Nashville Stampede To Participate In PBR Team Series Combines

Nashville Stampede Head Coach Justin McBride talking with riders Ryan Dirteater and Kaique Pacheco during Day One of the Cheyenne PBR Teams event. Photo: by Josh Homer/Bull Stock Media.

Ahead of the second season of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Team Series, the league has announced it will host three sanctioned rider Combines leading into a Combine Championship.

The PBR Team Series Combine: The Future of Bull Riding for the 2023 season will work toward the long-term objective of rider development, while allowing new riders and unrestricted free agents an opportunity to showcase their skills to team coaches and general managers during the current free agency period and prior to the 2023 Draft to be held on May 17 during PBR World Finals in Fort Worth, Texas.

“Combines are important to help develop riders and give teams a chance to scout upcoming talent,” says Sean Gleason, Commissioner & CEO, PBR. “In the inaugural Team Series Combine in 2022, 17 of the 54 riders who attended were drafted by teams, and an additional five riders were signed as free agents during the 2022 Inaugural Season. We welcome serious riders looking for a great future with a team to register for the upcoming combines.”

The three-day Combines will be held in Archdale, North Carolina on March 14 – 16; Pueblo, Colorado on March 28 – 30; Bowie, Texas on April 25 – 27, culminating with the PBR Team Series Combine Championship at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas on the evening of April 27. Tickets for the championship event are now on sale through AXS only and can be purchased at cowtowncoliseum.com or the on-site box office.

PBR anticipates a minimum of 25 riders participating in both Carolina and Colorado and more than 50 riders in Texas. Up to a dozen of the top riders from each Combine will be invited to Fort Worth to compete for $15,000 and the title of becoming the first PBR Teams Combine Champion.

Nashville Stampede Head Coach Justin McBride will be participating in the Combine.

Held during PBR’s 30th anniversary season, the 2023 PBR Team Series 11-event season begins at Cheyenne Frontier Days, on July 25-26 and culminates with the Team Series championship in Las Vegas, Nevada on Oct. 20-22 at T-Mobile Arena.

Nashville Stampede To Return To Bridgestone Arena For 2023 PBR Team Series Homestand

The Nashville Stampede. Photo: Courtesy of PBR

The reigning PBR Team Series Champion Nashville Stampede announced that their annual homestand, PBR Stampede Days, will return to Bridgestone Arena Aug. 18-20.

The Stampede is Music City’s first-ever professional bull riding team, competing in the PBR Team Series, which transforms bull riding from an individual to team-formatted competition. They capped a dramatic Cinderella run through the playoffs to be crowned the 2022 PBR Team Series Champions under the fiery leadership of Head Coach and two-time PBR World Champion Justin McBride with a talent-packed roster including 2018 PBR World Champion Kaique Pacheco 

During the 2023 regular season, each of the eight founding teams will compete in 28 head-to-head, five-on-five bull riding games, held across 10 events. The team with the highest aggregate score will be the game winner.

Each team will host a three-day homestand, welcoming the seven other teams, while also competing in two neutral site events, beginning with the season-launch event on July 24-25 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The season will conclude in Las Vegas, Nevada Oct. 20-22 when the teams will go head-to-head in the PBR Team Series Championship, vying to be crowned the 2023 Team Series Champions.

PBR Stampede Days will mark the fourth event of the 2023 PBR Team Series season, and second team-hosted homestand. The Nashville Stampede will return to the arena this summer to defend their title of PBR Team Series Champions.

After a poor regular-season performance that led the Stampede to finish with a 7-20-1 record, they travelled to Las Vegas for the PBR Team Series Championship ranked last in the standings. However, once in Sin City, they delivered a Cinderella run through the championship tournament to be crowned the 2023 PBR Team Series Champions.

In Round One, the Stampede first went toe-to-toe with the No. 3 Oklahoma Freedom, who they stunned 264.75-176 to advance to Round Two.

They then faced a David vs. Goliath showdown with the No. 1 Austin Gamblers, riding three more bulls to knock off the Gamblers 265-175.25 to earn the first berth to the Semifinals.

On Championship Sunday, the Stampede squared off against the No. 2 Texas Rattlers. Compliments of an early score from Joao Henrique Lucas, and a 90-point, fifth-frame ride from Pacheco, the Stampede punched their ticket to the title game with a 178.5-90.25 win.

