The Fort Worth-based PBR announced the 2025 PBR World Finals will start in Fort Worth and then move over to Arlington. In addition, Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo will return for a second year.
“There is nothing more American than bull riding, rodeo, rock and roll and country music,” said Sean Gleason, PBR CEO and Commissioner. “We brought together PBR, Kid Rock, the great state of Texas, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, the home of America’s team, the Dallas Cowboys. PBR’s new hometown, the city of Fort Worth, is the one and only cowtown. The Fort Worth Stockyards, where we stand today, is one of the last true bastions of cowboy history and heritage.”
PBR announcers Matt West and Kate Harrison served as the emcees of the event.
The details
PBR moved the World Finals from Las Vegas to Fort Worth in 2020 and moved to cowtown full time in 2022.
The annual event is projected to provide an estimated $28 million economic impact in Tarrant County, according to previous reporting.
During the 2024 PBR World Finals, there were 14,606 fans at the performances inside Cowtown Coliseum. During the first-ever Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo, 25,478 fans went to AT&T Stadium.
During the two nights of PBR World Finals at AT&T Stadium, there were 44,762 attendees, according to PBR officials.
“Thank you so much for continuing to show up and show out at every single event for PBR,” Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said. “They put on some fantastic, entertaining events.”
The setup
Cowtown Coliseum, inside the stockyards, will host events May 8-11 and then May 14-15, the Eliminations and Ride for Redemption, respectively, according to the PBR website.
Craig Cavalier, managing partner of Stockyards Heritage Development Co., said Cowtown Coliseum hosted the first-ever enclosed rodeo event in America—happening in 1918.
The three-stage finals will conclude with 25 riders competing in the PBR World Finals May 17-18 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo features a concert by the rock star and a team-format rodeo with bareback riding, breakaway roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping and team roping, according to the PBR website. It will be held May 16.
Quote of note
“Man, I love bull riding; love it,” Kid Rock said. “I love rodeo and seeing all the different disciplines and everything. And I know these cowboys and cowgirls don’t like the rodeo messed with, so we were very careful, but I think once we got the first one last year, I heard from every one of the coaches who said it was incredible. It was something special and I can’t say enough how much the people make this event.”
The background
Cassio Dias from São Francisco de Sales, Brazil, was crowned the PBR World Champion at the conclusion of the 2024 event. Sage Kimzey from Strong City, Oklahoma, took home the World Finals event title.
The Free Riders, coached by Bobby Mote and Linsay Rosser-Sumpter, won Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo title.
