X Games considered second-largest event this year in Minneapolis

The several-day run of the X Games is considered the second-largest event in terms of visitors and spending by Meet Minneapolis, the convention-and-visitors agency.

July 13, 2017 at 3:21PM

The so-called X Games concludes its four-day run Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium and other venues. Up to 100,000 attendees are expected for the games and related events.

The events also marked the first major, multi-day sports events at the new stadium and also attracted national and international broadcast-media exposure. That included nearly 20 hours of live X Games on ESPN and ABC, on top of numerous digital platforms.

The X Games, including numerous free events on the stadium plaza and concerts, featured 200-plus of the world's best action sports athletes competing for medals and prize money in BMX, Skateboard and Moto X disciplines.

However, the X Games competition played second fiddle this year to 10 days of USA Volleyball that concluded earlier this month and which brought more than 40,000 amateur players, families and fans who generated an estimated $50 million in economic impact to local hotels, restaurants and retailers.

Meet Minneapolis judged USA Volleyball to be the biggest-single visitor event this year, at $50 million, based on length of stay of visitors and hotel rentals.

Next February's Super Bowl events backers have projected they will have an economic impact in excess of $300 million.

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Neal St. Anthony

Columnist, reporter

Neal St. Anthony has been a Star Tribune business columnist/reporter since 1984. 

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