The Stampede’s fate then came down to the Championship Game against the No. 5 Arizona Ridge Riders.

Delivering three qualified rides from Ryan DirteaterSilvano Alves and Pacheco, the Stampede defeated Arizona 264-182.75, completing their shocking run of upsets to be crowned the inaugural PBR Team Series Champions.

During the PBR Teams’ offseason, the Stampede riders have proved to be a force on the premier individual tour, the PBR Unleash The Beast. Seeking his second PBR World Championship, Pacheco is currently No. 3 in the gold buckle race.  His season has included both an elite tour and 15/15 Bucking Battle victory, along with two 90-point rides.

Pacheco notably won the late January 15/15 Bucking Battle in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he conquered the then-unridden Ricky Vaughn for a monstrous 93 points.

The Stampede will be one of the featured bull riding teams in the highly anticipated upcoming docuseries The Ride, debuting later this year on Prime Video.

The bull riding action for the 2023 PBR Team Series’ Stampede Days at Bridgestone Arena begins at 7:45 p.m. CT on Friday, Aug. 18, 6:45 p.m. CT on Saturday, Aug. 19 and 1:45 p.m. CT on Sunday, Aug. 20.

Tickets for the event are on sale now, and start at $20 (taxes and fees not included). They can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, at the Bridgestone Arena Box Office.

Nashville Stampede Staff Earns General Manager & Coach Of The Year Honors

Top: Tina Battock. Bottom: Justin McBride. Photo: Courtesy of the PBR

Nashville Stampede’s Justin McBride and Tina Battock were voted Coach and General Manager of the Year, respectively, after the inaugural PBR Team Series season.

The Stampede swept the year-end awards after making a Cinderella run through the championship tournament. The team was crowned the 2023 PBR Team Series Champions, despite finishing the regular season last in the standings after going 7-20-1.

Critical to their title, McBride and Battock architected one of the league’s most impactful free agent signings, grabbing undrafted three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves in mid-August. He became a difference maker for the team, including delivering a walk-off win against the Texas Rattlers in his debut during the Stampede’s inaugural homestand.

Once inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for the season-ending event, the No. 8-seeded Stampede displayed an extraordinary desire to win, stoked by the nightly speeches delivered by McBride in the venue halls, where he passionately empowered his riders to “climb the mountain” and take what was deservedly theirs.

“The General Manager group of the PBR Teams is a mighty squad of talented, intelligent and accomplished individuals,” adds Battock. “I’m beyond humbled and honored to be acknowledged by my colleagues as having contributed to the first-year success of the PBR Team Series.”

“While individual awards are appreciated, I think they are really a reflection of the entire program,” McBride, a two-time PBR World Champion, explains.

The Coach and General Manager of the Year were determined by a vote of their peers from the PBR Team Series’ eight founding teams.

“The inaugural PBR Team Series season was one of incredible drama and parity–seven of the eight teams reached the No. 1 ranking at one point during the 11-game season, and the Nashville Stampede reached that pinnacle when it counted most.” says Sean Gleason, CEO and Commissioner, PBR. “Despite early struggles, led by Coach Justin McBride and GM Tina Battock, the Stampede stuck to their strategy, believed in themselves, and stayed hungry. They got hot at the perfect time to storm through the Championship weekend in Las Vegas. It may be the greatest story ever rode. We thank them, and all league’s great coaches and GMs for making our inaugural season one that exceeded our expectations.”

The Stampede’s march through the higher-seeded competition in Las Vegas continues to be the talk of PBR Team Series during the league’s first off-season.

The PBR Team Series will resume in summer 2023. The Nashville Stampede will begin their title defense on July 24 when the 2023 season launches in tandem with the 126th annual Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Nashville Sports Year In Review: The Top 10 Moments Of 2022

With 2022 in the rearview mirror, let’s take a look back at some of the best moments in the Nashville sports world from this past year.

From Nashville SC opening GEODIS Park to Hany Mukhtar‘s historic season, the second Music City Grand Prix, as well as Roman Josi‘s record breaking season with the Nashville Predators, 2022 saw quite a bit of activity this year in the city’s growing sports industry.

Here are The Sports Credential‘s Top 10 Nashville Sports Moments of 2022.

