cordish is widely regarded as an exceptional real estate developer with a great business model, and represents some of the top brands in the retail dining and nightclub industry.

“They are the type of reputable, forward-thinking partner that PBR looks for when we choose to license our brand name to products or services," Gleason said.

PBR Big Sky bar is one of several major tenants that make up a $850 million, 8-block development.

Both Bernard and Gleason also made special note of its heartland locale, large base of support and a very successful event in Kansas City in choosing this as what they hope will be the first of many nightclub establishments.

“The PBR’s popularity and growth continues to grow,” Bernard said, “and this is just proof. We believe that the PBR is only at a third of where we can go. It’s important that we stay focused and deliver the most competitive professional bull riding in the world.”

“The bar and location are a perfect fit with PBR’s brand image,” added Gleason. “It has a western lifestyle theme, but the attention to detail and quality finishes give it a sense of class that you just don’t find in other establishments.”

Go ahead and grab the bull by the horns and head down to the PBR Big Sky.

For more information, please log onto www.pbrnow.com/bigsky or www.myspace.com/pbrbigskykc.