Ride ’em, cowboys, for PBR event

Bull riding first live sport for Vegas since pandemic

No bull, but yes bulls:

Live sports is returning to Lasvegas.

Professional Bull Riders will bring 48 of its top cowboys to the South Point beginning June 5 for a team challenge event, the resort and the organization announced Sunday.

The local portion of the PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge — closed to the public because of the coronavirus pandemic — will be held each Friday, Saturday and Sunday through June 28 in the resort’s equestrian arena. Staging will include a scaled-down crew, medical testing, functional separation and social distancing, according to the PBR.

Thefinals,atthedenny Sanfordpremiercenterin Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on July 10 to 12 will be open to the public.

CBS Sports Network will televise the Friday and

Saturday competitions from the South Point, while the Sunday “Game of the Week,” as the PBR is calling each weekend final, will air on CBS (KLAS-8).

The “regular season” will feature 48 cowboys dividedinto12teamsandtwo divisions, facing off until a winner is decided. Each night of action will have three head-to-head showdowns between three riders from one team and three riders from another.

The regular season will be used to determine six playoff teams, which will compete in a single-eliminationtournamentatthe South Dakota final.

Roster information will be available in the coming weeks, according to the South Point announcement.

“Weareproudtopartner with the PBR in bringing the world’s best bull riders to the South Point Arena.

There is no better place than Vegas Cowboy Centraltoputthesportsand entertainment capital back on television. Las Vegas will always be here to entertain you,evenifyoucan’tbe here,” South Point general manager Ryan Growney said in the statement.

The PBR holds its annual Worldfinalsinlasvegas every fall.

Contact reporter Sam Gordon at sgordon@ reviewjournal.com. Follow @Bysamgordon on Twitter.