Back in the saddle

Bull riders buck COVID trend by welcoming Dallas-Fort Worth fans inside arena

WinStar World Casino and Resort PBR Global Cup

Fans will get to attend PBR's Unleash the Beast series on August 29 and 30.

Photo courtesy of PBR Global Cup

Fans cannot yet attend professional baseball or basketball games, but PBR (aka Professional Bull Riders) is going against the grain of most sports organizations by welcoming thousands of fans inside a local arena next month.

Fort Worth's Dickies Arena will be the site of the PBR WinStar World Casino and Resort Invitational on August 29 and 30 as part of its Unleash the Beast series.

PBR is one of the first sports organizations in the United States to allow fans to attend indoor events amid the coronavirus pandemic. NASCAR allowed a limited number of fans at the recent O'Reilly Auto Parts 500, but that was at the outdoor Texas Motor Speedway.

Dickies Arena recently postponed WWE's Friday Night Smackdown, which was to have taken place on July 31.

PBR is putting multiple protocols in place to keep fans safe, including a face mask requirement for fans, staff, and competitors; coronavirus screening for all PBR staff and competitors; and only selling 50 percent of available seats at the 14,000-capacity Dickies Arena. Those allowed in will be seated in pods throughout the arena, which increases distancing and minimizes fan crossover when entering and exiting seats.

Other precautions will include a focus on mobile ticketing and cashless transactions; hand sanitizer stations placed throughout the venue; increased sanitization of high-contact areas, including bathrooms, concourses, concession stands, elevators, and more; pre-paid parking through Ticketmaster; and pre-packaged concessions, condiments, and utensils.

The North Texas date will be fourth event on PBR's restarted schedule, following stops in North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Utah. Riders competing are anticipated to be led by current world No. 1 Jose Vitor Leme, along with Texas’ own Cooper Davis, Cole Melancon, and Mason Taylor. The Unleash the Beast series leads up to the PBR World Finals in early November in Las Vegas.

The PBR WinStar World Casino and Resort Invitational will feature Round 1 on Saturday, August 29, followed by Round 2 and the championship round on Sunday, August 30. All 35 bull riders will get on one bull each in Round 1 and 2, with the top 15 riders advancing to the championship round for a chance at the $30,000 event title.

Tickets for the two-day event range from $16.50-$64.90, and are only being sold in groups of 2-6 people. All tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com.

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Rolling a strike

High 5 Exchange bowling and entertainment mega-center rolls into Allen

Facebook/High 5 Exchange Austin

The High 5 Exchange in Austin has bowling galore.

A new family entertainment destination is rolling into Allen, bringing bowling, laser tag, miniature golf, virtual reality, and more. Called High 5 Exchange, the venue has broken ground at 2361 Quail Covey Rd. in The Farm in Allen.

It is expected to open in 2027, according to a release.

High 5 Exchange comes from a family entertainment company founded by husband-and-wife team Scott and Jenny Emley. They opened the first location in the Lakeway area of Austin more than a decade ago; a second Austin location followed a few years later.

Their roots are in Austin - Scott Emley played football for UT Austin - but the couple recently relocated to McKinney. There's also a location under construction in Mansfield.

The entertainment mega-center in Allen will combine indoor and outdoor attractions, dining, and rooms for parties and other group events.

Tasty-looking tacos at High 5 in Austin.Facebook/High 5 Exchange Austin

Bowling will be the major draw, with 24 lanes supplied by QubicaAMF. The lineup will include 16 traditional tenpin lanes equipped with EDGE String pinspotters, HyperBowling, and Neoverse, along with eight Fly'n Ducks duckpin lanes, the release says. The combination will give guests the choice between traditional full-length bowling and duckpin bowling, which uses a smaller ball.

"Bowling has a unique ability to bring different generations, interests and skill levels together," said Jody Pastula, director of new business development, U.S., for QubicaAMF, in a statement. "By offering both tenpin and Fly'n Ducks duckpin bowling, High 5 Allen is creating more ways for guests to participate and share the experience. We are pleased to be part of a project designed around connection, variety and repeat visits."

Beyond bowling, High 5 Allen will feature laser tag, a virtual reality arena, an arcade gaming floor, escape rooms, an immersive experience from Creative Works called "Limitless," and outdoor miniature golf. The venue will also have dedicated spaces for birthday parties, corporate gatherings, and private events, along with food and beverage service.

While details on the food and beverage program have not yet been announced, the Austin locations feature a full-service bar and a menu of "American classics with a gourmet twist."

High 5 Exchange Allen Rendering of High 5 Exchange at The Farm in Allen.Rendering courtesy of High 5 Exchange

High 5 Exchange will be part of The Farm in Allen, a 135-acre mixed-use development at the southeast corner of the Sam Rayburn Tollway and Alma Drive. Developed by Allen-based JaRyCo Development in partnership with the Johnson family, The Farm combines residential, office, dining, retail, and entertainment components.

"Allen and the surrounding communities have been part of our vision for this project from the beginning," said Scott Emley, co-founder and CEO of High 5 Exchange, in a statement. "The Farm brings together homes, workplaces, parks, dining and entertainment in a way that fits how people want to connect.

"We are excited to create a place where a family can spend an afternoon, coworkers can gather after work, and friends can celebrate the moments that matter."

entertainment and dining bowling allen