On Thursday afternoon, the X Games announced the creation and sale of a new Park City club, XC Park City Winter Club.
XC Park City Winter Club will compete in the inaugural X Games League winter season in 2027 and feature three stops, with Aspen, Colorado, the previous sole host of the winter X Games, the only stop confirmed so far. The inaugural X Games League summer season is set to kick off this month, with its first stop in Sacramento, California, June 26-28.
The X Games pivoted from individual events to the league format to try and bolster its brand and create more opportunities for everyone involved, including athletes.
XC Park City Winter Club was sold to private equity investor Allen Thorpe, who has a home in Park City and lived in town full time during part of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thorpe also bought XC Los Angeles, one of four teams in the summer league.
“I’ve been an investor all my life,” Thorpe said, “and have invested in a few sports things over time. I’ve always been on the lookout.”
Thorpe worked for a firm that owned part of Formula 1.
He said he and his family are avid skiers. He knew he “had to” bring an X Games club to the winter sports mecca of Park City.
“It just seemed natural to us,” Thorpe said. “It’s what the town deserves.”
Thorpe will look to load up on Park City star athletes in the inaugural winter league draft on Sept. 16 in Los Angeles. He is also looking to bring X Games events to town and hopefully a league stop itself.
“We will definitely create opportunities to engage the community,” Thorpe said. “Give people the chance to connect with these athletes.”
XC Park City Winter Club will have 10 athletes, five men and five women, same as the other three winter league teams. Thorpe will bring on a general manager to help draft and manage the team. He plans on leaving coaching duties to the coaches that the athletes already work with throughout their years.
“It’s a real bummer that Sundance has left,” Thorpe said. “(Park City is) a place that deserves more world-class excellence. This will be a way to bring it.”
X Games CEO Jeremy Bloom, a two-time Olympic mogulist and NFL wide receiver and return specialist, said Thorpe’s investments are “powerful validation” for the new leagues.
“We’re creating permanent teams, season-long storylines, stronger opportunities for athletes and deeper connections with fans,” Bloom said. “Allen immediately understood that opportunity, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to the X Games family.”
To keep up with future X Games news, such as the release of the 2027 winter league schedule, the results of the winter league draft and the results of the summer league, visit xgames.com.