What is the Most Popular Event in Rodeo? Bull riding is the most popular event in rodeo – the finale that draws the largest crowds and TV viewers, and the only event with its own major league. See the proof. Explore its thrilling rules, scoring, history, and safety. Get statistics about its growing fan base and the psychology behind its appeal.
Bull riding is the most popular event in rodeo. By every practical measure – where the program sits, how many people come to watch, how much television it draws, and whether it can stand on its own – the leadership of the bull riding.
It is the event rodeos save for last to send the crowd home on a high, and it is the only one to launch its own major professional league, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR), which attracted more than 1.43 million fans and more than 44 million TV viewers in 2025.
- Bull riding is the headliner. It runs last at almost every rodeo – the finale – because it is the most dramatic and dangerous event and sends fans home on the highest possible high.
- It’s the only event with its own major league. The PBR was founded in 1992 by 20 bull riders precisely because they thought the event was popular enough to make headlines on its own.
- The audience numbers are huge and growing. PBR drew 1M+ fans and 31M CBS viewers in 2023, 1.43M fans in 2024, and a record crowd plus 44M+ viewers in 2025.
- “Popular” matters. Barrel racing is the marquee event for women and the main draw at many rodeos. From the spectator and TV side, though, bull riding is the clear leader.
- Simplicity drives the appeal. One rider, one bull, eight seconds, one hand. Anyone can understand the target immediately — no statistics needed.
- It’s riding a cultural wave tied to Western fashion, Yellowstone, and Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter – but its status as rodeo’s showpiece long predates that moment.
Table of Contents
| 1992 | 1.43M+ | 44M+ | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| PBR was founded by 20 riders | PBR fans (2024; record broken in 2025) | TV viewers in 2025 | Bull riding’s slot in the show |
Why Bull Riding Wins The Popularity Contest?
There are seven standard rodeo events, and they’re all worth watching. But if you ask who buys tickets, who the broadcasts are built around, and who has broken into mainstream culture, the answer is the same every time. Four things keep bull riding at the top.
It’s the finale – by design
Rodeos run their events deliberately, and the bull ride almost always comes last. Producers save it for last because it’s the most dramatic and dangerous moment of the night, guaranteed to send the crowd home talking. This placement is no accident. It’s a statement about what the show is about.
The goal is instantly understandable
A rider has to stay aboard a bucking bull for eight seconds using one hand on a flat braided rope. That’s it. You don’t need to understand the nuances of scoring or track season standings to feel the strain of a man on top of a 1,500- to 2,000-pound animal. Timed events like prize skills to appreciate; bull riding rewards a pulse.
The stakes are visceral
Bull riding is routinely called “the most dangerous eight seconds in sports.” The real danger – which bullfighters and medical staff stand by with every ride – is exactly what makes it magnetic to watch. Man vs. beast is the oldest spectacle there is, and rodeo delivers it live.
It’s the only event big enough to leave home
No other rodeo event has spawned a standalone global league. Bull riding has. That fact alone – that this one event can break out on its own and fill NBA arenas all by itself – is the strongest testament to its popularity compared to the rest of the card.
The Seven Rodeo Events, And Where Bull Riding Sits
To see why bull riding is different, it helps to look at the entire card. Each event is either roughstock (you ride a stock animal, judged on a 100-point scale) or timed (you race the clock). Bull riding is a roughstock event that closes at night.
The standard rodeo events & program order
Every event is roughstock (ride a bucking animal, judged /100) or timed (race the clock). Bull riding closes the night.
| Order | Event | Type | Crowd role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bareback riding | Roughstock | Explosive opener |
| 2 | Steer wrestling | Timed | Fast, physical |
| 3 | Team roping | Timed | Technical duo event |
| 4 | Saddle bronc riding | Roughstock | Rodeo’s “classic” event |
| 5 | Tie-down roping | Timed | Precision under pressure |
| 6 | Barrel racing | Timed | Marquee women’s event |
| 7 | Bull riding | Roughstock | The finale — headline act |
Order can vary by rodeo, but bull riding is virtually always last. Breakaway roping is a fast-growing modern eighth event. Team roping joined the NFR in 1962, barrel racing in 1967. Sources: PRCA event guides; NFR history.
The Data: A Sport On A Genuine Tear
Popularity is easy to claim, hard to prove. Here are the numbers to prove it. Both attendance and television ratings climbed sharply during 2020.
PBR live attendance by year
Fans through the turnstiles at PBR events. 2025 set a new record above 2024.
2023 “more than one million” and 2024 “1.43 million” are reported figures; PBR states 2025 broke the 2024 record but hasn’t published a final count, so it’s shown as a record without a precise number. Sources: Front Office Sports, PBR.
PBR television reach
Season TV viewers. The 2025 figure reflects an expanded CBS + CW broadcast footprint.
2023 = 31 million on CBS; 2025 = more than 44 million across CBS and The CW. Different network mixes — read as trend, not a like-for-like comparison. Sources: Front Office Sports, PBR.
Add in the surrounding signals and the picture is the same: a 23% increase in ticket sales from 2022 to 2023, 38 separate events sold out this year, more than 2.5 million followers on TikTok and Instagram, and a CBS broadcast partnership now extended through 2030. It’s no particular curiosity. It’s one of the most spectacular sports on network television.
Safety in the Spotlight: Protecting Cowboys and Animal Welfare
The inherent danger of bull riding is undeniable. Riders routinely face the risk of serious injury from the 1,500- to 2,000-pound animals. The sport has developed comprehensive safety protocols to address these risks.
- Bullfighters: Formerly known as rodeo clowns, these highly trained athletes are dedicated to distracting the bull and distracting it from the fallen rider, preventing potential attacks and injuries.
