Nashville's lineup goes by the name of the Stampede so when in Music City they are considered the home town team and they received the most cheers when all were introduced at the start of the matches. Although we may have been favoring the Stampede we certainly found ourselves rooting for all the athletes who were willing to get on the back of a 2,000-pound animal that is doing everything in its power to remove you. It is surprising how long eight seconds can be as we watched the battles. Not only do the humans have stats but the bulls do also. Some beasts have a 100% buck off record so if a rider achieves a qualifying ride on a highly rated bull they usually earn a higher score which can be important for the team as a few extra points can determine a win.

The Nashville Stampede in action; the Preds love the PBR; and, Brinson James always the entertainer with a little help from his canine friend.

Of course, the main draw of Stampede Days is bull riding but there is more. Outside the Bridgestone Arena was a stage for live music along with some vendors. Plus, there was a mechanical bull for fans to test their skills and two real bulls for folks to see for themselves how big these animals are. Inside there was some free stuff (thank you Texas Pete for the hot sauce), photo opportunities and a family friendly place to embrace the cowboy culture. Throughout the night there were a number of giveaways including Ariat boots and Brinson the PBR Entertainer came out with his dog and they performed a number of amusing tricks.

The opening ceremony at Stampede Days included the National Anthem along with a prayer which was a serious reminder that this sport is dangerous. Yes, there are precautions and quite a few riders do wear helmets but the fact of the matter is one can get stomped on or hit by these massive animals. It takes courage and expertise to be a bull rider or part of the safety crew whose sole purpose is distracting the brutes from the downed riders. We witnessed a number of charges while other bulls ran off before they were corralled off the main stage.

On Friday, both the Austin Gamblers and the Kansas City Outlaws who kicked things off set the bar high with impressive qualifying rides on some tough bulls. The Texas Rattlers who had the highest score for that night and the Missouri Thunder also had good rounds. The Stampede struggled on Friday but did better on Saturday with Nashville's Cody Jesus earning MVP.

These animal athletes and their riders put on a really big show in Nashville.

While they Stampede were defeated on Friday, they won games on Saturday and Sunday to improve their overall standings in the PBR Teams competition. Even more impressive - two of our courageous cowboys, Cody Jesus and Alan de Souza - managed to achieve qualified rides during all three of the weekend's games - turning in way above average performances that left fans with a perfect way to remember this year's Stampede Days by. But, they'll be back.

As the weekend in Nashville wrapped up it is safe to say that the concept of teams and the celebratory atmosphere of Stampede Days was a qualifying success. Stampede Days will return to the Bridgestone Arena August 19-21, 2026 and the Teams Championship is set for October 24-26, 2025 in Las Vegas.

Mae Estes makes music on the plaza; more sponsors on the scene.

Related Links: For more information on PBR STAMPEDE DAYS and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links - Professional Bull Riders | Bridgestone Arena | PBR Rides to New Heights at STAMPEDE DAYS in Nashville | PBR Teams and the Nashville Stampede Return for a Wild Weekend Campout in Music City