KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour makes its eighth trip to Knoxville on April 18 for an action-packed night of man vs. bovine competition.
For one night only at Food City Center, 36 top riders will battle in the first round to be one of the top 10 riders to advance to the Championship Round on some of the fiercest bulls on the planet. After both rides the rider with the highest aggregate score will take home 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.
Michael Lane clinched the event title in 2025 with 166 points after both rides he attempted. Lane was the lone competitor to ride in the Championship Round for 85.5 points on Cash On Black.
Past winners of the event include Thiago Salgado (2024), Tye Chandler (2022), Joao Henrique Lucas (2020), Dylan Smith (2019), Ryan Miller (2018).
Food City Center lies in the heart of the University of Tennessee’s campus where Volunteers and Lady Volunteers play their basketball and volleyball home games and matches. Other PBR stops on college campuses through all series have included Canvas Stadium at Colorado State and Moody Center at the University of Texas and will include Doak Campbell Stadium at Florida State later this season.
The one-day event at Food City Center featuring riders determined to punch their ticket to the PWVT Finals in May 2026 begins on Saturday, April 18 at 7 p.m. ET. Visit 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 Food City Center 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 Food City Center 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 day 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, PBR Knoxville is an event that will keep everyone on the edge of their seat.
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, Kubota, the United States Border Patrol, Silencer Shop, Camping World, Wal Mart Health and Wellness, Anheuser Busch, Beatbox Wine and GovX. Every Velocity Tour event is carried on PBR RidePass on Pluto TV, PBR’s flagship digital network.
PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour
