The promoter of a professional bull riding circuit that is scheduled for a show at The Arena in Corbin this weekend said Tuesday that the show will almost certainly be cancelled unless ticket sales pick up dramatically.
Bob Sauber, President and Events Coordinator for the Professional Championship Bullriders Tour, said only 500 tickets have been sold thus far for the Saturday show planned for The Arena.
"The Professional Championship Bull Riders Tour features 35 of the nation’s top riders battling some of the toughest bulls in the world," claims a press release about the event.
"Oh yeah, I’m almost about to cancel," said Sauber, who has promoted the event only through select radio stations and cable television. "I’m baffled. As of right now, I don’t think we are going to do it."
Sauber said he would make a final decision about the show Thursday night.
Grammy Award nominated country music artist Jake Owen is slated to perform in concert following the bullriding portion of the event. An RCA Records recording artist, Owen released his debut album "Startin’ with Me" in 2005. His follow up album, "Easy Does It," released last year, has produced hit singles "Don’t Think I Can’t Love You" and "Eight Second Ride."
Arena General Manager Cliff Clinger said he thinks there could be a significant "walk-up" crowd for the PCB Tour, and called it a good combination event.
"It’s a good event on a good night," Clinger said. "Jake Owen is a well known performer. If you are a 100 percent bullriding fan, then the concert is just icing on the cake. If you are concert fan, then the bullriding is some good entertainment that will be a prelude to the concert."
Owen has appeared in Corbin before. He played a free concert at the NIBROC Festival in 2007.
Clinger said he’s been working closely with Sauber to try to cut trade out advertising deals with local radio stations to promote the event in the final days before it is scheduled to happen. He said both he and the promoter remain "very optimistic" that ticket sales will pick up dramatically.
"During the holidays, ticket sales always slow down because people just really aren’t focused on that … there’s a lot of factors that come into play."
Sauber said at least 2,000 tickets need to be sold to keep the Corbin date. He said the PCB Tour is scheduled to make its next stop in Cincinnati Jan. 16 and that ticket sales there are brisk.
"As far as an entertainer on stage, Jake Owen is great. He’s energetic and really keeps the whole show going," Sauber said. "That’s the part of it that kind of has me shocked right now. I thought he would draw more ticket sales than this."
Originally, the PCB Bullriders Tours was set to be a two-night event in Corbin – Friday and Saturday. It was scaled back to just a one-night-only show in December.
Tickets for the Professional Championship Bull Riders Tour are on sale now and priced at $19.50, $26, $34 and $44. Tickets for children ages 2-12 are $11.
For more information about the tour, go to www.pcbtour.com.
