Professional Bull Riding Returns to Santander Arena

From Santander Arena & Performing Arts Center

Professional Bull Riders (PBR) is bringing the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour back to Pennsylvania with PBR Reading, the fourth time America’s original extreme sport will storm into Reading at Santander Arena, March 6-7, 2026.

Over the course of the two-day event in March, 35 top riders will appear in two full rounds, taking on some of the sport’s toughest bulls. After two rounds, the top 10 riders with the highest aggregate scores take on one final bull for a chance at the event title.

The riders will battle for crucial points toward the Velocity Global Standings, which determine qualification for the season-ending Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals in Corpus Christi, TX, on May 1-2. At the Velocity Tour Finals, one rider will be crowned the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Champion, and five riders not already qualified will earn coveted spots to compete at the PBR World Finals, beginning May 7 at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, TX.

Melvin Byler won the Reading event during the 2025 campaign after recording an 86-point ride on Smooth Criminal to edge out Alisson De Souza and Eduardo de Oliveira. Michael Lane took home the event title in 2024 after Grayson Cole won the debut event in 2023.

The two-day event at Santander Arena featuring some of the best riders in the country begins on Friday, March 6, at 8 p.m. ET, and Saturday, March 7, at 7 p.m. ET.

The Velocity Tour has emerged over the past decade as PBR’s fastest-growing tour, experiencing strong attendance growth and reaching fans in 97 cities across the U.S. In 2025, the Velocity Tour hosted more than 370,000 fans, including selling out 18 event days.

Tickets can be purchased:

• At the Santander Arena 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 Santander Arena 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 seven 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 weekend 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 Reading is an event that will keep everyone on the edge of their seat.

About the 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, Walmart 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.

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