FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2014
Contact: Kelsey Johnson, Marketing/PR Coordinator
[email protected] or 402-614-2563
RFD-TV’s THE AMERICAN returns to AT&T Stadium March 1, 2015
The World’s Richest one-day Rodeo pays $2,000,000
OMAHA, Neb. (May 21, 2014) – RFD-TV is proud to announce the second RFD-TV’s THE AMERICAN Presented by Polaris RANGER will be held March 1, 2015. The world’s richest one-day rodeo will return to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, to payout $2 million to the day’s victors and award over half a million dollars in prizes.
Athletes will battle through qualifiers, Semifinals and World Finals for a chance to compete at the home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Tune into RFD-TV for a 1-hour LIVE Special “Road to THE AMERICAN” at 9 p.m. (ET). Host Justin McKee will speak to Rural Media Group CEO and President, Randy Bernard, and Polaris RANGER Marketing Specialist, Chris Vogtman. Featured guests will be 2014 THE AMERICAN Bareback Champion, Richmond Champion and 2014 THE AMERICAN Tie-Down Champion Tyson Durfey.
“We reached all the goals we set for the inaugural AMERICAN and we’re ready to raise the bar for the next one,” stated Randy Bernard, President and CEO of Rural Media Group. “Support from our viewers and rodeo fans has been pouring in and it’s thanks to them and our sponsors that THE AMERICAN will happen again.”
“Polaris RANGER was proud to be part of the first-ever AMERICAN rodeo,” said Beth Shimanski, marketing manager for Polaris RANGER. “We are thrilled to continue our sponsorship for 2015 and look forward to another spectacular event showcasing the amazing talent, hard work and dedication these athletes bring to this amazing sport.”
The road to THE AMERICAN and Cowboy’s AT&T Stadium has three routes. The top contestants in the world receive automatic invitations to compete at THE AMERICAN. The second route is through exemptions extended to outstanding athletes who no longer compete regularly and are willing to prove their records.
The third route is the longest, but also the most rewarding. This route begins with qualifying events conducted by the sanctioning bodies of Better Barrel Races, Professional Bull Riders, Professional Rough Stock Series, Ultimate Calf Roping and United States Team Roping Championships.
After qualifying at any of the top-quality events held around the country, qualifiers must then make it through another round of competition at RFD-TV’s THE AMERICAN Semifinals. The top qualifiers in each event advance to AT&T Stadium and are eligible for the $1 million side pot. To win a share of the $1 million, a qualifier must win their event at RFD-TV’s THE AMERICAN, beating out the best in the world.
RFD-TV’s THE AMERICAN is committed to invigorating the sport and building a brighter future for today’s youth. To help accomplish this, a new path has been added to the road to THE AMERICAN. An automatic bid into the Semifinals will be awarded to each event champion of the 7 traditional event champions of the National High School Rodeo Finals held in Rock Springs, Wyoming July 13-19.
AT&T Stadium will once again host the multi-million dollar western sports weekend which includes the PBR’s Iron Cowboy VI, part of the Built Ford Tough Series, taking place on Saturday, February 28, 2015.
“Combining the PBR’s popular Iron Cowboy event with THE AMERICAN gave our fans the ultimate two-day western sports competition,” said PBR Chairman and CEO Jim Haworth. “The best PBR bull riders in the world were showcased on one day and rodeo’s most talented athletes on the next each presented on the world’s greatest stage – AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys. It doesn’t get any better than that.”
Haworth added, “It’s an excellent combination that elevates the profile of our athletes to a level they not only deserve but have earned and gives our fans and sponsors spectacular entertainment and value for their investment.”
March 2, 2014 was a thrilling and record-breaking day for western sports and RFD-TV. Viewers and fans enjoyed the dual arena action witnessing historical rides and runs from Invited, Exemptions and Qualifiers. With a top score of 90 points or better in all three rough stock events and lightning fast times posted in the four timed events, every contestant left it all in the arena.