10 – The Nashville Stampede Win Inaugural PBR Team Series

The Nashville Stampede celebrating their championship win. Photo: Courtesy of the PBR

Professional Bull Riding introduced its team series in 2022, offering fans a new way to cheer for their favorite bull riders.

The Stampede was led by former PBR World Champion Kaique Pacheco and head coach Justin McBride. The team finished the regular season with a record of 7-20-1, but ran the table at the Team Series Playoffs in Las Vegas where they ultimately won the inaugural season.

To read up on the team and the PBR Team Series, click here.

 

9 – Belmont Women’s NCAA Tournament Run

Photo: Courtesy of Belmont Athletics

It’s no secret that the Belmont women’s basketball team has been one of the best college athletic teams in the city for years now, but for the past two years, the team has been able to do what no Belmont WBB team has done before: win NCAA Tournament games.

In 2022, the Bruins took on No. 5 seed Oregon in the first round of the March Madness tournament and went on to win 73-70. Sophomores Tutti Jones and Destinee Wells put on a show where they scored 22 points and 16 points, respectively. This was the Bruins second NCAA Tournament win in program history.

Belmont later took on the Lady Vols of Tennessee on their home court in what was one of the best games of the tournament. Wells and Jones showed up big time again, scoring 22 points and 17 points, respectively, but ultimately fell just short, losing 70-67.

Despite their loss, the Belmont WBB managed to show how dominant of a team they are and will be for the coming seasons.

 

8 – Walker Zimmerman, Shaq Moore Named To USMNT World Cup Roster

Walker Zimmerman and Shaq Moore. Photos: Courtesy of Nashville SC

One of the biggest events of the year was undoubtedly the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The tournament, held in the winter instead of the summer, saw Nashville SC players Walker Zimmerman and Shaq Moore added to the USMNT roster. The Boys in Gold were one of only three clubs to have more than more of their players selected to the USA squad, and the pair were the first NSC players to play in a FIFA World Cup.

Zimmerman started and played all 90 minutes in three games for the USA, including the high-ratings match against England, which ended in a 0-0 draw. Moore played a combined 20 minutes in the tournament.

The U.S. fell to the Netherlands in the first round of the knockout stage 3-1, but Nashville SC successfully made its mark on the international stage.

 

7 – Scott Dixon Wins Dramatic Big Machine Music City Grand Prix

Scott Dixon celebrating his 2022 Big Machine Music City Grand Prix win in victory circle. Photo: Courtesy of the Music City Grand Prix.

The second annual Big Machine Music City Grand Prix this past August was one to remember as the NTT IndyCar Series Championship began heating up just as the series hit Nashville.

The already IndyCar legend Scott Dixon walked away victorious by beating Scott McLaughlin by just 0.106 seconds. This was also a record-breaking win for Dixon as he it was his 53rd career-win, making him the second most winningest driver in the sports history.

The New Zealand native started the race in 14th and found some trouble during his first pit stop. After a handful of cautions and some golden opportunities, the Chip Ganassi driver was able to find himself in the front and hold off the rest of the field.

He drove brilliantly and set himself up well to win the IndyCar season after the win in Nashville.

 

6 – Predators Host Stadium Series Game At Nissan Stadium

Nissan Stadium during the NHL Stadium Series. Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators continued to shine in the national spotlight as they continue to host major events, most recently being a NHL Stadium Series game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in February. It was the first time an outdoor professional hockey game has ever been played in Nashville or at Nissan Stadium.

There was a lot of hype leading up to the game, which included a week long Winter Park around Bridgestone Arena and downtown Nashville. The game also included a star-studded halftime show with performances by Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert.

Sadly, the Preds fell 3-2  in what became a close and exciting game. If nothing else, Nashville once again proved they are a legit hockey town and that they can host a major sporting event as good as anyone.

 

5 – Mike Vrabel Named Coach of the Year

Mike Vrabel. Photo: Brett Carlsen/Tennessee Titans

The 2021-22 season was a crazy one for the Titans as they fought their way to the AFC’s No. 1 seed after suffering countless injuries, including losing Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry for half the season.

Leadership and roster decisions by head coach Mike Vrabel helped the Titans overcome and win the AFC South for a second-straight season. He was named the 2022-21 NFL Coach of the Year after leading the team to a great season despite having to play nearly 100 different players and without the league’s top rusher.

