Road to X Games competition takes a pass on Boise after three-year stay, city says

The X Games won’t be back in Boise this summer.

For three years the city hosted elite skateboarding and BMX athletes for a Road to X Games qualifier. But city officials announced Wednesday that they reached an agreement with ESPN to “take a break from hosting the qualifier” this year, according to a news release.

“It’s been an incredible experience and we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished not once, but three times hosting this major competition in Boise,” Parks and Recreation Director Doug Holloway said in the news release. “The city will continue to keep an open dialogue with ESPN about opportunities in the future.”

The decision was a mutual agreement between Parks and Recreation and ESPN, Holloway said via email. The event is a huge undertaking that requires efforts from multiple Parks and Rec departments and other county agencies.

“After three years, we felt like we needed to step back and give our team a bit of a break,” Holloway said. “... There was no other reason on either side for the break. It was an awesome event and experience, and the relationship with ESPN is outstanding and amazing.”

The top finishers of the competition at Rhodes Skate Park went on to compete at X Games Minneapolis. City officials say hosting the competition put Boise’s parks on the world stage.

The qualifier drew a crowd of about 7,000 attendees in 2017, officials previously told the Idaho Statesman. In 2018, about 12,000 people went to the event.

“We are proud to have staged three world-class park competitions in Boise,” Ryan McGuinness, director of event development at X Games, said in the release. “We want to thank the City of Boise and the team at Boise Parks and Recreation for their support over the past three years.”

This story was originally published January 15, 2020 at 11:45 AM.