Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

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October 4, 2022
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Rally hopes to pull ESPN X Games to Austin

Each year, Austin impresses the public with its well-known music festivals and events like SXSW, but Austin might be getting even more impressive in 2014.

Austin is on a list of four cities being considered to host the 2014 ESPN X Games, a world-class extreme sports competition. 

A rally hosted by the Circuit of Americas in Austin kicked off Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Texas Capitol grounds. Bands performed live music and sportsmen put of shows of extreme sports including BMX and roller skating. The rally tried to convince ESPN executives to choose Austin as the new home for the X Games after being in Los Angeles for 11 years.


Randall Grindle, a cook and Austinite, said he was a BMX junkie and practiced biking for two years.

“Now my skills are not as good as those performers, I have been injured when I practiced riding," Grindle said. "I wish I can try on track like them someday.”

The ESPN executives came to Austin as the final stop of the four final cities, evaluating Austin’s qualifications to host the 2014 summer competition. Chicago, Detroit and Charlotte are the three other rivals. The winner will be announced July 1.

Scott Guglielmino, a senior vice president of the X Games, said that the final decision depends on many factors.

“We are impressed by the energy and youth of Austin," Guglielmino said. "The final decision has to cover many factors, including finance, tolerance, community and so on.”

The X Games could potentially boost the city's economy. Chance Tristan, a cloth brand manager, said the X Games would benefit Austin indirectly.

"[X Games] is a brand to mark the city," Tristan said. “[X Games] is a wonderful advertisement of Austin, showing that we are young, which is the most attractive part of business.”

Tristan said Austin distinguishes itself from other cities with its energy.

“The uniqueness of Austin is the people here," Tristan said. "The diversity, energy, and creativity distinguish Austin from others."

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Rally hopes to pull ESPN X Games to Austin