His success was recognized not only by the league, but also with a contract extension from the Titans

 

4 – Roman Josi Breaks Predators Single-Season Points Record

Roman Josi. Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators’ 2021-2022 season ended in the first round of the NHL Playoffs, but not before Roman Josi broke the franchise record for points in a single season, finishing with an astounding 96 points.

Josi broke the record by picking up three points on three assists against the Ottawa Senators on April 8. With an outstanding performance last season, he broke the previous record set by Paul Kariya back in 2006. He was also named a Norris Trophy finalist.

Josi also made history when he became the NHL’s highest-scoring defenseman in 29 years, posting 23 goals, 73 assists and 96 points in 80 games. Only six defensemen in the past 50 years have scored more points in a single season.

 

3 – GEODIS Park Opens

GEODIS Park. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC

The opening of GEODIS Park was not only a big deal for Nashville SC and soccer in Tennessee, but also for Nashville as a whole. When GEODIS park opened in May 2022, it solidified NSC as the city’s soccer team and third professional sports team.

The stadium became the largest soccer-specific stadium in the U.S. and Canada with a capacity of 30,000. It saw multiple sellouts throughout the season and hosted countless moments of Hany Mukhtar brilliance and memorable moments.

The stadium also offers a new music venue that is a middle ground for attendance between Bridgestone Arena and Nissan Stadium. It is already set to host a string of concerts in 2023.

GEODIS Park will also host the USWNT in 2023 as part of the SheBelieves Cup.

 

2 – Hany Mukhtar Wins MLS Golden Boot & MVP

Hany Mukhtar with the Golden Boot and MVP Awards. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC

Only a few years ago, not many people would’ve imagined that a German-born soccer player would etch his name into Nashville sports history, but after winning the 2022 MLS Golden Boot and MVP, Hany Mukhtar has become a household name in Music City.

Mukhtar was nothing short of brilliant last season as he carried Nashville SC back to the MLS Cup Playoffs for a third consecutive year. He had a remarkable 34 goal contributions (23 goals, 11 assists) in 2022, which was tied for the fifth most in a single season in MLS history.

It was a tight race between him and Austin FC’s Sebastian Driussi, but Mukhtar nearly ended that debate when he scored two goals against Austin late in the season.

The Boys in Gold struggled at times and found themselves in deep water, but Mukhtar’s performances carried them through. He scored or assisted on an incredible 65.4 percent of all Nashville SC’s goals in the 2022 season.

 

 

1 – Titans & Mayor Agree To Contract For New Football Stadium

Rendering of new Titans stadium. Photo: Courtesy of the Tennessee Titans

By far the biggest story of the year came when the Titans and Mayor’s office announced a deal to build a new, domed football stadium for the NFL franchise.

In early October, the team and Mayor John Cooper announced their plan that wouldn’t directly hit Nashville taxpayers or come from the city’s general fund. The deal includes a new lease, which will not force the city to pay for any repairs and will keep the Titans in Nashville long-term.

The proposed stadium would be a state-of-the-art building with a capacity of nearly 60,000. It will open the opportunity for Nashville to host the Super Bowl, College Football Playoffs and even a NCAA Final Four.

This new stadium will cost over $2 billion, but will be paid for by the team and the NFL, $500 million in bonds by the state and by a sales tax in and around the stadium, as well as a new hotel occupancy tax. So far, the deal has passed the first wave of approval by the Metro Council and will most likely be finalized in early 2023.

Nashville Stampede Win First Ever PBR Team Series Championship

The Nashville Stampede celebrating their championship win. Photo: Courtesy of PBR

The Nashville Stampede pulled off the ultimate upset this weekend, winning the first ever PBR Team Series Championship after finishing the regular season in last place.

“It’s crazy,” said Nashville Stampede Head Coach Justin McBride. “I got to win two individual titles as a bull rider in this sport, and it’s nothing compared to this. The buckle is awesome, but for me, it’s about these guys who never gave up and finished on top.”

The Stampede entered the tournament in Las Vegas as the No. 8 seed and beat the No. 3 Oklahoma Freedom in the first round on Friday (Nov. 4). The team rode three bulls to stun the Freedom, defeating the powerhouse team by one ride score–264.75-176–to advance in the team tournament.

