What you need to know: California’s capitol region will welcome the 30th summer X Games in 2025, a competition in extreme sports that draws professional athletes from around the world.
SACRAMENTO - Last week, the X Games named Sacramento as their summer host for the next three years, beginning in August 2025 for the 30th anniversary of the event.
What some consider the Olympics of extreme sports, the summer X Games features competitions in professional skateboarding, BMX, and Moto X. The games will host over 100 world-class athletes competing for more than $1 million in prize money.
“The X Games and extreme sports are inherently representative of California’s boldness, creativity, and innovative spirit. California is pleased to welcome the X Games and its athletes and visitors to the Sacramento region – home not only to our state’s capital but a diverse population of adventurers, thrill seekers, and fans who embrace the essence of the games.” - Governor Gavin Newsom
The games will take place at Sacramento’s Cal Expo from August 22-24, 2025. The selection of California’s capital for the next three years of X Games will further tourism in the Sacramento region, with an estimated 35,000 attendees anticipated daily.
California’s booming tourism economy
California has the largest market share of tourism in the nation. Travel spending in the state reached an all-time high of $150.4 billion last year, surpassing the record $144.9 billion spent in 2019 – spending that is 3.8% higher than 2019 and 5.6% higher than 2022.
The new travel-spending record generated $12.7 billion in state and local tax revenue by visitors in 2023, marking a 3% increase over 2019. Tourism created 64,900 new jobs in 2023, bringing total industry employment to 1,155,000.