In the heart of Sin City, where the neon lights flicker like a bull’s wild eyes and the air crackles with anticipation, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Camping World Team Series Championship returns to crown its fourth champion. Set for October 24-26, 2025, at the state-of-the-art T-Mobile Arena, this year’s event marks a thrilling evolution: For the first time, all 10 teams from across the nation will clash in a progressive elimination tournament, turning the arena into a coliseum of chaos and camaraderie. As Las Vegas – the Entertainment Capital of the World – hosts this adrenaline-fueled finale, fans aren’t just spectators; they’re part of a spectacle that blends the raw grit of bull riding with the glitz of the Strip. With over 20,000 seats vibrating under the thunder of hooves and cheers, the 2025 Championship promises to be the most explosive yet, drawing rodeo enthusiasts, families, and newcomers alike to witness eight seconds of pure, unbridled glory.
For those eyeing a trip to Vegas, this isn’t your average rodeo. It’s a high-stakes showdown where strategy meets savagery, and every ride could rewrite history. Single-day tickets start at $25, with three-day passes offering the full immersion – think VIP packages loaded with behind-the-scenes access, commemorative gear, and premium seating for up to $1,500. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with shows kicking off at 7:45 p.m., and Sunday’s finale at 1:45 p.m. sharp. Pro tip: Book early via Ticketmaster or the T-Mobile Arena box office, as resale prices can spike faster than a rank bull. And don’t forget the pre-event buzz – the PBR Challenger Series Championship rolls into South Point Arena on October 22-23, giving up-and-comers a shot at glory just blocks away. Whether you’re a die-hard fan chasing the belt buckle or a first-timer lured by the Vegas vibe, here’s your ultimate guide to the 2025 PBR Team Series Championship: its roots, the riders, last year’s fireworks, and everything you need to saddle up for an unforgettable weekend.
The Evolution of Team Bull Riding: From Solo Thrills to Squad Showdowns
The PBR Team Series didn’t just appear out of the chutes – it bucked off from a rich history of innovation in a sport that’s always been about the lone cowboy versus the beast. Founded in 1992 by 21-year-old visionary Sean Gleason and a cadre of top riders, the PBR transformed bull riding from a rodeo sideshow into a global powerhouse, sanctioning hundreds of events and drawing millions of viewers. By the early 2010s, with stars like J.B. Mauney and Silvano Alves dominating the individual Unleash The Beast tour, PBR sought to inject team dynamics – think NBA meets the Wild West – to broaden appeal and create new earning paths for riders.
The spark ignited in 2017 with the PBR Global Cup, a nation-vs.-nation format that pitted American talent against international foes in cities like Edmonton and Sydney. It was electric: Fans roared for their homeland, and riders fed off the collective energy. Building on that, PBR tested team concepts through charity events like “Cowboys for a Cause” aboard the USS Lexington in 2020-2021, where squads raised funds while slinging spurs. These pilots proved the format’s magic – heightened passion, strategic depth, and an atmosphere that turned casual viewers into superfans.
Enter the PBR Team Series, launched in June 2022 as a revolutionary complement to the individual tour. What was once a solitary grind became a league of eight (now 10) city-based teams, each with a head coach, protected roster, and reserve riders, competing in 5-on-5 head-to-head games. The rules stay true to PBR’s core: Hold the rope for eight seconds without touching the bull or ground with your free hand, earning points from 0-100 split between rider and bull scores. But now, it’s chess on dirt – coaches pair riders to bulls drawn from balanced pens, aiming for cumulative team scores. A regular-season win nets points toward seeding, with bonus rounds rewarding hot streaks.
The format exploded: Seasons run 12-13 events, blending homestands (three-day team-hosted showdowns) and neutral-site battles, culminating in a Las Vegas championship since day one. Expansion hit in 2024, adding the New York Mavericks and Oklahoma Wildcatters, swelling the league to 10 squads and 35 regular-season games per team – up from 28. Prize purses? A cool $1.225 million for the championship alone, plus $100,000 for the MVP (based on qualified rides). Today, with broadcasts on CBS Sports Network, The CW, and streaming via PBR’s app and RidePass on Pluto TV, the Team Series has logged over 1,000 hours of coverage since inception, turning bull riding into a team sport for the ages.
