ESPN is expected to announce today that it has signed seven sponsors for Summer X Games, which will make its debut June 6 in Austin. The company retained top-tier sponsors from '13, including the U.S. Navy, Ford, GoPro and Monster Energy. It added three new exclusive sponsors in Dos Equis, Dr Pepper and Harley-Davidson. Sources valued top-tier deals in the $1-2M range and exclusive sponsorships in the high-six figures to low-seven figures. Sponsors receive rights to onsite activation, X Games marks and logos. They also receive media across ESPN’s channels and websites. Austin is the first new city to host Summer X Games in a decade; L.A. hosted the event for 10-straight years. Ford will provide ride and drive experiences at the event, while Monster Energy and GoPro will sponsor autograph signings. In addition to the top-tier and exclusive sponsors, ESPN signed deals for non-exclusive X Games sponsorships with Bing, Cricket Wireless, DuPont Kevlar, Firemans #4, Fram, GSD&M, Gildan, Lance Snacks, Microsoft One Drive, Nokia, Torchy’s Tacos, GEICO, Loctite, Oakley and Skype. There will be onsite activation at the event from the Austin American-Statesman, City of Buda, Disney Fantasia, NINJA, GAEMS, GoPuck, Gunk, Junk, Lego, Norton, Oberto, Paper Toy Clothing, Paramount, RetailMeNot, Texas Pete, The Neon South and Turtle Beach. ESPN and ABC will broadcast 20 live hours of X Games Austin between June 6-8.
