Kentucky residents had a different source of entertainment at Rupp Arena as the venue hosted the Professional Bull Riders Velocity Tour.
PBR was held from Friday, March 7, to Saturday, March 8 and featured bull riders from around the world. For some fans, their personal connections are what influenced them to attend PBR Lexington.
Jocelyn Bartmess, a nurse from Georgetown, said she came to the event with her two friends because it reminded her of home.
Bartmess, originally from Texas, said everything about the atmosphere, including the bulls, dirt arena and crowd reminded her of the memories of the rodeos she went to as a kid.
“It’s just so ingrained into everything that I did growing up, from going to dance halls, everybody drinking a beer, dancing, having a good time,” Bartmess said. “It really helps me to be back here.”
Nate Pierce, a father of two, said his sons were his reason for attending PBR Lexington on Friday.
“These little boys love the rodeo, love everything about farms,” Pierce said. “It’s their first one so they’re excited, can’t wait to get in there.”
Pierce said it has been several years since he last attended a rodeo, but since his sons were so excited to go, he said he was happy to accompany them.
Brayden Orberson, another rodeo fan, said he went to PBR Lexington because he wanted to introduce his girlfriend’s younger brother to bull riding.
“I went to the rodeo, maybe when I was his age, and he’s never been to one,” Orberson said. “So I was like, we should go and just see if he likes it.”
According to Orberson, his past experience with rodeos sparked his love for bull riding and PBR as a whole.
“I loved it (bull riding). It was actually this very event where I waited a few hours after it ended so I could get my hat signed by all the people that participated in the bull riding,” Orberson said. “I loved it ever since.”
Orberson, a Woodford County resident, said whenever there are fairs in his hometown, he always goes and watches because he enjoys the energy of bull riding.
“I’m from Versailles and whenever we have fairs back home I always go,” Oberson said. “I just love the energy. It’s so electric.”