Meet the Mavericks: The 10 Teams Gunning for Gold in 2025
The 2025 PBR Team Series features 10 powerhouse squads, each repping a city with flair – from desert grit to urban swagger. Rosters blend veterans, rookies from the annual May draft, and international talent, with head coaches like legends J.B. Mauney (Oklahoma Wildcatters) calling the shots. The May 20, 2025, New Rider Draft in Austin injected fresh blood: Arizona snagged No. 1 pick Jhon Carlos Moreira, a Brazilian phenom hot off the combine. Here’s the lineup of contenders, seeded loosely by 2024 finishes (final 2025 standings pending the regular season, July-October).
Arizona Ridge Riders (Glendale, AZ – Head Coach: Cody Lambert): Desert warriors inspired by Southwest pioneers. Key riders: Luciano de Castro (No. 18 UTB), Keyshawn Whitehorse (explosive Native American talent), and Moreira’s rookie fire. They boast four Top-40 UTB riders, eyeing their first title after a gritty 2024.
Austin Gamblers (Austin, TX – Head Coach: Michael Gaffney): Defending champs (2024) with a calculated edge. Jose Vitor Leme (two-time MVP, 2022-23 World Champ) leads Dalton Kasel (No. 1 UTB), Sage Steele Kimzey, Kaique Pacheco, and Paulo Henrique da Silva. Six Top-22 UTB riders make them favorites for back-to-back glory.
Carolina Cowboys (Greensboro, NC – Head Coach: Ross Coleman): Southern pride personified, regular-season dominators in 2024. Daylon Swearingen (2022 World Champ), Ky Hamilton, and five Eliminations invitees like Vinicius Pinheiro Correa form a deep bench primed for playoffs.
Florida Freedom (Davie, FL – Head Coach: Rob Litoff): Sunshine State speed demons, 2024 MVP John Crimber’s squad. Crimber (No. 1 draft pick ’24), Alex Cerqueira, Thiago Salgado, and three Top-40s like Ramon de Lima promise walk-off wins.
Kansas City Outlaws (Kansas City, MO – Head Coach: Kyle Long): Rebellious underdogs with Sandro Batista (2024 MVP No. 3) and Koltin Hevalow. Despite 2024 semis heartbreak, their Top-10 depth (minus injured Cassio Dias) screams redemption.
Missouri Thunder (Ridgedale, MO – Head Coach: Paige Krauter): Ozark thunder, fresh off a 2024 venue switch. Paulo Eduardo Rossetto, Andrew Alvidrez, and rising stars like Ramon de Lima bring balanced firepower.
Nashville Stampede (Nashville, TN – Head Coach: Justin McBride): 2022’s worst-to-first miracle workers, hungry for No. 2. Sage Steele Kimzey (traded in?), Austin Richardson (No. 15 UTB), Alan de Souza, and Anderson de Oliveira form a veteran core with young gun Coy Loud.
New York Mavericks (New York, NY – Head Coach: Adriano Moraes): Big Apple bold, 2024 expansion darlings. No. 2 draft pick fuels a roster with Kaique Pacheco and international flair – expect street-smart strategies.
Oklahoma Wildcatters (Oklahoma City, OK – Head Coach: J.B. Mauney): Frontier risk-takers, led by No. 2 pick Clay Guiton, Josh Frost, and Kyler Oliver. Mauney’s coaching wizardry could spark an upset run.
Texas Rattlers (Fort Worth, TX – Head Coach: Aaron Roy): 2023 champs, Texas tough. Brady Fielder, Joao Ricardo Vieira (traded vet), Daniel Keeping, and four Top-40s like Joao Vieira make them perennial threats.
These teams aren’t just rosters – they’re families forged in dust, with trades, drafts, and injuries adding soap-opera drama. As the regular season unfolds (kicking off July 11-13 in OKC), rivalries will simmer, setting the stage for Vegas fireworks.
