Two-time World Champion Justin McBride will come out of retirement to participate in a qualifying event for RFD-TV’s The American Rodeo. He will be competing in the bareback event during the Professional Roughstock Series (PRS) Midwest Classic in Salina, Kan. on October 19. McBride distinguished himself as the first athlete in western sports to top over $5 million in career earnings when he retired in 2008.
“My life has been all about setting goals and working to achieve them. Early in my career, bareback was my favorite event, but I chose to focus on bull riding and enjoyed success,” McBride said. “Competing in bareback at a national level presents a new challenge for me that I am pleased to accept. The American is a one-day event, so I can continue to spend time with my family and work on my music career while returning to the arena to experience the thrill of competing for a part of that $2-million dollars!”
RFD-TV announced in August The American would be taking place on March 2, 2014, at the home of the Dallas Cowboys, AT&T Stadium, in Arlington, TX. With a potential $2-million payout, it would be the richest one-day rodeo in history. At the conclusion of the PBR World Finals and the WNFR, the top 10 athletes in the world will be eligible to compete in The American. Aside from this, a contestant can qualify by finishing in the top five in each event at the semi-finals in Mesquite, Texas. This is the path that Justin has chosen. He will need to be either in the top five at the bareback qualifying events, or place in the top three in the Final PRS World Standings to move on to the semi-finals in Mesquite, Texas on February 21-23, 2014 to make it all the way to The American.
“This is very exciting and prestigious for The American,” said Randy Bernard, President and CEO of Rural Media Group. “Justin is a winner, and whatever he sets his mind to, he has a way to win. He has a huge following in bull riding that will want to see him do well. This is exactly the type of energy and excitement we wanted when we developed this concept. May the best cowboys advance.”
The Professional Roughstock Series is serving as the official sanctioning body of the Bareback and Saddle Bronc portions of The American Rodeo. The PRS Midwest Classic and first qualification tournament for The American will be held October 19 in Salina, Kansas at the Bicentennial Center at 7:30 p.m. McBride will compete in both the qualifying and main event in an effort to secure his spot in The American semi-finals.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Justin associated with the Professional Roughstock Series,” said Todd Marsh, CEO for the PRS. “It’s a marketer’s dream to be able to tell his story and possibly help write a new and exciting chapter in his career.”
Tickets for The American went on sale Sept. 16. Ticket prices range from $20 to $150. They can be purchased at the AT&T Stadium Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations and online at www.americanrodeo.com. Tickets for the PRS Midwest Classic can be purchased at the Salina Bicentennial Center Box Office, by phone at 888-826-SHOW, or at www.prstickets.com.
The American is being closely coordinated with PBR’s Iron Cowboy V, which will take place the day before The American on March 1, 2014 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Combined, the events are expected to bring over 100,000 fans and participants to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.