The Stampede’s performance was headlined by scores from Ryan Dirteater, who came out of retirement to seek his first championship, Cladson Rodolfo, and 2018 World Champion and Stampede No. 1 draft pick Kaique Pacheco.

In Round 2, the Stampede were with the No. 1 Austin Gamblers. Continuing their impressive run through the tournament, the Stampede bested the Gamblers by one ride score–265-175.25–to earn the first direct berth to the semifinals.

On Championship Sunday, the Stampede went head-to-head with the No. 2 Texas Rattlers in the first semifinal showdown. Due to an early score from Joao Henrique Lucas and a 90-point, fifth-frame ride from Pacheco, the Stampede punched their ticket to the title game with a 178.5-90.25 win.

In the final, qualified rides from Dirteater, Pacheco and three-time World Champion Silvano Alves, the Stampede defeated No. 5 seeded Arizona Ridge Riders 264-182.75, completing their come-from-behind surge to be crowned the inaugural PBR Team Series Champions.

After winning the championship with the Stampede, Dirteater announced he will be retiring from bull riding.

“I had my eyes on it and this was my goal,” Dirteater noted. “This is an amazing feeling. This was the goal from the beginning, to win a title with a team. Now I can walk away on top and enjoy retirement.”

With the championship win, the Stampede walk away with $1.5 million in winnings.

Nashville Stampede Finish Home Weekend With Win & Electric Atmosphere

Pictured (L-R): Kaique Pacheco, Silvano Alves, Manoelito de Souza Junior, Joao Henrique Lucas, Thiago Salgado. Photo: Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media

The Stampede Days are over and the PBR Team Nashville Stampede walk away with a win and a major morale boost after performing in front of a large–and loud–home crowd at Bridgestone Arena.

The event kicked off with a string of musical performances followed by the explosive team introductions, which included a few flares and a ring of fire to add to the annual bull riding event.

Game one started off hot with the Texas Rattlers earning a crucial win with an upset victory against the No. 1 Missouri Thunder.

Kaique Pacheco. Photo: Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media

The Stampede were the headliners each night and played the final game in front of fans of the new Music City pro sports team.

No. 2 bull rider Kaique Pacheco was first and had a near perfect ride with a score of 88.75 points against the Carolina Cowboys. His teammate, Thiago Salgado, earned a score of 87.5 points, giving Nashville an early lead. Sadly, the rest of the team failed to ride their bull for the regulation eight seconds, giving the Cowboys a 324-176.25 win.

Day two was a bit different as both Nashville and the Texas Rattlers struggled with their bulls as all Rattler riders failed to complete a ride and the first four riders for the Stampede failed to finish a ride. However, the newly signed, three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves pulled off the walk-off win with the only completed ride. After the win, the entire team, along with head coach Justin McBride, jumped into the pit to celebrate as a team in their home arena.

Silvano Alves. Photo: Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media

In the final game of the weekend, the Stampede came up short against the Kansas City Outlaws with Salgado picking up the only ride of the night and nabbing a score of 85. Nashville went on to lose 162.75-85 and fell to a record of 3-7. They now sit in sixth place.

The PBR Team Series next stop is Austin, Texas for the home series of the Austin Gamblers from Aug. 26-28.

Nashville Stampede Brings The World’s Most Dangerous Sport To Music City [Interview]

Stampede during day one of the Cheyenne PBR Teams event. Photo: Josh Homer/Bull Stock Media

Bull riding is one of the oldest and most dangerous sports in America. Now, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) is reintroducing the sport in a different way.

The new PBR Team Series offers a unique experience for bull riding and rodeo fans as they can follow their favorite bull riders competing on teams to earn points and win games. There are currently eight teams competing, one of which being the Nashville Stampede, the newest pro sports team in Music City.

“It’s been a long time in the making,” Nashville Stampede CEO & General Manager Tina Battock shares in an interview with The Sports Credential. “PBR has been talking about this for several years–decades even. It’s been an idea in the background. The fact that we’ve been working so hard on it for the last year and it’s finally happening, we’re really excited to be here and get it launched.”

The team was acquired by the Texas-based media company Morris Communications of which Battock has been the President of since 2016. Originally, Morris wanted to acquire a Texas-based team, but as things changed and a Dallas/Fort-Worth team was already picked up, Nashville became the clear choice.

