Traveling Months on End, How Does PBR Production Do It?

From their own jumbotron to a dozen semi-trucks rolling down the road, here is how the PBR puts on their fabulous show.

The Professional Bull Riders put on quite the show, between the coverage seen on TV, to the atmosphere in person. The PBR goes above and beyond for their fans. 

What is almost never seen, much less appreciated, is the production crew working hours on end to make the magic happen. Multiple semi-trucks, dozens of crew members and the arena itself are just a portion of the traveling show. 

“We wanted to create a better product for the fans, so that when they tuned in they were seeing the best of the best every time,” said PBR co-founder Ty Murray.

The PBR has their own tractor trailers hauling across the country to each event, driven by select members of the production crew. The equipment they carry puts on one of the best shows on dirt, with all the equipment needed fitting on just 15 semi-trucks. Ranging from the arena panels and bucking chutes, to pyrotechnical equipment, the entire show crisscrosses the country every week for nearly 10 months. 

"I've seen more sunrises and sunsets across God's beautiful country," said Mitchell Devine. "The most rewarding part is getting to see the athletes do what they were bred to do each weekend."

The production crew needs roughly two and a half days to bring an arena from its barebones to the crack of the first latch. With their own traveling jumbo-screen, that can be set up in various sizes, crews will start with pulley systems and lighting rigs reaching up to 100 feet in the air. Each arena is different, allowing the PBR to cater the large LED screen every weekend to a new size. Often over 2,000 square feet, it allows spectators a closer view of what is happening in the arena.

Once the structures for the cameras and lights are built, another crew takes over with the dirt work. The footing of the arena dirt is crucial, requiring structure for the bulls traction, while staying soft on the top. Keeping the bulls safe while giving them every opportunity to perform is the top priority. 

Finally, the arena will come set. Hauling in the panels, chutes, and back pens the arena begins to take shape. Weighing thousands of pounds on the trailer, each panel is heavy duty Priefert steel, keeping the bulls, athletes and spectators safe. 

Once the facility is ready for them, the bulls are unloaded and given comfort care until showtime. Banners and other sponsorship signage are hung proudly about the arena for those who make the shows happen. 

Once the event concludes, the tear down of the facility happens swiftly. In reverse order from the set up, the crew will often finish in roughly a single day, load up, and head to the next event. The weeks spent on the road and sacrifices made by the production crews are what brings the show to life. 

So next time you attend a PBR event, take a moment to marvel the effort exerted to bring the production to life. 

The PBR Team Series Finals are set for Oct. 20-22 in Las Vegas and broadcasted on CBS Sports Network.