The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) have postponed and/or canceled upcoming events in light of global health concerns regarding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
PBR CEO Sean Gleason wrote a letter to fans confirming the organization canceled the Unleash The Beat Glendale Invitational in Arizona this weekend, originally scheduled for March 21-22. The Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour events scheduled for Wheeling, West Virginia, and Fresno, Calif., have also been postponed.
"We encourage fans to hold onto your tickets, which will be honored for the rescheduled events once new dates are set," Gleason said in the letter.
The PBR also canceled the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour event that was scheduled for April 17 in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and postponed its plan to bring made-for-TV events to the Colorado State Fairgrounds.
The PBR's Unleash The Beast Tour is scheduled to invade Billings for the 24th consecutive year, April 17-19, the longest-running stop, despite the Magic City being the smallest city on the tour. No decision had been made regarding the Billings Invitational as of Tuesday morning.
MTN Sports chatted with PBR arena entertainer Flint Rasmussen on Monday about the ever-changing schedules.
"I would love to tell everybody, 'Oh yeah, we're a month away, Billings is happening,'" Rasmussen told MTN Sports. "I don't know. I didn't know if I was going to get to buy bread in Alberston's today."
"We are eager to bring back the sport you love, but of course the health and safety of everyone involved in our events remains our top priority," Gleason continued in his letter. "We will continue to take guidance from the government, as well as the CDC and WHO, as the situation evolves. We will make additional announcements as more information becomes available."