“The questions became where’s a great place to go? Where’s the good market? Where is the right audience? Where has a great venue? What aligns with the kind of team that we want to have from sort of an ethos standpoint, and where could we pull off a really good event?” Battock explains. “Nashville emerged as the front runner for us right away.

Kaique Pacheco. Photo: Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media

“I would love to say there was a lot of analysis and data that went into it, but it was one of those super intuitive, gut decisions where it happened that the Nashville event was coming up about six weeks after we had flagged it as our market. We came here and as soon as we saw how engaged the fan base was, how welcoming the city was and how accommodating Bridgestone was to work with, we thought this is our place. It just instantly felt like home and it fell into place for us.”

The Nashville Stampede joins the Carolina Cowboys, Oklahoma Freedom, Austin Gamblers, Kansas City Outlaws, Texas Rattlers, Arizona Ridge Riders, and Missouri Thunder as first teams in the inaugural team series. These teams are set with multiple world-class bull riders who compete head-to-head against each other.

Throughout the year, these teams will face off in games and the riders with the best accumulative scores will be awarded a win. This new format offers the sport a more competitive and group aspect for average sports fans who may not be familiar with PBR.

The team is led by two-time PBR champion and coach Justin McBride. McBride is one of the most successful bull riders in the sport’s history and was inducted into the Bull Riding Hall of Fame in 2020. After retiring from the sport in 2008, he remained around as a TV broadcaster until he saw the opportunity to coach.

Nashville Stampede head coach Justin McBride with bull rider Joao Henrique Lucas during day two of the Cheyenne PBR Teams event. Photo: Josh Homer/Bull Stock Media.

“For me, I had a pretty good job in TV,” McBride notes. “I was still around the sport I loved and I got to break it down every week. I really enjoyed what I was doing, so it had to be a good fit. It had to be the right team. When I spoke with Tina and learned a little more about their company and about what they stood for, that was the team that was the best fit for me.”

McBride is very familiar with Nashville as he recorded two records in Music City and performed at the Grand Ole Opry in 2009. He also worked on a weekly live TV show for RFD-TV for two years, so Nashville is not a new city or market for McBride.

“Between cutting the records and doing the little show on RFD, I’ve been in Nashville a lot over the years,” McBride says with a chuckle. “The PBR has been having a great event in Nashville for two plus decades. It’s one of the standout events every year on the regular season tour, so I’m really excited to give Nashville something of their own when it comes to the sport. I hope in the years to come that we can have more than one home event. I hope it turns into where we have several home events throughout the course of the year.”

So far, there have been seven games played over three weekends. Each team gets the opportunity to host a weekend in their respective city.

Next up is Music City on Aug. 19-21 and the team could not be more excited.

2018 PBR World Champion and current Stampede rider Kaique Pacheco. Photo: Josh Homer/Bull Stock Media.

“It will be great,” adds former PBR World Champion and current No. 2 bull rider in the world Kaique Pacheco. “It’s making me more excited. We had a good start in Cheyenne.”

The Stampede started off the season with a win in Cheyenne, Wyoming against the Carolina Cowboys when veteran rider Ryan Dirteater clinched the game winning ride. Since then, the team has won one more game while dropping five.

They sit in sixth place with a record of 2-5-0, but with the upcoming home series in Nashville, that could all change.

Along with veteran riders such as Pacheco, Dirteater and newly signed three-time world champion Silvano Alves, 18-year-old Jaxton Mortensen joins the Stampede’s practice team.

Mortensen has been riding his whole life and has already seen some success, winning the the Yavapai Bottle Gas Mile High PBR Presented by Navajo Nation And Coors Light in Arizona, his home state. When the opportunity comes, he could become one of the sport’s next big riders.

“My grandpa is a world champion bareback rider and my dad actually rode with McBride back in the day in the PBR,” Mortensen shares. “When McBride needed another guy on the team, he called my dad and those were the first talks. He called me and asked me to send them some videos, and he asked if I really wanted to do it and if I was serious. I was like, ‘Heck, yeah! I got Justin McBride, one of the heroes of the sport, calling me to ask me to be on his team!'”

These athletes have rode all their lives, relying on no one but themselves to perform. The team series changes all of that.

Now these bull riders are working on a team, practicing and learning from each other with a common goal: win together.

