City of Sunrise Mayor Michael J. Ryan and City Commissioners to join Florida Freedom Personnel, led by Head Coach Paulo Crimber and 2024 PBR Teams MVP John Crimber, for official media event
In 2024, Florida welcomed a new professional sports team as the Florida Freedom relocated to Sunrise, making their home at Amerant Bank Arena. The Florida Freedom are the state’s only professional bull riding team, competing in the groundbreaking PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Teams league, which transforms the traditionally individual sport of bull riding, into one where riders compete in teams in head-to-head, five-on-five games.
The Florida Freedom compete under the leadership of Head Coach, 10-time PBR World Finals qualifier and Ring of Honor inducteePaulo Crimber. In a dynamic rarely seen in professional sports, the Freedom’s roster is led by Crimber’s son, teenage phenom John Crimber. The younger Crimber, 19, led the league in scoring in 2024 and was crowned both the PBR Teams MVP and PBR Teams Championship MVP.
When the Freedom debuted inside the home of the NHL’s reigning Stanley Cup winning Florida Panthers last August, they delivered two clutch wins for their hometown fans. After Crimber carried his team to a thrilling walk-off win Saturday night against the Oklahoma Wildcatters, Florida throttled the Missouri Thunder on the final day of their homestand, beating them by three ride scores as the Freedom covered 80% of their bovine athlete opponents. Following their homestand the Freedom continued to excel, finishing the regular-season No. 3 in the league with a 16-12 record. They advanced all the way to Championship Sunday of the 2024 PBR Teams Championship, courtesy of two dramatic walk-off wins delivered by Crimber, ultimately concluding the post-season tournament fourth.
Fast-forward to present and the Freedom are arguably one of the hottest teams in the league. Having already played five games thus far in 2025, the Freedom hold a 3-2 record, ranked No. 4 in the league. In their most recent game, the Freedom put the league on notice. For the first time in history, the Freedom delivered a perfect game as they went a flawless 5-for-5 in beating the 2022 World Champion Nashville Stampede. The game also marked just the seventh perfect game ever in the four-year history of PBR Teams.
Riding an undeniable wave of momentum, the Freedom have now turned their focus on their homestand, readying to play the No. 2 Arizona Ridge Riders (August 8), No. 10 New York Mavericks (August 9) and No. 5 Kansas City Outlaws (August 10) as they attempt to overtake the No. 1 rank in the league.
Before their homestand gets underway, on Thursday, August 7, the Florida Freedom will be joined by City of Sunrise Mayor Michael J. Ryan, Deputy Mayor Neil C. Kerch, Assistant Deputy Mayor Jacqueline A. Guzman, Commissioner Latoya S. Clarke, and Commissioner Joseph A. Scuotto for an official photo opportunity and media availability to celebrate the team’s perfect game and formally launch Freedom Days, set to take over Amerant Bank Arena from August 8-10.
WHAT: The Florida Freedom, alongside City of Sunrise will unite for a formal media event on Thursday, August 7, to welcome the professional bull riding team back to the Sunshine State prior to their homestand event inside Amerant Bank Arena from August 8-10.
WHO: Paulo Crimber, Head Coach of the Florida Freedom
John Crimber, Florida Freedom Rider & 2024 PBR Teams MVP
Mayor Michael J. Ryan
Deputy Mayor Neil C. Kerch
Assistant Deputy Jacqueline A. Guzman
Commissioner Latoya S. Clarke
Commissioner Joseph A. Scuotto
WHEN: Thursday, August 7, 2025 at 3 p.m. ET
WHERE: Amerant Bank Arena – 1 Panther Pkwy, Sunrise, FL 33323