Perhaps authenticating his name, Richmond Champion was the biggest champion of the day, leaving AT&T Stadium $1.1 million dollars richer. Champion was the lone qualifier to beat the world champions in any event to take home the Bareback Championship and the $1 million dollar side pot.
The reigning 2014 RFD-TV’s THE AMERICAN Champions are Richmond Champion (Bareback); Hunter Cure (Steer Wrestling); Wade Sundell (Saddle Bronc); Kaleb Driggers and Patrick Smith (Team Roping); Tyson Durfey (Tie-Down Roping); Lisa Lockhart (Barrel Racing); J.B. Mauney (Bull Riding)
“Having a rodeo at AT&T Stadium and the grandeur of that place was pretty amazing. (THE AMERICAN) is something that everyone should get to experience,” said Hunter Cure, THE AMERICAN 2014 Steer Wrestling Champion.
“Golf has the Masters. Football has the Super Bowl. Rodeo has THE AMERICAN,” said 8x World Champion and rodeo legend, Larry Mahan. “Showcasing the elite cowboys, cowgirls and animal athletes, this rodeo is named THE AMERICAN for a reason. We celebrate the greatest sport and the greatest nation. It’s about our Western heritage of community, traditional values, family, friends and neighbors, excellence, hard work and love of country.”
For more information visit www.americanrodeo.com and follow @RFDTVAmerican on Twitter.
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Notes to Editors:
About RFD-TV’s THE AMERICAN Presented by Polaris RANGER: For the second straight year THE AMERICAN will be held at Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium on March 1, 2015. RFD-TV’s THE AMERICAN Presented by Polaris RANGER is the world’s richest one-day rodeo. With $2 million on the line, the best athletes in the world will gather in Arlington to compete in one epic day of raw rodeo will, skill and power. The inaugural event paid out $2 million dollars and crowned the first million dollar cowboy when underdog Richmond Champion was the only qualifier to win his event. Champion, a 21-year-old bareback rider from The Woodlands, Texas won $1.1 million dollars on March 2, 2014. For more information, please visit www.americanrodeo.com and www.RFDTV.com. Follow us on Twitter @RFDTVAmerican or find us on Facebook: RFD-TV’s THE AMERICAN.
About Rural Media Group, Inc.: Rural Media Group, Inc. is the world’s leading provider of multimedia content dedicated to the rural and western lifestyle. RMG is the parent company of RFD-TV, FamilyNet, RURAL TV, RURAL RADIO on SiriusXM channel 80, RFD-TV the Magazine and RFD-TV the Theatre. RFD-TV, the flagship network for RMG, launched in December 2000. RFD-TV is the nation’s first 24-hour television network dedicated to serving the needs and interests of rural America with programming focused on agriculture, equine, rural lifestyle, traditional country music and entertainment. RMG acquired FamilyNet, America’s trusted entertainment network dedicated to providing wholesome and responsible viewing choices for today’s diverse family. RURAL TV produces rural business news covering commodity markets for both cash and futures. Daily productions include Market Day Report and the Rural Evening News. RMG networks are distributed into more than 63-million homes worldwide by DBS, telco and cable systems including DISH Network, DIRECTV®, Comcast, Verizon FiOS TV, AT&T U-Verse, Mediacom, Charter, Brighthouse, Suddenlink, Time Warner, Cox, and more than 600 independent rural cable systems. RFD-TV The Magazine is the print programming guide for the networks, which has attracted over 200,000 paid subscribers. RFD-TV The Theatre is a 2000 capacity soft seat venue in Branson, MO where entertainment programming is produced. Corporate headquarters are in Omaha, NE, and production operations are in Nashville, TN. For more information, visit www.rfdtv.com, www.myruraltv.com and www.familynet.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @OfficialRFDTV @RURALTV @FamilyNet @RURALRADIO80 @WesternSportsUP @RFDTVAmerican