ESPN, together with the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) and Irwindale Event Center - will present X Games Los Angeles 2013 on August 1 - 4, with more than 200 athletes in competition venues and event spaces in and around L.A. LIVE, STAPLES Center and - for the first time - Irwindale Speedway. ESPN and ABC will combine to offer 19 live hours of X Games Los Angeles 2013 original programming; WatchESPN will carry every event on ESPN networks; and an additional four-and-a-half hours of original content will be available across computers, smartphones, tablets and Xbox in the U.S.
Celebrating its 11th consecutive and final year in Southern California, X Games Los Angeles will debut the discipline of Gymkhana. Made popular by driver Ken Block, it will premier as Ford Gymkhana Grid at Irwindale Speedway and accompany Ford RallyCross. Based off the popular Gymkhana driving technique, Ford Gymkhana Grid features drivers competing head to head on a specifically designed course consisting of cones, tires, barrels and other obstacles. The race will require drivers to perform figure eights, 180-degree spins and other advanced driving techniques to get through the course as quickly as possible. In addition to Rally disciplines, Irwindale Speedway will also host Skateboard and BMX Big Air, X Games Music and X Fest elements.
"I'm stoked to be partnering up with ESPN to bring my Gymkhana GRID racing series to X Games Los Angeles this summer," said Block. "Gymkhana GRID is something that I've been in the process of building up for a few years now and I really think the fans and audiences at home are going to enjoy it. It takes the style of driving that people see in my Gymkhana series of YouTube videos and brings it into a head-to-head racing format that's timed. The fans not only get to see these awesome rally cars sliding sideways and making tons of tire smoke, but also a straight up driver versus driver race. August can't come soon enough!"
At L.A. LIVE, a full complement of Moto X disciplines will be showcased over the four days at STAPLES Center, including the return of Moto X Racing (Men, Women, Adaptive) and Moto X Freestyle. The Event Deck at L.A. LIVE will feature BMX Freestyle Street, Skateboard Vert, Women's Skateboard Street and Street League Skateboarding.
"With the X Games global expansion and move to a six-event model, we have the opportunity to produce different events across the globe and showcase a very diverse sports lineup," said Tim Reed, X Games senior director of content strategy and sports and competition. "We look forward to the addition of Ford Gymkhana Grid and seeing favorites like Moto X Racing return to X Games Los Angeles."
The following are the venue locations for each sport disciplines for X Games Los Angeles 2013:
STAPLES Center
- Moto X Best Whip
- Moto X Enduro X (Men's & Women's)
- Moto X Freestyle
- Moto X Racing (Men's, Women's & Adaptive)
- Moto X Speed & Style
- Moto X Step Up
Event Deck at L.A. LIVE
- BMX Freestyle Street
- Street League Skateboarding
- Skateboard SLS Select Series
- Skateboard Street Women's
- Skateboard Vert
Irwindale Speedway
- Ford RallyCross
- Ford Gymkhana Grid
- GoPro BMX Freestyle Big Air
- America's Navy Skateboard Big Air
STATEMENT BY JIM COHAN, CEO, IRWINDALE EVENT CENTER:
"We're obviously thrilled to have been chosen to be part of the 2013 X Games Los Angeles. We know that Irwindale's reputation as a first class sports venue for NASCAR, NHRA, USAC, and Formula Drift will take another leap forward with this booking.
Bringing four nights of X Games to the Speedway is a strong vote of confidence in our facility, and even more importantly, for our management staff. We've got a solid team in place at IEC; everyone here could not be more excited about hosting this unique fan experience. We're quite honored.
I want to personally thank the ESPN people as well as the X Games organizers for giving us this amazing opportunity to become a part of what has become a classic sports series. We're 100% dedicated to the success of this event."
Tickets for X Games Los Angeles 2013 will be available for purchase beginning June 21 at www.axs.com/xgames.
Additional information on all X Games Los Angeles 2013 events will be forthcoming on www.xgames.com.