- Protective gear: Modern riders wear protective vests, helmets, and mouthguards as standard equipment to minimize injury from impacts and kicks.
- Animal welfare: The sport faces scrutiny from animal rights advocates. In response, organizations like the PBR emphasize animal care, stating that bull injuries are rare, with a career-ending injury occurring about once every 5,000 rides. They note that only two bulls have been euthanized due to competition injuries since 2006. Bulls are valuable athletes, and their health is paramount to the sport.
Case Study: Bull Riding Takes Brooklyn
The clearest snapshot of bull riding’s crossover appeal came in August 2024, when the PBR held its first event at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Crews trucked in more than 750 tons of dirt to cover the floor of Nate and Liberty’s home – the first time that had happened in the arena’s history – and more than 10,000 fans filled the building. Longtime followers mingled with first-time visitors who had never seen rodeo. One newcomer summed up the appeal by saying that you don’t have to know a single rider to get into it.
She captures the thesis of this entire article in one night: an event that is simple enough to catch a Manhattan newcomer, dramatic enough to fill an NBA arena, and marketable enough to put on a rodeo in the middle of Brooklyn.
Safety And Animal Welfare, Briefly
The danger that draws fans is real, and the sport has been built around it. Bullfighters (athletes sometimes called rodeo clowns) protect fallen riders. Competitors wear vests, and increasingly helmets and mouthguards. As for the animals, the PBR says bulls are elite, well-cared-for athletes and that serious injuries are rare – on the order of one career-ending injury per several thousand rides, by the league’s own count. Those are industry figures, and animal welfare advocates disagree about how the sport should be judged. Our dedicated piece on the ethics of bull riding covers both sides.
Why It Resonates: Culture, Not Just Adrenaline
Part of the appeal of bull riding is social. Human-animal researcher Philip Tedeschi explains that rodeo is woven into regional cultural identities from childhood – through youthful events like mutton busting and the visibility of riders who become well-paid stars – which helps explain why it maintains a loyal audience even as other animal spectacles decline. These cultural roots, layered on top of the raw spectacle, are a big reason why the eight-second ride maintains its hold on the crowd.
2025–2026: Where The Headline Event Is Heading
Bull riding has taken the momentum right into the present. In 2025, José Vitor Leme completed the biggest comeback in PBR history – more than 18 – to claim a record third world championship and set a single-season earnings record of more than $2.15 million, making him the richest athlete in Western sports. In May 2026, John Crimber was crowned PBR World Champion and his top prize was $1 million. On the PRCA side, Stetson Wright won the 2025 world bull riding title at the NFR.
Frequently Asked Questions for What is the Most Popular Event in Rodeo?
Why is bull riding so popular?
A simple, immediately understandable objective (eight seconds, one hand on), real danger, a dramatic man vs. beast story, and innovative marketing by PBR. It also fits neatly into today’s Western cultural moment.
Is bull riding always the last event?
A: A perfect score is 100 points, with 50 points coming from the rider’s performance and 50 points from the bull’s performance.
What’s the most popular women’s rodeo event?
Barrel racing. This is the marquee women’s event and a common focus at many rodeos, and it hosts the rapidly growing Women’s Rodeo World Championship, as well as breakaway roping and team roping.
Q4: What makes a bull “good” for riding?
A: A top-quality bucking bull is one that is powerful, athletic, and unpredictable. Their bucking is a natural behavior, and their performance is tracked statistically, with a “bovine champion” crowned each year.
Q5: Why is bull riding considered the most popular rodeo event?
A: It combines a simple goal with extreme danger and high stakes. The direct, visual confrontation between a lone cowboy and a powerful animal creates a dramatic, easily understood spectacle that resonates deeply with the audience.
How is bull riding scored?
Out of 100 points: 50 for the rider (control and form) and 50 for the bull (power and difficulty). The judges score both. A rider in the 90s is unusual. Slapping the animal or failing to reach eight seconds means no score.
Is bull riding the same as rodeo?
No. Bull riding is an event within rodeo. Confusingly, it’s also a standalone sport (PBR) built entirely around this one event – which is part of why it’s often mistaken for rodeo as a whole.
Sources and References
- Front Office Sports – “Pro Rodeo Is Going All In on America’s Western Culture Obsession” (Aug 27, 2024). frontofficesports.com. Used for: 23% ticket rise, 38 sellouts, 1M+ fans, 31M CBS viewers, Barclays debut details.
- PBR – “Starting 2026 off with a buck and a bang” (Jan 2, 2026). pbr.com. Used for: 1.43M fans (2024), 2025 record, 44M+ viewers, MSG return.
- PBR – “New PBR broadcast deals…” (May 2024). pbr.com. Used for: CBS deal through 2030.
- EBSCO Research Starters – “Bull riding.” ebsco.com. Used for: PBR founding rationale; World Finals format.
- PBR – “Jose Vitor Leme… 2025 World Champion” (May 18, 2025). pbr.com. Used for: 2025 champion, earnings record.
- NBC 5 DFW – “PBR World Finals ends Sunday with a $1 million champion” (May 18, 2026). nbcdfw.com. Used for: John Crimber, 2026 champion.
- Sentient Media – “Why Rodeos Are Still Popular…” (2024). sentientmedia.org. Used for: Philip Tedeschi on cultural identity / normalization.
- Expedia / NFR ticket info – event history. expedia.com. Used for: seven NFR events; team roping added 1962, barrel racing 1967.
- ABC Rodeo – “Bull Riding.” abcrodeo.com. Used for: bull riding as a crowd favorite; one-hand/no-score rules.