X Games Aspen 2025 Kicks Off with New CEO and Major Changes

ASPEN, Colo. — The 2025 X Games Aspen began Thursday at Buttermilk Mountain, marking what could be the final standalone event in Aspen as the competition undergoes significant changes under new CEO Jeremy Bloom. The event, often referred to as the “Super Bowl” of action sports, is testing new formats and technologies this year, with broader transformations planned for the future.

Bloom, a former professional skier, NFL player, and philanthropist, outlined his vision for the X Games during a press conference Wednesday. He emphasized the goal of making the event more mainstream and accessible to casual fans. “We think our athletes have mainstream appeal,” Bloom said in a Zoom interview with the Aspen Daily News. “We don’t think of them just as action sports athletes; we think of them as the best athletes in the world.”

One of the most significant changes on the horizon is the introduction of the X Games League, a team-based format set to debut as early as next year. The league will feature 10 athletes per team, selected via a draft similar to those in major U.S. sports leagues. Teams will be branded by sponsors, and athletes will receive salaries for the first time. The league will include eight international competitions, blending both summer and winter events.

This year, Aspen serves as a testing ground for some of these innovations. Bloom highlighted a new playoffs-and-finals format designed to create more dramatic moments. Additionally, AI-assisted scoring will debut in the snowboard SuperPipe events on Thursday and Friday. “We’re excited to build this global brand and expand the aperture of how we think about X Games,” Bloom said.

However, the future of X Games in Aspen remains uncertain. Bloom revealed that Aspen has not yet submitted a bid to host future events, despite receiving 35 official bids from other locations worldwide. “Aspen is not one of them,” Bloom said. “So we have work to do; we’re having those conversations now.” He expressed hope that Aspen could remain part of the X Games legacy, calling the venue “absolutely iconic.”

John Rigney, Aspen Skiing Co. Vice President of Revenue, disputed Bloom’s claim, stating that local organizers were not approached about submitting a bid. Rigney noted that the current contract includes mutual triggers for Aspen to host the event in 2026 and 2027. “We have our deal in place,” Rigney said. “If it were to work out, I think it’d be great because this relationship has been rock solid for many years.”

For the first time, X Games Aspen is a paid-ticket-only event, with general admission tickets starting at $50 and selling out quickly. On secondary markets like StubHub, prices have soared, with Saturday tickets reaching $390. However, local high school students in the Roaring Fork Valley can still attend for free, with the first 500 students each day receiving complimentary general admission wristbands.

The competition schedule runs through Saturday, featuring events like ski Knuckle Huck, snowboard Big Air, and SuperPipe. Daily Bread will perform live music starting at 9:15 p.m. on Thursday. The full schedule is available on the X Games website.