ESPN, the leading action sports content provider and creator of the X Games, has chosen Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the next U.S. host city for the X Games. Minneapolis will host an X Games summer event for the next two years at the new, state-of-the-art U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis. The events will take place July 13 – 16, 2017 and July 19 – 22, 2018. The selection follows a highly competitive bidding process in which Minneapolis ultimately edged out multiple cities bidding to host the X Games summer event for 2017 and 2018.

“We are thrilled to bring the X Games to Minneapolis next July,” said Tim Reed, vice president, ESPN X Games. “We believe that teaming up with the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota Sports Facility Authority (MSFA), SMG and Meet Minneapolis and the truly impressive new, state-of-the-art U.S. Bank Stadium will provide an extraordinary opportunity to grow the X Games in a new region of the country and in a city that’s quickly becoming recognized as a premier sports and entertainment destination. It was a very competitive bid process and we feel privileged to have had such great interest and thank the multiple cities that participated in the process. Ultimately, the combination of resources, support, fit and passion from the Minneapolis team brought us here and we couldn’t be happier.”

“We are very excited that the X Games will be the first large scale event in the stadium,” added Michele Kelm-Helgen, chair of the Minnesota Sports Facility Authority. “The X Games will be in Minnesota for 2017 & 2018. We intend to put on such a great event that we hope they consider making U.S. Bank Stadium their permanent home.”

“Minneapolis has quite a few major events coming to town, but the X Games stands out because of its great energy and appeal to action sports fans,” said Minneapolis City Council President Barbara Johnson. “As the area around the new stadium has transformed, the X Games will transform it even further into a hub of excitement creativity and fun.”

City Council Member Jacob Frey, whose ward includes U.S. Bank Stadium, added, “The X Games bring nearly unparalleled media attention to highlight our city. We’re hip and we know it, but not everyone does. That’s now going to change. As Sports Minneapolis chair, I’m absolutely pumped and could not be prouder of our team.”

“Minneapolis is thrilled to be welcoming the X Games in 2017 and 2018,” Melvin Tennant, president and CEO of Meet Minneapolis said. “The Games will showcase our creativity, energy, and passion for action sports, and U.S. Bank Stadium and the Downtown East Commons give us an unbeatable venue in the heart of the city. Bringing major events to town can’t happen without cooperation from many partners, and our city has developed a strong relationship with ESPN through this process. We can’t wait to welcome athletes, fans, and media to the X Games in Minneapolis next summer.”

“SMG is proud to host the X Games for their first stadium appearance,” said Patrick Talty, SMG General Manager of U.S. Bank Stadium. “The X Games in 2017 and 2018 will add to our high-caliber, pinnacle events that we have in our first two years of operation of U.S. Bank Stadium.”

The full schedule of X Games Minneapolis 2017 events will be announced in the near future. It is anticipated that X Games Minneapolis will see the majority of the competition hosted at U.S. Bank Stadium, at both the indoor stadium and the adjacent Medtronic Plaza and Downtown East Commons. This will be the first multi-day sporting event held at U.S. Bank Stadium. Like other events on the X Games schedule, X Games Minneapolis will be distinct and reflect the vibrant and youthful culture of the city, tapping into its rich sports, music and cultural scene to surround the competition with a festival that highlights the intersection of sports and lifestyle that exists in action sports.

Fans can find X Games Minneapolis updates at www.XGames.com/Minneapolis and complete action sports coverage all year long at XGames.com. Press can find information, press releases and more at ESPNMediaZone.com.