Las Vegas welcomes the Professional Bull Riders, Inc for the 2014 World Finals October 22 - 26 and PRSA-Las Vegas Valley Chapter will hear from Sean Gleason, Chief Operating Officer and Denise Abbott, Senior Director of Public Relations for PBR on sport-based PR, the unique PR  aspects for PBR, promting more than 300 events a year, including the World Finals in Las Vegas. 

Headquartered in Colo., the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. was created in 1992 when a group of 20 visionary bull riders broke away from the traditional rodeo scene seeking mainstream attention for the sport of professional bull riding. They felt that, as the most popular event at a rodeo, bull riding deserved to be in the limelight and could easily stand alone. Each rider invested a hard-earned $1,000, a few of them borrowing from family and friends, to start the PBR.

In early 2007, Spire Capital Partners finalized a deal with the PBR Board of Directors to acquire the interests of many of the retired founding riders and invest in the growth of the organization. Those first 20 bull riders had turned their $1,000 into millions. Owned today by 44 cowboys, management and Spire Capital, the PBR continues to establish milestones in organizational revenue, bull rider earnings, record breaking performances, and media attention. It still relishes the title of being the fastest growing sport in the country.

More than 1,200 bull riders from the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico hold PBR memberships. They compete in more than 300 bull riding events per year on either the elite tour, which is the Built Ford Tough Series, the Touring Pro Division, or the PBR International circuits (PBR Australia, PBR Brazil, PBR Canada and PBR Mexico). The ultimate goal for PBR athletes each year is to qualify for the prestigious PBR World Finals in Las Vegas where the coveted title of PBR World Champion is decided.

Sean Gleason has spent a decade as a senior management executive with the Professional Bull Riders.  He has overseen nearly every aspect of the world's fastest growing professional sport, including corporate and event marketing, sponsorship sales and fulfillment, network advertising sales, fan relations, third-party licensing, merchandise sales, e-commerce, media services, digital media initiatives and other areas of revenue and operational responsibility.

Denise Abbott is the Senior Director of Public Relations for PBR.  She is responsible for managing media relations at more than 300 events per year. 

Join us for this exiting luncheon topic!  You don't want to miss this one!