Unleash the Beast Series

Monster Beverage Corporation took over sponsorship of the PBR's Premier Series, replacing Ford Motor Company, including the new title of the Unleash the Beast Series. ==2020 season changes==

In March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous stops on the PBR schedule were either cancelled or rescheduled to later dates. In the spring in the United States, the PBR held events that were closed to the public, but in the summer, events were allowed to have limited and socially distanced crowds. The PBR's international tours in Canada and Australia were cleared to return later that year with similar rules for attendance, but there were no PBR events in Mexico and Brazil that year due to said countries' restrictions on large events. The PBR World Finals was moved from its usual location at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas because of Nevada state restrictions on large events to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The World Finals consisted of a limited and socially distanced audience throughout the event. The event's format changed to where all the top 35 point-earners, the Velocity Tour Champion, the top-three finishers from the Velocity Tour Finals, and the top finishing international invitee competed in the first three rounds. Only the top 30 riders based on total points returned for the fourth round. The top 15 riders after four rounds advanced to the Championship Round. ==2021 season changes==

The number of riders who qualified for the Championship Round at Unleash the Beast Series events was cut from 15 to 12. The PBR World Finals returned to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in 2021 and had an event format similar to the one from 2020. All contestants rode in Rounds 1 through 3, then the top 30 point earners in the event advanced to Round 4. The top 12 riders then competed in the Championship Round. This was the final season where the World Finals took place in Las Vegas. ==2022 season changes==

In the past, the Premier Series schedule consisted of events taking place throughout the regular calendar year with the concluding PBR World Finals taking place in the autumn. But in 2022, the season was shortened, taking place from winter to spring. All subsequent Premier Series seasons now run like this. The PBR World Finals moved from its longtime home in Las Vegas, Nevada, to Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Also, the event's format changed to a previous one that was used from 2004 through 2009. The World Finals was again an eight-round event split into two weekends where the first three rounds took place the first weekend, then the next five rounds took place the following weekend. The cut rules were changed for the 2022 World Finals. Previously, all riders participated in the first seven rounds before the cut based on the 15 highest scoring riders based on the combined score of the first seven rounds participated in the Championship Round. Starting in 2022, a two-tiered cut was imposed. The first cut, at the end of the sixth round, eliminated riders who failed to make a qualified ride. The second cut, at the end of the seventh round, was the top twelve riders in cumulative score who advance to the Championship Round. ==2023 season changes==

The number of riders on the Premier Series was increased from 35 to 40; the last time there were 40 riders in the Premier Series regular season was during the first five events of the 2012 season. Previously, points won by riders on the Premier Series, as well as the PBR's U.S. lower-level tours and international circuits counted for the world standings towards the world championship race. However, by 2023, only points won on the U.S. Premier Series counted towards the world championship race. From 2015 through 2022, the year-end champion from the U.S. PBR circuit's lower-level Velocity Tour, the top three finishers from the Velocity Tour Finals event, and the invitee rider representing one of PBR's four international circuits from Canada, Mexico, Brazil or Australia that placed the highest at the Velocity Tour Finals received wild-card berths; joining the top 35 riders who earned the most world points during the regular season at the PBR World Finals. In 2023, the rules were changed; the top 35 riders who earned the most points in the U.S. Premier Series (excluding the U.S. lower-level tours, as well as international tours) qualified for the World Finals. As did the Velocity Tour champion and the highest-finishing international invitee at the Velocity Tour Finals. However, instead of the top three finishers from the Velocity Tour Finals, they would now be joined by the top three finishers from the Velocity Global point standings that were not already qualified for the World Finals. ==2024 season changes==

The PBR World Finals were now an eight-day event taking place at two different venues in two different cities in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex; the first six days being held at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, then the final two days taking place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The World Finals' format was changed again. There are now ten rounds in eight days in a playoff-style competition: • The first four Elimination rounds are held at Cowtown Coliseum. The top 40 riders from the UTB standings, as well as the five wild-card riders from the Velocity Tour Finals, each ride one bull per round. After the conclusion of these rounds, the top 15 riders in the UTB standings, as well as the top five finishing riders from the Elimination rounds not already in the top 15 UTB standings, automatically qualify for the Championship rounds. The World Finals then take two days off before resuming. • The next two Ride for Redemption rounds are also held at Cowtown Coliseum. They feature the 25 riders that did not qualify for the Championship rounds via the Elimination rounds, as well as 15 invited riders. After the conclusion of these rounds, the top five finishing riders from the Redemption rounds move on to the Championship rounds. The World Finals then take another day off before resuming. • The final four Championship rounds are held at AT&T Stadium. They take place during the final two days of the World Finals. The final 25 riders compete in two rounds per day; their combined scores from the previous rounds having been wiped clean. The five riders that advanced from the Redemption rounds must successfully ride at least one bull in the first two Championship rounds in order to advance to the final two rounds. The rider who earns the most points throughout the Championship rounds is the World Finals event champion. The rider with the most UTB points at the conclusion of the fourth Championship round is the PBR World Champion. ==2025 season changes==

Beginning in 2025, the majority of UTB regular-season events include Team Series exhibition games known as the Monster Energy Team Challenge. They consist of two teams competing against each other after the completion of the first round of the regular UTB event. The Monster Energy Team Challenge events are broadcast on CBS. This iteration of the Monster Energy Team Challenge is not to be confused with the identically named Monster Energy Team Challenge from 2020, as the latter was a temporary series of events taking place during the COVID-19 shutdown and the riders were competing against each other as teams represented by some of the PBR's corporate sponsors. The former is a permanent series of events where teams of riders compete against each other while representing different regions of the United States as they do during the Camping World Team Series in the summer and autumn since 2022. In addition to being streamed live on PBR's YouTube channel, RidePass on Pluto TV, and PBR's mobile app, the 2025 World Finals were also televised live on The Cowboy Channel. ==2026 season changes==

Beginning in 2026, all qualified rides are now scored on a tenth-point (.1) increment. The Monster Energy Team Challenge now has four teams (two one-on-one matchups) during the first round of most UTB regular-season events. Also, a season champion for the series will be determined beginning this year. In 2026, the PBR World Finals will take place entirely in Fort Worth, Texas, for the first time since 2023. The first four days will be held at Cowtown Coliseum, then the next four days will be held at Dickies Arena. ==References==