South Point To Host Bull Riding Event Without Fans

Written By Marc Meltzer on May 20, 2020
South Point bull riding Las Vegas Nevada

South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa has partnered with the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) to host 48 of the world’s top professional bull riders from June 5 through 28. The PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge will take place without fans in attendance. Each Friday and Saturday of this PBR event will be televised on CBS Sports Network. There will be also a “Game of the Week” broadcast on CBS television network each Sunday.

The South Point is the first Nevada casino operator to announce it will host an entertainment event. This isn’t a unique idea to the South Point. However, they are the first casino to announce they’ll be hosting a sporting event without fans in attendance.

Las Vegas Venues As Stages For TV Shows

During MGM Resorts’ first quarter earnings call the acting CEO Bill Hornbuckle said the company was looking for events to host at its Las Vegas casinos.

It was later revealed that a so-called MGM Plan was pitched to the NBA, NHL, and MLS. The plan calls for MGM Resorts properties (Mandalay Bay and Luxor for the NBA plan) to host teams, families, broadcasters, and staff for everyone involved. The international casino operator would host the whatever kind of season the leagues offer its TV partners.

The plan to build an insulated “bubble city” for leagues was unique for a minute. Now cities around the country are pitching themselves to the leagues to host various sporting events. The Ringer is reporting that Las Vegas is still one of the cities in the running to host the NBA.

The Cowboy Casino Hosting Cowboys

The South Point is often called the Cowboy Casino since they host a lot of events and entertainment geared towards cowboys. The casino-hotel is also home to the South Point Equestrian Center. This home for the ponies is one of the best indoor horse facilities in the country.

South Point Arena will host the 48 best bull riders in the PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge from June 5-28. The event will have many of the world’s top professional bull riders. The riders will be split into 12 teams and divisions. They will face off until two teams remain to compete for the championship.

Every night of competition will feature three “games.” Each event will comprise a head-to-head matchup of three riders from one team against three riders from another on the sport’s toughest bulls. These nightly games will lead into the televised broadcasts live from the South Point during the weekends.

The competitions each Friday and Saturday will air on CBS Sports Network. The South Point will soon post odds for the event in its sports betting app.

The South Point will use PBR safety protocols that debuted during three previous bull riding event weekends. The events will have a scaled-down crew, medical testing, functional separation, and everyone at the event will practice social distancing.

“We are proud to partner with the PBR in bringing the world’s best bull riders to the South Point Arena. There is no better place than Vegas Cowboy Central to put the sports and entertainment capital back on television. Las Vegas will always be here to entertain you, even if you can’t be here.” said Ryan Growney, General Manager of South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa.

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Marc Meltzer

Marc grew up on the mean streets of the South Bronx. He's the rare combination of Yankees and Jets fan which explains his often contrarian point of view. Marc is a freelance writer and social media consultant. Writing about steak, booze, gambling and Las Vegas is a tough job but somebody has to do it.

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