In SoCal Redux, Summer X Games Production Is Back in Full Force for First Time Since 2019 Echo Entertainment returns as primary production-services provider By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor
Friday, July 21, 2023 - 2:25 pm
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It has been four long years, but the Summer X Games is officially back this weekend at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Its first ticketed, large-scale event since 2019 marks the end of a 10-year absence from California. With sold-out crowds expected, X Games, ESPN, and production partner Echo Entertainment are pulling out all the stops for the production of its live broadcasts.
X Games California will feature live drone coverage this year.
We are beyond excited - not so much for ourselves or the brand as for the athletes, says Valerie Ryan, VP, fan experience and hospitality, X Games. They feed off the enthusiasm of the fans. When the crowds get behind them, they are pushed harder and higher on their tricks. Fans are like the electricity the athletes need to be supercharged and perform at their best. We are so much more than just a TV show; we put these events on for the athletes, the fans, and the community.
This weekend, ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC will showcase 15 hours of live Skateboarding, BMX, and Moto X competition. In addition, every event will be live-streamed on X Games YouTube and Twitch channels (seven additional competition hours).
Beach-Side Venue: X Games Returns to Its SoCal Roots In 2014, ESPN moved the Summer X Games to Austin and then Minneapolis, marking the end of a long relationship with Southern California. Then, the 2020 Summer X Games were canceled because of the pandemic, and, in 2021 and 2022, ESPN shifted to a scaled-down model held without spectators at training facilities around Southern California. Last October, ESPN sold a controlling stake in X Games to MSP Sports Capital, making X Games an independently run company (although ESPN remains a minority owner)
Six competition venues have been rolled out at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.
Now, after four years of challenges and change, the Summer X experience is back in full force this weekend at a sprawling new beach-side locale in Ventura. Tickets for Saturday's festivities - which include a fan festival, food, and live music - have sold out, and a massive crowd is expected. This year's X Fest includes a FlowRider wave machine, skateboard mini ramp, electric mini moto course, pump track, skate and BMX park, drone cage, and ninja-warrior obstacle course.
X Games has also announced the Xperience Fan Loyalty program, which will offer both onsite fans and viewers tuning in the chance to win autographed merchandise, athlete gift bags, and more.
X Games is so excited to be back with fans in California, says Ryan. Our onsite X Fest at this year's X Games California has double the number of interactive activations since the last time we had fans, in 2019 at X Games Minneapolis. There is so much for kids of all ages to do besides watching the action-packed competitions. There is something for everyone onsite at this year's event.
Back in the Big-Event Groove: Echo's Full-Scale Onsite Presence in Ventura Echo Entertainment, longtime production-services provider for X Games, is back in the role this year in Ventura and has rolled out Dome Productions Silver and B100XPT mobile units along with a Dome flypack. BSI is onsite managing the army of RF cameras and microphones.
Dome Productions Silver and B100XPT are handling the X Games California production.
Six competition venues have been set up across the sprawling Ventura Country Fairgrounds: Street Course Park (Men's and Women's skate and BMX), Quarter Pipe (Moto), Vert (Men's and Women's skate and BMX), and Moto X (Best Trick, Best Whip, and BMX Dirt).
It's a very big area with lots of space to work with, says Echo Entertainment Technical Manager Pierce Williams. We're excited to be able to bring X Games back together as one big entity, unlike in the last few years when they were doing more of a scaled-down model with different segments in different venues.
Inside Dome Productions Silver mobile unit during the X Games California production
Although the fairgrounds provide plenty of flexibility in terms of facilities, cabling has been a major challenge for the Echo team.
Since this is essentially a parking lot, there is nowhere to bury cable, says Williams. We have upwards of 35 TAC-12 [fiber cables] crisscrossing all over the fairgrounds. And trying get those hidden and [deployed] in all the rights places without their getting cut or people tripping over them or cars and motorcycles driving over them is very challenging, but we've been able to work it out.
Echo has a total of 64 cameras positions across the six courses and will be repositioning its cameras - primarily Sony HDC-4300's - throughout the three-day event.
Echo has a total of 64 cameras positioned across the six X Games courses.
In addition, Beverly Hills Aerials is providing live drone coverage for all six courses. The company will deploy its speed drone to cover the Moto X Course for Best Whip, Best Trick, and BMX Dirt and a larger drone to capture beauty shots of other courses.
One of the great things about this venue is that it's right on the ocean, says Williams. On top of giving us some great looks of the actual competition, the drone is going to give us some unbelievable aerials that show the venue and the ocean together.
Drones will play a key role in coverage of X Games California this weekend.
BSI is also supplying a bevy of RF cameras, including FollowCam systems featuring Sony PMW-F5 cameras with fisheye lenses on the Skate Park, Vert, and Moto X courses. Also on hand are three handheld RF cameras to capture the crowd and cover uncable
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In SoCal Redux, Summer X Games Production Is Back in Full Force for First Time Since 2019 Echo Entertainment returns as primary production-services provider By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor 
