ESPN announced today that they will not be bringing the X-Games to Whistler, BC and instead the expansion areas of the Global X brand will be Barcelona, Munich and Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.
Although Whistler Blackcomb, Tourism Whistler and the Resort Municipality of Whistler each came to the table with $250,000 to host the event, it still wasn’t enough to sway ESPN’s decision to make the mountain town a host.
This is a disappointment for some, although would bringing the X games to Whistler really benefit the locals? There’s been a lot of discussion around this topic over the last couple weeks leading up to ESPN’s announcement and just like hosting the Olympics there would be lots of pros and cons for playing host to such a big event. The answer’s not easy, although in a town where the economy is based around skier visits and tourism any opportunity to showcase what’s offered can’t be overlooked.
The other big surprise was that there was not a single new Winter X-Games location added to the lineup. I feel this is a greater disappointment then losing the opportunity to play host to the event, as the X-Games have been greatly responsible for a big boost in popularity to both skiing and snowboarding over the years.
How do you feel about this decision? Are you disappointed or relieved that The X-Games will not be hosted in Whistler? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.