X GAMES Attendance Falls Short Of Last Year's Record Crowds

(From The Orange County Register)

The total attendance for X GAMES 11, which ran from August 4th-7th, was 122,614, less than the record 170,471 set last year. Saturday drew the largest crowds, when 52,577 came to THE STAPLES CENTER, THE HOME DEPOT CENTER, and LONG BEACH MARINE STADIUM.

In LOS ANGELES, PETE THOMAS wrote THE STAPLES CENTER "may not play as large a role as a primary venue" for THE X GAMES next year because of a construction project that "involves the building of a hotel and theater complex in the facility’s main parking lot."

AEG Vice President/Communications MICHAEL ROTH said that the construction begins in the fall but "did not say how long it would last." Roth added that the "plotting of X GAMES VENUES for various competitions is up to ESPN."

X GAMES General Manager CHRIS STIEPOCK said that he was "unsure what events, if any," would be moved to THE HOME DEPOT CENTER. But Stiepock did say, "We're committed to holding events inside THE STAPLES CENTER."

In NEW YORK, MATT HIGGINS reported some BMXERS and SKATEBOARDERS are "implementing measures to enable more youngsters to get involved in vert riding."

GARY REAM, co-owner of action sports training center CAMP WOODWARD in PENNSYLVANIA, is "probably responsible more than anyone else for nurturing" the athletes.

Ream -- "My goal is to have a grass-roots program. We know the numbers in skateboarding are better than LITTLE LEAGUE."

Higgins noted the governing bodies for skating and BMX "plan to implement contest series culminating in NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS during the next year."