The Cross Insurance Center in Bangor has been a gracious host for the Professional Bull Riders tour.
Fans have filled the CIC to watch daring cowboys try to last eight seconds on a wildly bucking bull and brave bullfighters or rodeo protection athletes whose responsibility it is to distract the bull after it displaces the rider.
As a result of its popularity in eastern Maine, the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour will have three dates this year instead of the usual two beginning with round one at 7 p.m. Friday.
It will continue with round two on Saturday at 8 p.m. and conclude with the finals on Sunday at 2 p.m.
This is the fourth year in Bangor for the PBR.
“It’s a great event,” said Cross Insurance Center general manager Blake Henry. “[The PBR tour] loves it here, the fans love it as well.”
“It’s a great fit,” he added.
There are 47 events involving several different PBR tours between now and the World Finals Nov. 6-10 in Las Vegas and Bangor is one of only eight venues that will feature at least three dates.
Henry said there are several reasons behind its popularity in eastern Maine.
“There’s a big country market here and you have livestock,” Henry said. “That’s a good combination for where we are geographically. People appreciate it and we love having this event year after year. And it’s growing. It’s heading in the right direction.”
The Cross Insurance Center has more than 250 functions every year and Henry said the PBR is one of the top events on the schedule.
“It’s something we want to promote as much as possible and make it not only bigger, but better,” Henry said.
Henry said it is a money-maker but he would not disclose financial details.
“It is one of the more profitable events for us and it gets better and better every year,” said Henry, who explained the Cross Insurance Center has already secured PBR dates for the next two years.
In addition to the bull riding, the show also includes music, comedy bits by a professional entertainer and fan interaction.
“It’s more than just sitting around watching a bunch of bulls. It’s a total experience. They put together a great show for all ages,” Henry said. “It’s a fun time.”
The venue began preparing for the event on Thursday.
“The dirt will be arriving at 1 [p.m.],” said Henry, whose operations staff will work with the PBR road crew to prepare the facility.
Seventy tons of dirt will be trucked in and there will be more than 50 bulls ranging from 1,700-2,000 pounds. It will take a crew of 30 people approximately 36 hours to set up the facility.
In the competition, bull riders mount the bull and try to stay on it for eight seconds. If the rider gets thrown off, he doesn’t receive a score. If he stays on, the rider and the bull will each be given a score by two judges.
The Friday and Saturday night scores will be tabulated to provide a list of finalists for Sunday’s championship round.