The new X Games League (XGL) continued its evolution into a team-based competition circuit by announcing Park City will be the home city of one of its four winter league franchises. XC Park City has been bought by private equity investor Allen Thorpe, who also owns XGL’s summer league Los Angeles franchise.
“The MoonPay X Games League creates an entirely new category of sports ownership,” said Thorpe in the release. “As a native Californian and 20-year Park City resident, I’m especially excited to build championship organizations in both Los Angeles and Park City.”
Thorpe added, “It’s a real bummer that Sundance has left,” referring to the famous film festival’s departure after 45 years there. “(Park City is) a place that deserves more world-class excellence. This will be a way to bring it.”
New York is the only other franchise location for winter so far, while the summer league franchises include Los Angeles, New York, Sao Paolo, and Tokyo. A total of 40 ski and snowboard athletes will be drafted to the league’s four franchises this September and go on to compete in Superpipe, Big Air, Slopestyle, and Knuckle Huck events, with five men and five women on each team.
“The investment in two X Games Clubs is a powerful validation of the vision we have for the future of action sports,” said Jeremy Bloom, CEO of X Games, in the release. “We’re creating permanent teams, season-long storylines, stronger opportunities for athletes, and deeper connections with fans. Allen immediately understood that opportunity, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to the X Games family.”
The newest iteration of the X Games begins later this month in Sacramento, California. Two more stops on the summer schedule are set for Chiba, Japan, and New Orleans.
