ESPN today is expected to announce a revamp of its X Games franchise that will see it create a formal bidding process for the right to host four international action sports events. Sources familiar with the plan said that the X Games would bid out four events to international cities in a way that mimics the IOC’s bidding process for the Olympics. Details regarding the bidding process and other changes to the franchise are expected to be outlined during ESPN's upfront and a subsequent conference call with media.
The idea is to grow the franchise by generating interest in X Games through a structured competition to host the event. ESPN also hopes to enhance its international events and make them as large as its Summer X Games in L.A. It is unclear how many of the four international competitions would be summer or winter sports. ESPN last year held international X Games competitions in Rio de Janiero, Shanghai and Tignes, France. ESPN will continue to hold a domestic Winter and Summer X Games.
Sources did not know if those events would be bid on by U.S. cities or continue to be held in L.A. and Aspen as they have been in years past.
