Professional Bull Riders CEO Jim
Haworth said that WME/IMG bought the
bull riding circuit "from Spire Capital Partners, expanding the
company’s footprint in live events," according to Scott Soshnick of BLOOMBERG. He "would not comment on financial terms of the agreement," which a
person with direct knowledge of the agreement said is for more than $100M. Haworth said it was an "exciting day" for the PBR, which will benefit
from WME/IMG’s global footprint. Haworth said, "Strategically, when you look at their ability from a content
standpoint, when you see how we can grow internationally, on every front
we’re really excited about it." WME/IMG, which called the organization
the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., said that the PBR "stages more than 300 annual events that are attended by more
than three million people." WME/IMG co-CEOs Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell said in a statement, "We’ve worked closely with the PBR for the last several years and
share their passion for expanding the sport globally." Evercore Partners "represented PBR in the sale" (BLOOMBERG, 4/15).
