OKEECHOBEE — For the first time in Professional Bull Riders (PBR) history, the PBR Unleash The Beast tour will visit Okeechobee at the end of this month. The event will feature the top 30 bull riders in the world who will take on the some of the toughest bulls in rodeo. Riders are hoping to earn early season points in the race to the 2021 PBR World Championship, where the winner earns a gold buckle and a $1 million bonus.

The Okeechobee rodeo is part of the PBR’s American Roots Edition. Instead of holding events in large venues like Madison Square Garden, this series takes rodeo back to its roots at rodeo venues across the Southern United States.

The first stop in these early season events will be in Ocala, on Jan. 16-17. The second stop in Arcadia on Jan. 23-24. The PBR Okeechobee Invitational is planned for Jan. 30-31 at the Okeechobee Agri-Civic Center, starting at 2 p.m. each day.

The PBR Okeechobee Invitational will follow all local and state health protocols. PBR, along with the Agri-Civic Center, will also enforce safety protocols including:

• In addition to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-informed screening, all PBR personnel will undergo medical testing for COVID-19 and be required to wear masks.
• PBR will only sell up to 50% of arena capacity to separate fans. To further promote social distancing, fans will only be able to sit in every other row, with seating limited in each open row.
• Social distancing will be encouraged at the concession stands, restrooms and merchandise stands.

PBR is the world’s premier bull riding organization. More than 500 bull riders compete in more than 200 events annually across the televised PBR Unleash the Beast Tour (UTB), which features the Top 35 bull riders in the world; the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT); the PBR Touring Pro Division (TPD); and the PBR’s international circuits in Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico.

The Okeechobee rodeo will be televised, said Matt Dorriety, manager of the Okeechobee Agri-Civic Center.

Tickets for the rodeos are on sale now through PBRTIX.com or by calling 800-732-1727.