Medicine Hat PBR Classic runs Saturday night at Co-op Place

It’s truly a contest of man versus beast. There’s no referees to blow a whistle or break up a fight. So it’s action packed,” Davidson said.

“You throw in some pyrotechnics, the music, our entertainer who interjects with the crowd so well, I think we just have a really solid entertainment package for the consumer,” he added.

“I like to say it’s like country meets rock and urban meets rural. We see a lot of growth with our younger demographic. It’s a great time for fans of all ages.”

One unique aspect of the show is the ability for fans to be in a cage in the middle of the field to watch.

“We call that the shark cage. It’s dug down to the arena floor and then we put dirt in around it.

So if a bull does hit it, it can’t be moved,” Davidson said.

“Every section we change out six people that can sit in there. It also adds a tremendous camera view for the TSN television audience as well,” he added.

“It’s a pretty unique opportunity for a novice fan or even a fan of bull riding for years and years to go sit in there and experience it from that vantage point.”

Davidson said they are always trying to bring the audience closer to the sport.

“We have what we call dirt suites,” Davidson said.

“Every arena has the corporate suites around the concourse level that you can watch a hockey game or concert from or a PBR event. We’ve got five suites right down on the arena floor that nudge right up against the arena.”

The best bull stock is brought in to give the best riders around a challenge.

“Eight different bull producers provide us with the 47 bulls we need,” Davidson said.

“We’re going to see the current and reigning PBR bull of the year in the championship round also.”

These guys are competing to get to Rogers Place, Nov. 8-9 and ride at a prize pool of $250,000.

There are a few competitors who aren’t having to travel to far to Medicine Hat.

Dakota Buttar, from Eatonia, Sask. being the most accomplished of that group.

“Two time and reigning PBR Canada champion.

He’s got an opportunity here to make a move between Medicine Hat and Saskatoon and strike for a third title,” Davidson said.

“The only three-time PBR Canada champion, Aaron Roy will be in the lineup as well.”

Jared Parsonage of Maple Creek, Sask. sits just behind Buttar heading into the Medicine Hat event, but isn’t appearing in the riders list.

William Barrows of Foremost, Alta. heads into the event coming off a recent bullriding win at the Canadian Finals Rodeo.

Chad Hartman of Lancer, Sask., will also be competing at the event.

A shift to safety over the years you will notice any of the riders born after 1994 wearing hockey helmets, with some of the older riders still able to wear cowboy hats.

It all begins tonight at 7 p.m. at Co-op Place, with tickets available at the box office.

by Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat PBR Classic runs Saturday night at Co-op Place

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