Calgary 
X-Games rendering – Stampede Park (CNW Group/Tourism Calgary)
Calgary is targeting to host the X Games beginning in late February or early March of 2020, 2021 and 2022 subject to securing corporate sponsorship.
Since its inception in 1995, ESPN’s X Games have become the leading action sports and music festival, spotlighting the world’s best action sports athletes in BMX, Skateboard and Moto X at the X Games; and Skiing, Snowboard and Snowmobile at the winter version of the X Games against the backdrop of each individual host city.
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With the exclusive rights, Calgary has the opportunity to join a prestigious list of X Games host cities including Aspen, Shanghai, Oslo and Sydney. Calgary would become the first Canadian city added to the X Games growing line up.
It’ll bring more than 200 athletes from around the world to Calgary to compete. The events will held on the Calgary Stampede Grounds and at WinSport.
The X Games in Calgary is being developed by Manifesto Sport Management, a Calgary based Sport Marketing and Management Company and Insight Productions, a Canadian broadcast production company that has produced the JUNO Awards and the Amazing Race Canada. Securing the rights to bring this project to life has been pursued by Tourism Calgary for almost a decade.
As the most relevant action sports and music festival in youth culture, featuring the best snowboarders and freestyle skiers and the most influential music artists in the world, hosting the X Games would bring significant economic benefits to Calgary, including an estimated: $75 million in annual economic activity, 75,000 annual spectators and more than 10,000 out-of-region annual visitors.
Aspen, CO – January 24, 2019 – Buttermilk Mountain: Cassie Sharpe competing in Women’s Ski SuperPipe during X Games Aspen 2019
(Photo by Pete Demos / ESPN Images) (CNW Group/Tourism Calgary)
“We’re excited to be taking this step towards hosting the first X Games on Canadian snow,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “It’s about bringing Calgary to a world stage. The economic spinoffs are significant, and support our plans for tourism and economic development.”
Calgary is targeting to host the X Games beginning in late February or early March of 2020, 2021 and 2022 subject to securing corporate sponsorship. Manifesto and Insight are currently in conversations with potential Calgary, Alberta and Canada-based corporate partners and the response from brands has been overwhelmingly positive.
The Government of Alberta has committed $13.5 million over the next three years to help bring the X Games to Calgary. Hosting the X Games would inject about $75 million into Alberta’s economy and support the equivalent of 540 jobs.
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With hosting concepts approved between Calgary Stampede and WinSport Canada, Calgary’s X Games concept is for a city-wide event, bridging two iconic and important venues.
Beginning in 2013, X Games evolved from an action sports competition into one of the most complete youth culture experiences available with an enhanced sport, music, gaming and festival lineup. With relevance to contemporary youth around the world, this expansion highlighted new locations and enhanced cultural and digital elements around the world. Complementing the sports with the world’s top musical performers, X Games Music has featured performances by world-class artists including Metallica, Kanye West, Tiesto, Nicki Minaj, Macklemore and many more.
Over the past two decades, the X Games has successfully organized action sports events, qualifiers and demonstrations around the globe in countries including Australia, Brazil, Germany, Spain, France, Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Singapore, Taiwan, Philippines and UAE.