X Games will be centralized in downtown Los Angeles
In a move aimed at centralizing X Games events in downtown Los Angeles, ESPN, AEG and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum announced a deal Monday that means fans won’t have to fight freeway traffic to see all of this year’s extreme-sports competition.
This summer’s 16th X Games will be concentrated among Staples Center, Nokia Theatre, the Los Angeles Coliseum and LA Live. Past games were split between the AEG-owned Staples Center and the Home Depot Center in Carson.
“Now fans don’t have to choose between the events and being in the car,” said Katie Moses Swope, ESPN X Games director of public relations.
The shift also enhances ESPN’s strong presence at LA Live, where it has a studio and an ESPN Zone.
X Games moved to Los Angeles seven years ago, and in six of those years the AEG-owned Home Depot Center played host to events. Last year, it drew 82,700 of the 111,200 who attended overall.
“Of course we’d love to have it here, but we’re part of a bigger team with AEG and we’re happy to still be involved with the X Games,” said Alison Groendal Salcedo, Home Depot Center director of communications. “Our doors are always open if, down the road, there’s a possibility that the X Games would like to return here.”
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but X Games officials say they can sell more than 70,000 more tickets to this year’s event compared to last.
X Games 16 will take place July 29 to Aug. 1. Three events will be held at Nokia Theatre, four at Staples, five at LA Live and six at the Coliseum.
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