The Cooper Tires Invitational

For the 3rd time this month I went to the Allstate Arena. Today’s Professional Bull Riding event was far more eventful than I remembered from Anaheim – the main reason probably being that more riders seemed to get seriously injured. One rider broke his cheekbone and eye socket, another had a concussion, another rider was carried off on a stretcher after a bull bucked him into the gate, and a couple other riders were dragged around by their foot when their rope did not come undone as planned.

You can compare the injury reports from each PBR event by clicking on each Box Score.

I found a woman with an extra ticket as she was entering the arena. I thought she was giving me a $30 ticket for free, but balked when I said thanks for the ticket. She asked for $20 but I told her I was only planning to pay $10. She reluctantly accepted $10. The Arena operators raised parking from the usual $11 to $15 for today’s event.

Pro Bull Riding

For the 3rd time this year, I will be going to see the Professional Bull Riders. I was in the Los Angeles area when the tour was at the Honda Center in Anaheim and went on Friday and Saturday night. The weekend in Anaheim had more events (Friday, Saturday and Sunday vs. Saturday and Sunday in Chicago) and ticket prices were higher – cheapest seat in Anaheim was $23.50 vs. $12 in Chicago.

This is not the first time the PBR has come to Chicago but the first time I have been able to go. The event would be a much higher priority for me if I had not already seen the tour in Anaheim but I will still go today to see what the Allstate Arena looks like submerged under a lot of dirt.