0/5

X Games coming to Seven in 2018

Multiple skateboard, BMX and Moto X events will be staged in Sydney in October 2018.

Seven will broadcast the X Games, showcasing Skateboard, BMX and Moto X events, staged across 19 – 21 October 2018 in Sydney’s Olympic Park.

Produced by Seven West Media, it will comprise competitions across multiple disciplines (e.g. Big Air, Street, Freestyle, etc.) and demo e-sports.

Kurt Burnette, Seven’s Chief Revenue Officer, said: “We are proud to be bringing the X Games to Australia. We have a terrific relationship with ESPN and we look forward to working with them to deliver an outstanding event.

“Our commitment to the X Games underlines our leadership in sports and provides a clear indication of the future development of our rapidly expanding moves into the staging of major live events. We will be powered by the scale of Seven West Media and ESPN audiences across all platforms and devices.

“Our Red Live business has developed a proven business model in driving promotion and ticket sales, as we saw in particular with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Importantly, our direct involvement in the staging of the X Games and its delivery across all platforms, offers significant opportunities for us to build broad marketing partnerships for the event, in the lead-up and throughout the X Games, leveraging the power of our audience delivery and brands and of course, the remarkable brand that is X Games.”

Music, art and an “X Fest” festival activation, which have become features of the events globally will also bring Sydney’s Olympic Park to life.

“It’s really exciting to finally bring the X Games to Australia,” said Tim Reed, ESPN X Games vice president. “Australian athletes have played a huge part in the history of X Games, earning 138 medals and providing many memorable moments. We’re thrilled to bring the event to their backyard, where ESPN’s strong connection with a millennial audience is evident. The country and culture are perfect and we have a world class partner in Seven West Media, which will make this a special event for everyone involved.”

X Games began in 1995 in Newport, Rhode Island, and over its 20 – year history has grown to become the most attended, prestigious and widely – distributed event of its type. There are currently three events annually: a summer event in Minneapolis, a winter event in Aspen, and a mixed summer/winter event in Norway. It is among the largest festivals in the US with the most recent X Games in Minneapolis, Minnesota attracting 110,000 people over four days. The City of Minneapolis, Minnesota Sports Facility Authority (MMSFA), SMG and Meet Minneapolis and the truly impressive new, state – of – the – art U.S. Bank Stadium provided an extraordinary opportunity to grow the X Games in a new region of the US and in a city that’s quickly becoming recognized as a premier sports and entertainment destination  Sixteen Australian athletes were invited to compete in the Minneapolis event and X Games Sydney is expected to attract up to 68,000++ people, celebrating the passion and achievements of young Australians in this arena.

The X Games is one of the most significant and authentic youth brands in the world, and the opportunity to produce and broadcast an X Games event aligns perfectly with that strategy, and with Seven West Media’s company vision to deliver engagement and value through powerful storytelling. A major attraction is the abundance of Australian athlete stories to tell and the existing awareness and respect for the event among our target demographic.

Australian X Games star and 2015 Red Bull X – Fighter champion Clinton Moore said: “I’m excited about X Games coming to Australia in 2018. I feel like in every X Games I’ve competed in in the past, it has been on their turf, but to have it here in Australia, I feel like it is my X Games to defend, and there’s nothing like having the support of your own country.”

The full schedule of X Games Sydney 2018 events will be announced soon.

3 Responses

  1. Even though I’m now in my mid 40’s now, I love this sport. I grew up with BMX freestyle and it’s an amazing sport. Everyone should spend a couple of minutes just to watch what these kids can do on a bike.. Its amazing…Really happy to hear the X Games will be in Oz and on Ch7. Shame it’s still a year away though… 😉

  2. Somehow I think the partnership seven has with ESPN is part of something bigger they are planing.

    7ESPN channel?? I doubt any station would be brave enough to do a 24 hour sports channel after one but seven do seem to have have a lot of content for it.

Leave a Reply