Professional Bull Riders (PBR), the first major North American sport to return to competition in 2020 following the Covid-19 shutdown, will begin the 2021 season with back-to-back events at historic outdoor rodeo venues in Arizona.

The elite Unleash The Beast (UTB) tour will start the new season by visiting iconic outdoor rodeo venues across the southern United States, beginning with the Tucson Rodeo Grounds on Jan. 9-10 and the legendary Payson Rodeo Grounds on Jan. 16-17.

PBR’s first-ever visit to Payson will bring the world’s top 35 riders and the best bovine athletes face to face in the arena for the PBR Payson Invitational, starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16. The Payson Rodeo Grounds, which hosts one of the oldest annual rodeos in the world – it began in 1884 - will then play host to Round 2 and the championship round at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17.

At each event, riders will have their shot at one bull apiece during Rounds 1 and 2, with the championship round featuring the top 15 aggregate scorers and a chance at the event title.

Tickets for both the PBR Tucson Invitational and the PBR Payson Invitational are on sale now and start at $50 for ages 13 and up; tickets for ages 5-12 start at $15, and children up to 5 years old will be given entry for free. Tickets can be purchased online at PBRTIX.com or by phone at 1-800-732-1727. As a part of PBR’s industry-leading safety protocols, fans will be socially distanced to minimize crossover and interaction between fan groups.

For an enhanced PBR experience, fans can now purchase PBR Premium Experiences, which provide a behind-the-chutes look into the toughest sport on dirt.