WITH the debut of the Professional Bull Riders Cairns Invitational still three months away, pre-ticket sale trends are showing the event is well on its way to achieving a full capacity come Saturday July 5 at the Cairns Convention Centre.
PBR General Manger, Glen Young said it was the first time the PBR has ventured into Cairns with one of their events.
“We have earmarked this location for quite a few years now and it has just been a matter of timing to get the right venue date to fit in with our existing Brendon Clark Invitational in Newcastle and National Finals event at Allphones Arena, which are on the following consecutive weekends,” Mr Young said.
“In addition to that, the set-up and dismantle process we have to do in the Cairns Convention Centre is quite a bit different when compared to the other indoor venues we play, however with the way ticket sales are going in this early stage it will all be worthwhile with the extra work load required to fit our event into this venue,” he said.
The Cairns Convention Centre will be a prime venue to showcase the PBR with every seat in the house offering not only great viewing positions but will also deliver a bull riding atmosphere like no other as 22 riders made up of the nation’s best as well as invited Internationals get ready to do battle against Queensland’s most extreme bucking bulls.
PBR’s Cup Series events are renowned for delivering an entertaining bull riding experience like no other, not only will fans get to witness major league match ups between man and best but also a fully inclusive theatrical experience that will include lasers, pyrotechnics, mega screen, instant replays and camera angles that will take the fans behind the scenes and inside the bucking chutes as riders prepare for their rides.
Australian riders still have five qualifying events to make the cut to qualify for the July 5 event, however there has been quite a bit of interest amongst the international riders with Mexican Champions, Gustavo Pedrero and Francisco Morales already confirmed to compete and the remaining internationals being confirmed in coming weeks. Both these riders have tasted success in the Australian Cup Series last year with Pedrero winning the 2013 Brendon Clark Invitational and Morales qualifying for the Championship Rounds in the 2013 Brisbane, Newcastle and Sydney events where he had top five finishes.
Even though there will be strong contingent of International Riders, it will be the Australian riders who will be home town favourites with many returning from overseas competitions this past week in order to qualify for the July Cup Series.
With so many riders in form and no clear leader for our Australian Title, which will be decided in Sydney’s Allphones Arena 2 weeks after Cairns, one thing fans can be assured of is that this is going to be one very tough competition with former PBR World Champion, Troy Dunn hand picking each and every bull in this competition combined with being the final stages leading into the finals, riders will be giving it their all to do well.
Cairns will be the first of three Cup Series events being staged in July with Newcastle on the following weekend, followed by the PBR National Finals at Allphones Arena in Sydney on July 19.
The number one ranked rider in the national standings will receive automatic qualification into the PBR World Finals, which is the richest bull riding event in the world with a total purse of more than $2 million up for grabs.
Tickets are now on sale through Ticket Link agencies, www.ticketlink.com.au or dial n charge on 1300 855 835.