A Bull Bucks in Brooklyn: PBR Announces New Expansion Teams
The cities are locked in.
The team names are trademarked.
The homestands are set.
The waiting is over.
PBR Teams, the bull riding league heading toward its third season, today announced its highly anticipated expansion from 8 to 10 teams, unveiling the New York Mavericks based in Barclays Center and the Oklahoma Wildcatters in Oklahoma City at Paycom Center.
Brooklyn, home of Ralph Kramden, Tony Manero, Barbra Streisand, Jay J, the world’s best bagels, the first bearded hipsters, a tree that grows, and the world’s richest cheesecake, gets a team that will truly represent the entire Northeast.
And fans in Oklahoma, mourning the loss of the Freedom who had competed for two seasons in Oklahoma City before departing for sunny South Florida, aren’t left in the cold after all, thanks to local cowboy royalty Talor Gooch, 2023 LIV Golf Player of The Year.
Ten teams will compete in the now-lengthened 12-event PBR Camping World Team Series season beginning in July.
The New York Mavericks are owned by The Avenue Sports Fund, with the team’s inaugural homestand scheduled for Barclays Center on August 9-10.
Talor Gooch’s FJS Ventures has the Oklahoma Wildcatters, with their inaugural homestand on tap July 12-14 at Paycom Center, the opening weekend of the 12-event 2024 PBR Camping World Team Series season.
“The Avenue Sports Fund’s investment in the Mavericks represents an extraordinary opportunity to establish a professional sports team in a fast-growing, established league and bring it to the nation’s largest media market,” said Marc Lasry, Avenue Capital’s Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder. “Barclays Center is a world-class venue, and our goal is to build a championship bull riding team in the heart of Brooklyn to represent the entire state of New York.”
Avenue Capital Group recently launched the Avenue Sports Fund with the aim of providing capital solutions to a wide variety of established teams and leagues across the globe, as well as investments in emerging sports to capitalize on areas of exponential growth. Avenue Sports will also look to invest in sports-related media and entertainment, real estate, and other adjacent businesses.
The Oklahoma Freedom previously competed at Paycom Center for the league’s first two seasons, announcing a relocation to Florida following the 2023 season.
“Bringing a bull riding team back to Oklahoma where we intend to build a championship-caliber team in the state I love is a dream come true,” said Gooch, who grew up in Midwest City, Okla. “I’ve always been a PBR fan. Team competition makes the sport even more exciting, generates coverage, and creates rabid local fan bases. I’m very excited to join a successful and experienced ownership group working toward growing a sport with vast potential.”
Gooch, a 10-season professional golfer, alongside Preston Lyon, CEO/President of Lyon Sports Group, formed FJS Ventures to invest, operate and/or own sports properties. The Oklahoma Wildcatters is the company’s first business venture.
Gooch said Lyon knows Austin Dillon, General Manager of the Carolina Cowboys. Once a connection was made, the discussions to bring a team back to Oklahoma City took off.
After Gooch attended Freedom Days Teams event in Oklahoma City, observing the excitement when riders compete in five-on-five games, and the fun atmosphere that draws causal and new fans, he was sold.
He also immediately noticed similarities between LIV golf and PBR Teams, and the opportunity to grow a team in a city he loves.
“History runs deep here in Oklahoma,” Gooch said. “So many of my friends grew up around here in this world. While I didn’t grow up riding bulls, I was very aware of it. People are passionate about their sports in Oklahoma and their history. This sport and way of life is part of who Oklahomans are. I’m very proud of where I’m from. I want to continue to make sure Oklahomans are proud of who they were and who we are. (With this team) we’ll be able to do something Oklahomans are proud of.”
PBR Commissioner and CEO Sean Gleason, whose sport is riding a wave of 8 February sellouts in individual competition, believes that Gooch and the team at Avenue Sports Fund will build something special in each new Teams city.
“Avenue Sports Fund and Talor Gooch’s FJS Ventures are tremendous additions to the accomplished group of owners who have helped make PBR Teams one of the most successful professional sports league launches in the past 25 years,” Gleason said. “We’re thrilled to extend our commitment to the great fans in Oklahoma, while giving fans in the greater New York area a new team to rally behind.”
Both teams’ rosters will begin to take shape when up to six riders will be selected in the 2024 Expansion Draft, which is scheduled to be held in New York in early April.
Additional riders will fill out the roster when the 2024 New Rider Draft takes place. Finally, unrestricted free agency will also provide the two new teams the opportunity to fill out their roster.
In the 2023 season, PBR Teams broadcasts on CBS averaged more than 1 million viewers, according to Nielsen.
Gooch, who says he understands “how to add value to sponsors, get butts in seats, and get fans excited,” sees the league as brimming with potential for more growth.
“It was a no-brainer for this to be the first thing outside of golf that I’d get involved in,” he said.
