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CMS Withdraws Bid For 2017, 2018 X Games
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Charlotte Motor Speedway withdrew its bid to host the ESPN X Games in 2017 and 2018, speedway officials confirmed.
Discussions with ESPN have been positive, officials said.
“We appreciate ESPN’s continued interest in the speedway as a potential host venue, and we look forward to engaging in the process again in the future,” Scott Cooper, vice president of communications, said.
A spokesperson would not say why the speedway withdrew its bid, or whether the state's controversial House Bill Two played a role in it.
In March, ESPN said it embraces diversity and inclusion and would evaluate all of its options as it seeks a new city for the X Games.
Hosting the games beyond those years is still a possibility, Cooper said.
“I was very disappointed to hear that,” Cabarrus County Commissioner Chairman Steve Morris said. “I think it would be a wonderful opportunity to bring a lot of folks in to Cabarrus County.”
He said the games would have brought millions to the area.
Austin saw $102 million economic boost from the X Games, according to ESPN.
“We are looking forward to having (ESPN officials) back again and I'm sure we will be successful,” Morris said.
There are multiple cities that have requested to remain anonymous in the bidding process, ESPN told Channel 9, but cities that have confirmed publicly they're bidding to host an X Games summer event in 2017-18 include: Minneapolis, Ft. Lauderdale/Miami, Providence and Nassau/Long Island.
ESPN statement: "We thank Charlotte Motor Speedway for its interest in hosting the X Games, and look forward to continuing discussions when searching for the next two-year host city in 2019 and 2020."
Discussions with ESPN have been positive, officials said.
“We appreciate ESPN’s continued interest in the speedway as a potential host venue, and we look forward to engaging in the process again in the future,” Scott Cooper, vice president of communications, said.
A spokesperson would not say why the speedway withdrew its bid, or whether the state's controversial House Bill Two played a role in it.
In March, ESPN said it embraces diversity and inclusion and would evaluate all of its options as it seeks a new city for the X Games.
Hosting the games beyond those years is still a possibility, Cooper said.
“I was very disappointed to hear that,” Cabarrus County Commissioner Chairman Steve Morris said. “I think it would be a wonderful opportunity to bring a lot of folks in to Cabarrus County.”
He said the games would have brought millions to the area.
Austin saw $102 million economic boost from the X Games, according to ESPN.
“We are looking forward to having (ESPN officials) back again and I'm sure we will be successful,” Morris said.
There are multiple cities that have requested to remain anonymous in the bidding process, ESPN told Channel 9, but cities that have confirmed publicly they're bidding to host an X Games summer event in 2017-18 include: Minneapolis, Ft. Lauderdale/Miami, Providence and Nassau/Long Island.
ESPN statement: "We thank Charlotte Motor Speedway for its interest in hosting the X Games, and look forward to continuing discussions when searching for the next two-year host city in 2019 and 2020."
