PUEBLO, CO - The Professional Bull Riders Blue DEF Velocity Tour debuts at iWireless Center in Moline, IL with athletes from around the world that will be competing June 13 for one night of exciting bull riding action.

Headlining the competition is Matt Triplett, who is currently ranked second in the PBR World Standings. Also competing are Built Ford Tough Series veterans Valdiron de Oliveira, Cody Nance, Reese Cates, and Robson Palermo. Quad Cities fans will also get to see upcoming PBR stars Luis Blanco, Jordan Hupp, and Bonner Bolton compete.

The event starts at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 13. Tickets are on sale now, starting at $15, and are available at the iWireless Center box office, by phone at 800-745-3000, and www.ticketmaster.com.

The BlueDEF Velocity Tour provides an opportunity for riders to compete in PBR-sanctioned events to earn points towards qualifying for the nationally-televised Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS), which is comprised of the Top 35 bull riders in the world. The Velocity Tour is part of the PBR's international tour schedule and there's nothing minor-league about it. These are young men dreaming of the big time. To make it, they have to get past some of the most famous bucking bulls in the sport and superstar veterans looking to stand in their way.

Winners of each BDVT event in 2015 also will be guaranteed a minimum of one opportunity to compete at a BFTS regular season event in an attempt to win enough points to rank among the Top 35 bull riders in the world and earn a spot on the elite tour.

Moline will be the 18th stop of 24 on the 2015 PBR BlueDEF Velocity Tour. The tour kicked off in Clovis, New Mexico at the L.J. Jenkins Invitational on Oct. 31, 2014. As the last event of the BDVT season, the BDVT Finals will take place two weeks prior to the PBR World Finals each year and offer a total purse of $100,000.

The overall winner of the BDVT season will be the rider who earns the most world points at the BDVT level. He will receive $50,000 and qualify to compete at the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals.

Visit PBR LIVE for details about watching online streams of the 2015 BlueDEF Velocity Tour season.

The premier bull riding organization in the world began as a dream of 20 bull riders 23 years ago and is now a global sports phenomenon. PBR broadcasts reach more than half a billion households in 50 nations and territories around the world, and more than 2.5 million fans attend live events each year. The PBR features the Top 35 bull riders in the world and the top bulls in the business. Three circuits, the televised Built Ford Tough Series, the BlueDEF Velocity Tour and the Touring Pro Division, have paid more than $140 million in earnings to its athletes. Twenty-seven men have earned more than $1 million, including three-time World Champion Silvano Alves who, in just 54 months, won more than $5.2 million to become the richest bull rider in history. 2013 World Champion J.B. Mauney and two-time World Champion Justin McBride have also surpassed $5.1 million in earnings. For more information on the PBR, go to PBR.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/PBR, Twitter at Twitter.com/PBR, and YouTube at YouTube.com/PBR.

About AEG

AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Anschutz Company, is the leading sports, entertainment and venue operator in the world.  AEG Facilities, a stand-alone affiliate of AEG, owns, operates or consults with more than 100 of the industry's preeminent venues worldwide across 5 continents. Other AEG-affiliated entities, include live event producer, AEG Live, AEG Global Partnerships, AEG Development, and AEG Sports. For more information, please visit aegworldwide.com.

Quad Cities hits three home runs to lead the entire game and lower its magic number to eight

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. (June 3, 2015) - Shortly after the earliest scheduled game time for the River Bandits this season, Quad Cities catcher Jacob Nottingham drove in the first run with the first of his three doubles Wednesday, and three of his teammates homered, helping right-hander Jorge Perez win his first career start in an 8-1 victory over the West Michigan Whitecaps at Fifth Third Ballpark.

Designated hitter Alex Hernandez, center fielder Ramon Laureano and left fielder Jason Martin each hit home runs to help Quad Cities (37-16) match season highs of five doubles, three home runs and eight extra-base hits. The team kept the best record in professional baseball and at least a two-game lead in the Midwest League Western Division over second-place Cedar Rapids. The River Bandits' magic number (combination of Quad Cities wins and losses by the Western Division's third-place team) to clinch a first-half playoff spot is eight.

Whitecaps left-hander Trent Szkutnik (3-1) retired the first two batters of the game before walking shortstop Mott Hyde. Nottingham then hit the first pitch he saw to the left-center field gap, scoring Hyde for a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the second inning, River Bandits third baseman Kristian Trompiz hit a leadoff single to right field, and Hernandez smacked his first Midwest League home run over the left-field wall for a 3-0 lead. The next batter, Laureano, launched his second home run in three games to the left-field corner, just inside the foul pole for Quad Cities' first back-to-back home runs of the season and a 4-0 lead.

Perez (1-0) got help from double plays his teammates turned to end the first and second innings. In the first inning, after right fielder Ross Kivett hit a one-out single and designated hitter Mike Gerber drew a walk, Perez got second baseman Joey Pankake to ground to Trompiz to begin a double play. In the second inning, first baseman Will Kengor hit a leadoff single to right field, but two batters later, catcher Shane Zeile grounded into an inning-ending double play.

