X Games VIII Draws to a Close and Celebrates its Best X Games to Date

Monday, August 19, 2002

By Maria Elles Scott
XGames Correspondent

X Games VIII drew to a close today and is boasting the best X Games in its eight-year history. The event experienced many firsts this year, as well as welcoming the X Games' two millionth fan, showcasing unprecedented athletic tricks, introducing women's exhibitions and seeing a spectator fan base that beat last year's averages.

The Best to Date

"This event was just awesome," said X Games Executive Director Jack Wienert. "As planned and as expected, Philadelphia, Comcast, Comcast-Spectacor, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, all our fans and, of course, our athletes came through with the best X Games to date."

Two Millionth Fan

When nine-year old Philadelphian Brynn Blalock entered the First Union Complex with his family on Sunday, August 18 to enjoy X Games VIII, his day changed radically. As he walked through the turnstile at 2:41 p.m., sirens were sounded and Brynn and his family were whisked away to be honored by X Games staff as the two-millionth X Games fan.

Unprecedented Moments

X Games VIII is littered with a list of firsts of athletic feats, including Bike Stunt legend Mat Hoffman's no-handed 900 in the Vert competition; Moto X's Mike Metzger solidly sticking back-to-back Backflips in the Freestyle Moto X competition; 14-year old Speed Climber Tori Allen's gold medal winning run that blew out the current X Games record; and the inclusion of the women's exhibitions in Moto X Freestyle and Skateboard Vert and Skateboard Park.

Beating the Averages

Total attendance for X Games VIII is 221,352 (last year's total attendance of 235,000 included an extra day and an extra venue). The per-day average of the five days at Comcast-Spectacor's First Union Complex is 40,210, which is a 13 percent increase to last year's six-day per-day average at the venue.

The X Games showcases 300 of the world's best action sports athletes competing in a variety of sports events for medals and more than $1 million in total prize money.

ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC Sports will combine to televise more than 20 original hours of X Games VIII coverage starting August 17, while ESPN International will distribute the Games worldwide. In addition, EXPN.com, the year-round home for action sports and culture, will offer extensive event coverage, including streaming video from the X Games.