The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Dodge Xtreme Bulls Tour presented
by B&W Trailer Hitches rides into 2008 with a national schedule that will
continue to bring the excitement of PRCA bull riding to millions of fans with
national coverage on ESPN and ESPN2, according to Winnercomm chairman Gordon
Whitener, who made the announcement today during the Wrangler National Finals
Rodeo in Las Vegas.
The 2008 tour will feature 10 events scheduled
throughout the year across the U.S. and will conclude with two performances in
Indianapolis at the annual FFA Convention in October.
In 2008 the Dodge Xtreme Bulls Tour will have a
combined purse of $520,000. Money earned on the Dodge Xtreme Bulls Tour counts
toward ProRodeo Cowboys World Standings, which determine Wrangler NFR
qualifiers.
The 2008 schedule is as follows:
Date
Rodeo
Venue
Jan. 25-26 Rapid City
Xtreme Bulls Rushmore Plaza Civic
Center
Jan. 31
San Antonio Xtreme
Bulls
AT&T Center
Feb. 16 San
Antonio Xtreme Bulls
AT&T Center
March 18
RodeoHouston Xtreme Bulls
Reliant Stadium
April 12-13 Laughlin Xtreme
Bulls
Laughlin (NV) Events Center
June 19
Reno Xtreme
Bulls
Reno (Nev.) Rodeo Arena
July 5
Cody-Yellowstone Xtreme
Bulls Cody (Wyo.) Stampede Rodeo Arena
Aug. 30
Ellensburg Xtreme Bulls Ellensburg
(Wash.) Rodeo Arena
Oct. 24
FFA Special Edition
Pepsi Coliseum
(Indianapolis)
Oct. 24
Tour Finale
Pepsi Coliseum
(Indianapolis)
The Oct. 24 Indianapolis events are a special
exclusive two-performance show for students and advisors attending the 2008
National FFA Convention. Dodge Xtreme Bulls will continue its partnership with
FFA to enhance awareness of that organization’s education and career programs.
“We’ll be recognizing and promoting the FFA at
each 2008 Dodge Xtreme Bulls Tour stop and with special television coverage,”
said Whitener. “It’s a natural alliance. Many of our bull riders were FFA
members. Through the FFA, we’re introducing a large group of young people to the
excitement of PRCA rodeo and bull riding.”
Whitener noted that an important part of
continuing to build the Xtreme Bulls franchise is presenting the tour to appeal
not only to the traditional rodeo fan base, but to attract new and younger fans
to rodeo as well. A key element in building a new audience for bull riding is
the ESPN and ESPN2 television coverage. Both ESPN and ESPN2 reach over 93
million U.S. households each.
Eight-time World Champion Bull Rider Donnie Gay
returns to anchor the analysis duties for the telecasts.
“Our 2007 champ Kanin Asay will return to lead a
terrific group of bull riders in the 2008 tour,” said Gay. “The Xtreme Bulls is
such a good thing for these guys. It's a great time to be a bull rider. I love
the format, and I know for a fact these guys love the format.”
National sponsors of the Xtreme Bulls Tour
include Dodge, B&W Trailer Hitches, AT&T, Wrangler, Bully Dog
Technologies, Montana Silversmiths and Justin Boots.
Winnercomm, America’s largest independent sports
production company, owns the licensing rights to the PRCA’s Xtreme Bulls Tour
through 2008. For more information on the 2008 Dodge Xtreme Bulls Tour, visit
www.xtremebulls.com.