YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) comes back to Youngstown for the third consecutive season, and eighth time in PBR history, Feb. 27-28, 2026 in the Covelli Centre.
The two-day event at Covelli Centre features 40 top riders who will battle it out over two rounds on some of the fiercest bulls on the planet. After two rounds, the top 10 riders with the highest aggregate scores ride for a chance at the event title.
All riders will battle for crucial Velocity points, which contribute to the Velocity Global Standings and determine who qualifies for the season-ending Velocity Tour Finals in Corpus Christi, Texas the first week of May 2026. In addition to a place in the VT Championship, the Top 3 Velocity Finals riders not already qualified for PBR World Finals earn the right to compete at the World Championship event the second week in May 2026.
João Lucas Campos, a star in the separate PBR Teams Series for the Florida Freedom, earned the Youngstown event buckle in 2025 with an aggregate score of 177 over two rounds and the Championship Round. Ethan Winckler finished runner-up with 173.5 points. Dawson Branton tallied 255 points when the event returned during the 2024 season.
The two-day event at Covelli Centre featuring riders determined to punch their ticket to the PWVT Finals in May 2026 begins on Friday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. ET and Saturday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. ET. Stay tuned to PBR.com for the full 2026 Velocity Tour schedule announcement along with the latest news and results. Be sure to follow the sport on all social media platforms at @PBR.
Tickets can be purchased:
• At the Covelli Centre Box Office
• Online at Ticketmaster.com and PBR.com
• PBRewards Members can also call PBRDirect at 800-732-1727 or purchase via PBR.com
EVENT FAST FACTS
• 750 tons of dirt (1.5 million pounds) are brought in to transform Covelli Centre into a bull-riding mecca.
• The dirt is a special clay-sand blend establishing a firm enough surface for the bulls to buck hard but soft enough so that every rider is not injured when thrown like a rag doll.
• It takes 7 semi-trucks to haul in the equipment for the event.
• A crew of about 30 works around the clock to prepare the venue.
• Over 50 of the rankest bucking bulls on the planet will be on site.
• PBR bulls are remarkable animal athletes born to buck. Each is a member of a special breed: The American Bucking Bull.
• By virtue of competing in PBR, they get the best food and care, avoiding a very brief career in the meat packing industry.
• The average PBR bull weighs 1,800 pounds.
• The average bull rider? Just 140 lbs.
Don’t miss this action-packed weekend where man and beast collide in one of the most electrifying shows in sports, the only sport showcasing a lightweight taking on a heavyweight. Whether a seasoned PBR fan or new to the scene, Busch Light PBR Youngstown is an event that will keep everyone on the edge of their seat.
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media