Bull Riding Bringing in Big Bucks for Oklahoma City

By Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The best of the best bull riders are showing off their skills at the Professional Bull Riders competition this weekend at the Ford Center, and the national event is expected to bring in big bucks for Oklahoma City.

The city is expecting to make $2.5 million from the PBR competition. Local restaurants and shops around Bricktown said they have already seen a boom in business this weekend.

"Business has been real good, with Valentine's Day and the weather, with PBR. You can see a lot of people and we're expecting a lot more throughout the day," said Dean Alfaro, Toby Keith's Restaurant manager.

Thousands of fans from across the country and competitors from around the world are in town.

"Tourism in general is good news because tourism is predominantly new money coming into the community. As I said 20 to 25 percent of attendees will be people outside of town. That's money that we absolutely would not have had," said Mike Carrier, with the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

PBR runs through Sunday. City officials expect about 24,000 people to turnout in Oklahoma City this weekend.

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