News: PBR return, UFC, 2022 NFL Draft and more

The PBR Tour is returning this weekend, marking the first live sports competition in more than a month. Plus: UFC sets a new return date; the NFL is giving Las Vegas its next available draft; more MLB contingency plans.

PBR returning with live event this weekend

The Professional Bull Riders Tour is staging a live event this weekend that will air on CBS Sports Network, marking the first live sports competition in the U.S. since mid-March. The event will take place in a Guthrie, Oklahoma arena that is closed to the public. Coverage will air at 6 PM ET on Saturday and Noon on Sunday. [PBR 4.23]

UFC sets May cards in Florida

UFC announced Friday that it has scheduled three cards for next month, starting with UFC 249 on May 9. The card had previously been scheduled for April 18 in California but was called off under pressure. It will now take place in Jacksonville, Florida, as will two additional cards on May 13 and 16. [UFC 4.24]

NFL gives Vegas 2022 draft

The NFL announced Thursday that the 2022 NFL Draft will originate from Las Vegas, which was originally to be the site of this year’s event. This year’s draft shifted to a virtual format due to the coronavirus pandemic. Next year’s NFL Draft is scheduled for Cleveland. [NFL PR 4.23]

Plus: MLB plans, Faldo shows, X Games

CBS Sports reported this week that Major League Baseball is looking at playing games in Arizona, Florida and Texas if it is able to begin its season at some point. Previous MLB contingency plans had the league staging all games in Arizona, or in Arizona and Florida. … CBS Sports Network will debut two Nick Faldo-hosted shows on Monday night, with “Days & Knights with Sir Nick” chronicling his travels and “Faldo Formula — Mind. Body. Swing” featuring his golf tips. … ESPN announced Friday that X Games Minneapolis, scheduled for July 17-19, has been canceled. [CBS Sports 4.22, CBS Sports PR, ESPN PR 4.24]

Sans competition, NFL Draft surges to record-high

Jon Lewis

Jon Lewis has been covering the sports media industry on a daily basis since 2006 as the founder and main writer of Sports Media Watch. You can contact him here or on the social media websites X (Twitter) or Bluesky.

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Comments 4

DM King says:

7 years ago

I see that the UFC is benefiting from what is known as “The WWE Rule.” Evem WWE’s main competitor AEW is going back to Florida to stage events.

BTW whatever happened to the rumor that boxing promotor Bob Arum was wanting to stage some boxing events at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando?
Dale Moog says:

7 years ago

I am glad to see the PBR will be back this week many sports are going to come back in the next few weeks. I think all the people that said we would not have sports until this fall are going to be so wrong. I think we will see games again by Flag Day
- Samuel says:
  
  7 years ago
  
  Not happening. The PBR is the last “sport” in the world that would be a sign that everything is coming back. There are so many factors. Even if some states allow the games to be played, there’s already a bunch of MLB players saying they wouldn’t go along with the plan of being away from their families for months at a time. In the NBA, some practice facilities will reopen on Friday but they aren’t even allowed to practice in groups, let alone play a real basketball game. And who knows if the PGA Tour’s plan to come back in June or NASCAR’s plan to come back in May will even happen. I still don’t see real sports returning anytime soon.
  - Dale Moog says:
    
    7 years ago
    
    NASCAR just got the Go ahead to run the Coca Cola 600 on May 24th, the PGA will be back on time for the first weekend in June IndyCar will be in Texas the first weekend in June with Florida open for sports Boxing MMA and fighting sports will flock to Florida, Baseball will play in Florida and Arizona by June 15th and we will see most sports back in full by the 4th of July

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