DFW’s National Champion Team to Host Three Signature Events Across Texas in the 2026 Season; Including Midland/Odessa, Decatur, and Fort Worth
The Ariat Texas Rattlers, Dallas/Fort Worth’s professional bull riding team and 2023 PBR Team Series world champions, today marked Texas Independence Day with the launch of “Ride for Texas” — a major 2026 state-wide expansion plan that solidifies the team as an industry leader in one of the fastest-growing sports in America. As Fort Worth’s only professional sports franchise, the Rattlers have already brought home a world title and hosted four annual homestands at Dickies Arena. Now, the team is expanding its footprint as the primary producer of two additional PBR-sanctioned events in the Permian Basin and Decatur — PBR Chevron Showdown (June 4, 2026) and Ariat Texas Rattlers Ride for Decatur (June 6, 2026), respectively. The move is intended to create more opportunities for athletes to compete at an elite level and for fans to experience the sport in their own communities, as the team gives back through its charitable initiatives.
In celebration of Texas Independence Day, tickets for both newly produced PBR Challenger Series events go on sale today, March 2.
When asked about the major additions to the 2026 season and the team’s new initiative, Ariat Texas Rattlers President Chad Blankenship said, ”In five short years, we’ve gone from launching a new professional bull riding team to producing three major PBR events across the state of Texas. That growth is intentional. As we compete across the country, we carry the flag for all Texans. Ride for Texas is our commitment to showing up in our fan communities across the State with elite competition, civic impact and long-term presence.”
The Ride for Texas initiative serves as the foundation for the team’s 2026 season, bridging elite competition with deep community investment. Complementing the team’s major PBR Team Series Ariat Texas Rattlers Homestand (Oct. 2-4, 2026) at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, new to this year and at the center of this expansion is the Rattlers leadership in the production of two PBR sanctioned events.
Kicking off the 2026 calendar, Chevron and the Ariat Texas Rattlers will team up once again to return to the Ector County Coliseum in Odessa on June 4, 2026, for the third annual PBR Chevron Showdown. The one-night event combines elite PBR Teams riders in competition with Odessa College Rodeo Wranglers bull riders. The event includes substantial community impact via two programs. First, a portion of ticket proceeds directly benefit the OC Rodeo team. Second, the “$800 for 8” initiative, through which Chevron donates $800 to charities throughout Texas for every qualified ride the Rattlers earn during the Showdown, as well as every Rattlers ride throughout the PBR Team Series season. To date, Chevron has donated more than $160,000 to Texas charities on behalf of the Rattlers through $800 for 8, reinforcing the team’s commitment to riding for more than just the scoreboard.
Immediately following the Chevron Showdown, the Rattlers will debut a newly branded competition: Ariat Texas Rattlers Ride for Decatur on June 6, 2026. The Ariat Texas Rattlers have officially added this event to their 2026 lineup, taking the reins of the legacy competition. Established in the early 2000s and recognized as a multi-time PBR Venue of the Year, the former JW Hart Challenge event has hosted virtually every PBR World Champion in the sport’s history. When news broke in 2025 that the long-time local producers would no longer be able to organize the beloved event, the Rattlers stepped in to preserve and maintain its longstanding charitable structure, with proceeds from Ride for Decatur benefiting 1000 Miles till Home and continuing the event’s 20+ year tradition of reinvesting in Wise County. To date, the event has generated well over $1 million for local causes, including significant support for veterans through the 1000 Miles till Home initiative. By incorporating this storied stop into their schedule, the Rattlers will continue the event’s deep-rooted commitment to community impact and elite professional bull riding in Wise County.
Following the individual competition phase, the season shifts in July to the PBR Team Series, an elite national league in which the Rattlers compete in five-on-five games against nine other team franchises in a 13-event season across the country. Since its 2021 inception, the Team Series has modernized the sport by integrating traditional major league sports elements like team rosters and franchise-based fandom. In Texas, the 2026 season culminates with the year’s most anticipated event with the Ariat Texas Rattlers Team Series Homestand at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth from October 2–4, 2026. This three-day showdown remains the pinnacle of professional Western sports in North Texas, featuring the world’s premier riders in a high-stakes battle for the 2026 Championship.
“This expansion represents something bigger than single nights of competition,” Blankenship finished by saying. “In communities like Decatur and Midland/Odessa, professional bull riding is woven into the fabric of daily life — built on hard work, resilience, service and deep pride for Texan and American values. As the sport grows, it’s our responsibility to honor those roots while leading its next chapter. By preserving legacy events, investing in their future and building meaningful ties in the Permian Basin and greater DFW, we’re carrying forward the momentum of professional bull riding across Texas and beyond.”
Tickets for the June 4th PBR Chevron Showdown event are on sale now and can be purchased online at ETIX.com or at the Ector County Coliseum box office. Tickets include all-in pricing and start at $26.82. For more details and information; see full release HERE.
Tickets for the June 6th Ariat Texas Rattlers Ride for Decatur event are on sale now and can be purchased online at Prekindle.com or at the Wise County Fairgrounds box office. Tickets include all-in pricing and start at $29.72 for adults. For more details and information; see full release HERE.
For more information about the Ariat Texas Rattlers, visit texasrattlers.com, Texas Rattlers on Facebook, or @texasrattlersofficial on Instagram.
For more information about the Ariat Texas Rattlers or to set up an interview, please contact Ivy Lopez at ivy@hollandcollective.co.
EVENTS AT-A-GLANCE
DETAILS:
- Chevron Showdown – Odessa, TX
- WHEN: Thursday June 4, 2026 | 7:00 PM
- WHERE: Ector County Coliseum | 4201 Andrews Hwy, Odessa, TX 79762
- Tickets start at $26.82 and are available at ETIX.com or the Ector County Coliseum box office.
- Ride For Decatur – Decatur, TX
- WHEN: Saturday June 6, 2026 | 7:30 PM
- WHERE: Wise County Fairgrounds | 3101 FM 51, Decatur, TX 762Z
- Website: https://texasrattlers.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pbrtxrattlers/
- Instagram: @texasrattlersofficial
ABOUT THE ARIAT TEXAS RATTLERS
The Ariat Texas Rattlers are Dallas-Fort Worth’s first-ever professional bull riding team, competing in the PBR Teams league. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, the Rattlers will host their 2026 Rattler Days homestand Oct. 2-4 at Dickies Arena, bringing three days of world-class bull riding to the heart of Cowtown. Led by Rattlers President Chad Blankenship and Head Coach and PBR co-founder Cody Lambert, the Rattlers etched their name in the history books as the 2023 PBR Teams Champions. The Rattlers are owned by the Fisher Family and Fort Worth entrepreneur and civic leader Leonard Firestone.
The Fisher Family’s investments span footwear and apparel, real estate, timberland and forest products, education, and sports, including ownership of the Oakland Athletics (MLB) and San Jose Earthquakes (MLS). Through its Ariat brand, the Official Boot of PBR, the Fisher Family has been a longtime supporter of PBR. The family is also actively involved with several philanthropic causes, including SFMOMA, The KIPP Foundation, and UCSF.
Leonard Firestone was a co-founder of the Firestone & Robertson Distilling Company, producer of the highly regarded TX Whiskey and TX Bourbon brands. A former Fort Worth City Councilman, he currently serves on the Board of Managers for the John Peter Smith (JPS) Health Network. serving the healthcare needs of Tarrant County.
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