X Games to celebrate 30th anniversary in Salt Lake City
Driving the news: The X Games are partnering with Salt Lake County to bring a sports festival to Utah State Fairpark June 27-29, featuring the world's best BMX and motocross riders and skateboarders while honoring their history.
More than 100 athletes will compete for over $1 million in prize money.
The action sports competition is also holding events in Osaka, Japan, and Sacramento, California, this summer.
Why it matters: Summer events can draw as many as 100,000 people to a metro area, X Games CEO Jeremy Bloom said at a Thursday news briefing, joined by athletes and city and state leaders.
The intrigue: State Sen. Scott Sandall (R-Tremonton), who attended the press conference, wants the X Games to return and extend their one-year contract. Sandall chairs the Utah Fairpark Area Investment and Restoration District Board.
Bloom said the X Games are interested in pursuing long-term partnerships with cities and hope to be in Salt Lake City for "many years to come."
"We're having those conversations," he noted.
What's next: Tickets are set to go on sale next month.
Starting next year, the X Games are planning to transition from an event model to a global team-based format, following in the footsteps of Formula One.
Catch up quick: The announcement comes months after Salt Lake City was selected as the host city for the 2034 Winter Olympic Games.
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