Not many can say they’re genuinely brave enough to sit on top of a 1,200lbs bucking machine who wants nothing more than to throw you off. Most wince at the sight of it. Fear factors and all, bull riding is notorious to fans for its high intensity and excitement.
For the 12th time in 13 years, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) is coming back to the Hampton Coliseum with the Velocity Tour Feb. 6-7, 2026. Officials are calling it “the rankest bulls and toughest cowboys square up against each other.”
The event will consist of the top 35 riders to appear in the preliminary two rounds, “taking on some of the sport’s toughest bulls.” After the first two rounds are concluded, the top 10 riders with the highest accumulated scores will secure a spot at the chance of the event title.
The points acquired, Velocity points, will go towards the Velocity Global Standings, which determines who is qualified for the season’s finale in Corpus Christi, Texas.
For members of the Christopher Newport University community, the Coliseum is located approximately 20 minutes from the main campus.
The event on Friday, Feb. 6 will take place at 8 p.m. and the event Saturday, Feb. 7 will take place at 7 p.m.
Tickets for the event can be purchased at the box office (which is open Tuesdays through Friday from 10a.m. – 4 p.m.) Or, online at Ticketmaster.com and PBR.com.
Event Fast Facts:
- 750 tons of dirt (1.5 million pounds) are brought in to transform Hampton Coliseum into a bull-riding mecca.
- The dirt is a special clay-sand blend establishing a firm enough surface for the bulls to buck hard but soft enough so that every rider is not injured when thrown like a rag doll.
- It takes 7 semi-trucks to haul in the equipment for the event.
- A crew of about 30 works around the clock to prepare the venue.
- Over 50 of the rankest bucking bulls on the planet will be on site.
- PBR bulls are remarkable animal athletes born to buck. Each is a member of a special breed: The American Bucking Bull.
- By virtue of competing in PBR, they get the best food and care, avoiding a very brief career in the meat packing industry.
- The average PBR bull weighs 1,800 pounds.
- The average bull rider? Just 140 lbs.
All of the information above was provided to The Captain’s Log directly from a PBR representative.