Nashville Stampede head coach Justin McBride talking with riders Ryan Dirteater and Kaique Pacheco during day one of the Cheyenne PBR Teams event. Photo: Josh Homer/Bull Stock Media.

“That’s really important to us,” Pacheco explains. “We don’t ride for ourselves right now. We’re always working together to build a team and everybody’s doing better and working hard like a team. We’re not by ourselves anymore.”

McBride is also excited about how this season will allow him to coach and develop these veteran and young riders throughout the season and for years to come.

“So far, it’s been awesome. I can’t wait to see the growth of these guys,” McBride notes. “When you’re talking about your star five, you’re talking about really good bull riders. They are professionals and very good at what they do already. So, for me, it’s just trying to get them a little bit better every day. We’re getting guys that want to grind and get a little bit better, and I can’t wait to see just how good they get.”

With a new team coming to a hot city like Nashville, it would seem that its growth would be easy when looking at the growth of clubs like Nashville SC. However, because bull riding is a rather niche sport and they only have one home event, it will take some hard work and time to grow both the organization and the fandom.

But the Stampede is up to the task.

Ryan Dirteater. Photo: Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media

“We do have a challenge because, at this point, we don’t necessarily have a home base here,” Battock says. “The way that that series is structured, we’re only here once a year. Going forward, our plan is to really find ways for us to organically integrate into the city. We have great relationships with our sports team partners. We’re really just getting acquainted with our counterparts here and focusing on who good partners would be.

“As we have more time going into next year, we want to find ways to be more involved in the community, and demonstrate the kind of team we want to be and the kind of company that we are. We’re a family owned business and always have been. It’s really important to the family ownership that we find avenues to be involved in and give back to the community.”

Bull riding is an extremely exciting sport that wants to continue to grow, and the team series offers a platform for the sport to grow into the mainstream, McBride explains.

“This team concept is going to let people be able to digest it the way they’re used to viewing other sports,” he sums. “They might not know all the ins and outs of how you stay on a bull or the technical side of it, but they can understand, ‘If this last guy gets bucked off, my team does not win. He’s got to make the eight seconds for my team to win.’ It makes it really easy to follow and not only just follow a guy, but you’re following that team.

“You are visually recognizing the Nashville Stampede, their colors, and their riders. It’s a way for fans to really sink their teeth into bull riding and become fans, not only of the sport, but of these individual teams.”

Nashville Stampede Sign Three-Time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves

Silvano Alves. Photo: Courtesy of PBR

The Nashville Stampede, has made another big move signing three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves via free agency.

The Pilar do Sul, Brazil native is one of the sport’s legends, etching his name in the PBR record books as the first rider to win consecutive PBR World Championships in 2011 and 2012.

Moreover, he is one of only two three-time PBR World Champions, winning a third title in 2014 to match Adriano Moraes (1994, 2001 and 2006). During that third gold buckle campaign, Alves also set the record for logging 24 consecutive rides on the elite tour.

Adding to his long list of accomplishments, Alves is also one of only two riders to be named Rookie of the Year (2010) and World Champion (2011) in consecutive years.

During the 2022 individual season, Alves qualified for his 13th consecutive PBR World Finals, concluding the campaign ranked No. 39 in the world. Since the PBR World Finals in May, Alves has been a consistent force on the Challenger Series, registering seven top 10 finishes across 11 entered events.

Alves joins fellow PBR World Champion and first round Draft pick Kaique Pachecoalong with 12-time PBR World Finals qualifier Ryan Dirteater, who came out of retirement to compete in PBR Teams, on the talent-packed Stampede roster, coached by two-time PBR World Champion Justin McBride.

The Nashville lineup also includes Dener BarbosaManoelito de Souza JuniorJoao Henrique LucasDustin OrtizFernando Henrique NovaisJaxton MortensenLucas Fideles SouzaMason Moody and Thiago Salgado.

The Nashville Stampede will make their hometown debut Aug. 19-21 when they host the league’s seven other teams for Stampede Days at Bridgestone Arena. The bull riding action for the 2022 PBR Team Series’ Stampede Days  begins at 7:45 p.m. CDT on Friday, Aug. 19, at 6:45 p.m. CDT; on Saturday, Aug. 20, and 12:15 p.m. CDT; and on Sunday, Aug. 21