Austin, Texas will host the 2014 Summer X Games after ESPN selected Circuit of the Americas to represent the city. Meanwhile, Aspen's bid to continue hosting the Winter X Games received a five-year contract through 2019, extending its role despite most contracts only being for three years. ESPN Vice President Jed Drake works with cities hoping to host the sporting events in the future.

1. Austin to Host Summer X
Games and Aspen Retains
Winter Bid

2. •ESPN Senior Vice President and Executive Producer Jed Drake is
responsible for multiple aspects of producing and broadcasting
major sporting events. As part of his duties, Jed Drake works with a
number of North American cities vying for the right to host future X
Games.

3. •The conclusion of the 2014 Winter X Games in Aspen marked the end of
the deal between ESPN and Aspen Skiing Company (ASC). Additionally,
last year’s summer games in Los Angeles signaled the end of the
partnership between ESPN and Los Angeles-based AEG. In January,
ESPN released a shortlist of 20 North American cities that had reached the
second round of consideration for hosting the summer and winter games.

4. •ESPN recently announced that Austin, Texas, represented by Circuit of
the Americas, would host the 2014 summer games. Meanwhile, Aspen’s
bid to continue hosting the winter games did not receive the traditional
three-year extension, but rather a five-year contract that keeps the event in
Colorado through 2019. Aspen has hosted the winter games for more than
a decade.