Why the Townsville Entertainment Centre transforms into sold-out bullriders event

Truckloads of dirt are transforming Townsville Entertainment Centre into a bull riding arena, as the nation’s top riders descend to compete for a massive $205k prize. It’s not an easy job. See why.

PBR operations manager Joel Catanzaro with the first load of dirt ahead of the PBR finals at the Townsville Entertainment Centre. Picture: Evan Morgan

Truckloads of dirt have started transforming the arena at the Townsville Entertainment Centre in preparation for the two nights of the Professional Bull Riders grand final, just as the country’s best bull riders congregate in North Queensland to compete for a whopping $205,000 prize money.

The sold-out grand final will have 28 competitors, with several North American bull riders taking on their Australian counterparts, as well as the most vicious local bulls, including last year’s winner Roid Rage and Forever Young and Mooseys After Party.

PBR operations co-ordinator Joel Catanzaro oversaw the 340 tonnes of a “special brew” of sand, soil and clay being layered to the arena, which would be 30cm in depth, and the 24 tonnes of steel being constructed to set out the bull riding arena.

The dirt would be cleaned out on the Sunday after the event, and Mr Catanzaro said by Monday, nobody could tell the PBR had been held there.

It seemed like a lot of trouble transforming a city-based indoor entertainment centre into a rodeo arena, but Mr Catanzaro said there was a good reason for doing it.

PBR operations manager Joel Catanzaro with the first load of dirt ahead of the PBR finals. He describes the soil as a “special brew” designed to reduce the impact of bullriders’ rough landings. Picture: Evan Morgan

“This place is just second to none here in Townsville being where it is, and draws everyone into a great location, and the benefit of it is it adds something very new and fresh to the area,” Mr Catanzaro said.

“And it brings a lot of people to Townsville, and it’s good for the community, and there’s nothing you can’t beat than bullriding.

“The crowd is just wild, it’s a sold out place mate, the crowd is just roaring, screaming, and they’re loving it, and they just want to see the action take place here.”

The first load of dirt ahead of the PBR finals at the Townsville Entertainment Centre. Picture: Evan Morgan

Mr Catanzaro said bull riders had a healthy camaraderie, but generous prize money certainly “livens them up a bit”.

The money would be divided between the best rider of the grand final, the season’s champion, and the contractor of the event.

At the top of the PBR season’s chart is 19-year-old Boston Leather, from Calliope, who is a convincing 230 points in front of second placer Lachlan Richardson in the season’s charts.

Leather is also the younger brother of last year’s PBR winner, Macaulie Leather, and so if he also wins, “that would be quite the story”.

“He’s a tough young kid and he’s going really well this year,” Mr Catanzaro said.

“I’d also keep an eye out for them internationals coming over, they’re definitely looking to make a name for themselves here in Australia, so keen to see them do their best.”

Originally published as Why the Townsville Entertainment Centre transforms into sold-out bullriders event