Austin Gamblers bring bull riding back to Moody Center
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The Austin Gamblers will host Gambler Days for three days at the Moody Center. Photo: Courtesy of Austin Gamblers
Professional bull riding (PBR) will take over Moody Center this weekend during the Austin Gamblers' fifth annual Gambler Days.
Why it matters: You don't need to know a flank strap from a cowboy hat to get into it. The three-day event combines bull riding with live music, a fan festival and after-parties.
How it works: Bull riders compete in five-on-five team matchups throughout the season, culminating in a championship in Las Vegas.
- Riders have to stay on the bull for 8 seconds to earn a score. In the PBR Team Series, each team’s qualified rides are added together and the team with the highest total wins the matchup.
State of play: The Austin Gamblers, the city's first and only professional bull riding team, won the PBR Teams championship in 2024 and two regular season titles.
- They're currently No. 6 in the league with five wins and six losses.
What to watch: The Gamblers face their fellow Texas team, Fort Worth's Rattlers, on Friday before taking on the Florida Freedom on Saturday and the Carolina Cowboys on Sunday.
- Look out for José Vitor Leme, the three-time PBR World Champion and the Gamblers' No. 1 overall pick when PBR Teams launched in 2022. The Gamblers re-signed him in July.
- Catch the action Friday through Sunday at Moody Center, with tickets starting at $34.
Zoom in: There's a lot happening beyond the competition. Fan Fest runs from Friday to Sunday with live entertainment, local vendors and interactive experiences at Moody Center. Each day ends with an after-party at White Horse.
- Country singer Dustin Lynch performs before bull riding kicks off Friday, and Nelly will cap Saturday's festivities.
- Tejano Queen Forever performs on the Fan Fest stage at 12:30pm Sunday.
What they're saying: "Five years of Gambler Days is a milestone worth celebrating, and we want this year’s event to reflect just how far we’ve come alongside our fans,” JJ Gottsch, CEO of the Austin Gamblers, said in a statement.
- "There’s an energy that takes over Austin when the best bull riders in the world step into the arena, and Gambler Days has grown into a weekend that captures that excitement well beyond the competition."
What's next: Kick off the weekend with the team and other PBR riders at the Yeti Flagship store from 4:30 to 6:30pm Thursday.