The Whitecaps (26-27) had their best scoring chance against Perez in the fifth inning. Zeile drew a leadoff walk, and with one out, shortstop Garrett Mattlage and center fielder Derek Hill hit consecutive singles. With the bases loaded, Perez caught a comeback line drive by Kivett and struck out Gerber - the league's leading hitter with a .370 batting average entering Wednesday - to end the inning. In a career-high five innings, Perez allowed six hits and three walks with five strikeouts.

Szkutnik retired 10 River Bandits in a row before Nottingham led off the sixth inning with his second double. Right fielder Sean McMullen advanced Nottingham with a groundout to first base, and Trompiz hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Nottingham for a 5-0 lead. Szkutnik was charged with a season-high five earned runs on five hits and one walk with four strikeouts in six innings.

River Bandits right-hander Austin Chrismon began the sixth inning and retired the first three Whitecaps. In the seventh inning, Zeile hit a leadoff triple and later scored on Hill's two-out single. Chrismon then retired seven of the final eight batters - allowing only a two-out walk in the eighth inning - to pitch four scoreless innings for his second save of the season.

Whitecaps right-hander Josh Heddinger pitched the final three innings for the home team. His high school teammate, River Bandits first baseman Jamie Ritchie, led off the eighth inning with a double and scored on Nottingham's one-out, ground-ball double down the first-base line. Trompiz then doubled off the left-center field wall to score Nottingham for a 7-1 River Bandits advantage. In the top of the ninth inning, Martin took Heddinger deep to right field for his second Midwest League home run and an 8-1 Quad Cities lead.

Quad Cities continues its series in West Michigan at 6 p.m. Central Thursday, when River Bandits right-hander Brock Dykxhoorn (3-3) is scheduled to face Whitecaps right-hander Fernando Perez (0-5).

UP NEXT: Modern Woodmen Park is hosting a Father's Day Cookout for the 1:15 p.m. game Sunday, June 21. Call 563-324-3000 to order a package that includes a game ticket and access to the all-you-can-eat buffet in the Budweiser Champions Club. The day includes a Mega Mini-Fridge Giveaway presented by Budweiser and 7G Distributing and is a Family Sunday presented by B100 and ESPN 93.5. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.

Fyre Lake Golf is gaining new ownership under a partnership between local family businessmen Larry Whitty, President of Happy Joe's, and Mike Thoms, former co-owner of Thoms Proestler Company. The golf operation will continue as is until a liquor license can be obtained by the new ownership.

Located in Sherrard, Illinois, Fyre Lake Golf's lush grass covers expansive greens. With eighteen holes along stunning Fyre Lake, the Nicklaus-designed golf course bodes a picturesque golfers paradise ten miles south of the Quad Cities.

The golf course includes a fully-stocked clubhouse with food and beverage, as well as league play and memberships drawing in a 150-mile area. We will be honoring catering on the course and especially the Island Green with great opportunities for weddings and private events.

Corporate sponsorships for the tee box are available to those that are interested. Please contact Fyre Lake Golf.

Both the Whitty and Thoms families have been successful business operators around the Midwest and this local area for many years. Happy Joe's has been a successful family business for over 4 decades. With 53 locations and continual expansion, Happy Joe's is a promising local company and President Larry Whitty is ready to expand their business skills into other management endeavors.

Mike Thoms, former owner ofTPC/PFS (Performance Food Service), a growing food distribution service supply company located in the Quad Cities, has now ventured into development. Thoms plans to continue investing and developing in the region.

Together they are bringing their careful stability and positive news to Fyre Lake. The new partnership takes over ownership of the real estate on June 2nd and the operations when the liquor license is issued to the new operators. "There has been a lot of groundwork laid before now that didn't have the chance to see its way to fruition and we intend to see it through," stated Larry Whitty, President of Happy Joe's.

Currently, the new team's main goal for the course is to provide a positive, stimulating transition of ownership for golfers and local residents. The golf course, already in impeccable condition, will only improve under new ownership. The business team's long-term plans for Fyre Lake Golf include :

Greens to rival the best in the area.

Implementing meticulous upkeep of the course.

Clubhouse enhancements.

Building a catering and special events venue like no other.

Drawing golfers from 150 mile radius.

Creating a stimulating golf environment for the community.

The Whitty-Thoms partnership hopes that their planned actions will create an updated bustling venue that matches the grand courses. Both entrepreneurs are excited to become contributing neighbors of the Sherrard community. They hope to tum Fyre Lake Golf Course into a trophy in the small community and create lasting relationships with local residents. There is an interest in seeking investors to assist the current owner (who recently bought the lots at a sheriffs sale) in lot development surrounding the golf course.

An open house is scheduled for Sunday, June 28th , 3pm. You're invited to come and see what we have to offer. A $40 contribution to the Happy Joe's Kids Foundation will allow you to play 18 holes of golf (including a Cat1), a buffet dinner, and beverages. Private tours can also be arranged for those who would like a special viewing of the grounds. Whitty and Thoms will be on site to visit with guests.

Whitty and Thoms encourage interested residents to visit Frye Lake Golf Course during its peak summer months to help welcome in a new era of high quality management to a high quality course.