2024 Rewind: Upsets, MVPs, and a Gamblers’ Glory
Last year’s Championship at T-Mobile Arena (Oct. 18-20) was a masterclass in mayhem, proving the Team Series’ magic: Underdogs rise, stars shine, and no lead is safe. The inaugural Ride-In Round at South Point weeded out the weak: No. 7 Nashville edged No. 10 Arizona 357.5-325.25, while No. 8 Oklahoma stunned No. 9 Missouri 412.5-402.5, earning their T-Mobile tickets.
Friday’s Wild Card whittled 10 to eight: Top-seed Kansas City dispatched Oklahoma 432-389.75; Carolina ousted Nashville 421.5-399.25; Florida walked off vs. Texas 406.25-400; and No. 5 Austin – the Cinderella story – upset No. 4 New York 415.75-392.25. Saturday semis were brutal: Austin’s perfect 5-for-5 (led by Leme’s 88.5 on Tijuana Two-Step) shocked Kansas City 432.75-357.5 – the tourney’s only buckoff sweep. Carolina edged Florida 421.25-410.5 on Crimber’s heroics.
The Championship Game? A 432.75-357.5 nail-biter where Austin’s Leme (91.75 on Mike’s Motive) and Kaique Pacheco sealed the deal against Carolina. Crimber earned MVP with 19 qualified rides; Claudio Montanha Jr. took Challenger honors at South Point. Highlights? Dias’ 91.25 for KC; a record 98.25 ride by Cássio Dias earlier in ’24. It was grit over glamour, setting a high bar for 2025.
Championship Breakdown: Three Days of Dirt, Drama, and Decibels
The 2025 Championship scraps the Ride-In Round – all 10 teams enter T-Mobile’s dirt arena for a pure elimination frenzy. Friday (7:45 p.m.): Five head-to-head games cut the field to eight, with top-three seeds (TBD post-regular season) getting byes. Expect shootouts like Austin vs. Texas rematches.
Saturday (6:45 p.m.): Quarterfinals whittle to four – bracket matchups based on seeding, where a single game loss sends you packing. Coaches’ bull picks become chess moves; crowds chant team anthems.
Sunday (1:45 p.m.): Semis, third-place duel, and finale – four teams battle for gold, silver, and bronze. The championship game crowns the victor with a $1M+ purse and eternal bragging rights. Between rounds: Live music (rumored Kaleb Austin sets), rider meet-and-greets, and ABBI Bull Finals. Broadcast on CBS Sports Network, with streaming on PBR+.
Saddle Up for Sin City: Your Guide to Attending the Thrill Ride
Planning your Vegas invasion? T-Mobile Arena (3780 Las Vegas Blvd S) sits mid-Strip, steps from Park MGM and New York-New York – walkable to fountains, 5-10 minutes to Bellagio or MGM Grand. Fly into Harry Reid International (10 miles away); rideshares run $20-30. Hotels? MGM Resorts packages bundle tickets with rooms from $200/night; South Point’s $1,009 deal includes transport and club seats. No bags over clutches; ADA seating available.
Enhance with VIP: Legends Lounge meet 3x champ Adriano Moraes; Elite Seats for dirt photos and swag. Off-arena: Hit the Strip’s rodeo-themed bars, catch a Cirque show, or RV at Vegas Motorcoach Park for tailgates with live tunes. October’s mild 70s weather? Perfect for poolside pre-games. Families: Kid-friendly zones; adults: Nightlife bleeds into after-parties.
Why 2025 Will Be Legendary: Legacy in the Making
The PBR Team Series Championship isn’t just an event – it’s evolution. From Global Cup experiments to 10-team titans, it’s grown bull riding into a $100M+ juggernaut, blending sport, strategy, and spectacle. In 2025, with all squads in Vegas, expect upsets like Nashville’s ’22 miracle or Austin’s ’24 sweep. Stars like Leme and Crimber chase MVPs; rookies like Moreira dream debuts. For attendees, it’s more than rides – it’s the roar of 20,000 united, the scent of leather and dust, the heartbeat of heroes.
Grab tickets, pack your boots, and head to Vegas. The 2025 PBR Team Series Championship awaits – where every eight seconds etches eternity. Will the Gamblers defend? Will Texas reclaim? One thing’s sure: The dirt will fly, and legends will rise.
