Squaw Valley and Heavenly Valley ski resorts have teamed up in a bid to bring the Winter X Games to California in 2015.
Squaw and Heavenly are among the eight finalists in the race to land the games. Winning the games would be a major accomplishment for the resorts and the Tahoe region as a whole.
Andy Wirth, CEO of Squaw Valley had this to say, "We are very much competitors, but there are times when we can work for the betterment of the region."
From Heavenly, senior director of brand marketing, John Wagnon, said that his resort "...is excited about the possibilities of the joint bid. It makes a better bid to do it as a Tahoe event."
The Winter X Games is more than just the skiing and boarding events. It is a multi-day event that offers concerts, extreme skiing and boarding films, and is a showcase for snow fashions.
In addition, vendors for all the major, and some minor, ski, board, and apparel companies are on hand to show off their gear. If it has to do with snow sports, the vendors are there.
The Tahoe region would benefit in many ways should the resorts be the chosen venue. In Aspen, Colorado, according to published reports, the average daily attendance at the games was around 20,000. TV accounted for another 36 million viewers.
With Tahoe in the throes of re-inventing itself, and moving away from a reliance on gambling, landing the Winter X Games would pump an enormous amount of enthusiasm into the entire region, along with a great deal of revenue.
In 2012, Aspens lodging industry reported $21.1 million during the X Games. The hospitality industry, the cafes, bars, and restaurants, made an additional $10.8 million.
Since Squaw and Heavenly anchor two different areas in the basin, from Highway 50 to I80, it's likely that the boost in revenues would benefit everyone from Sierra-at-Tahoe to Truckee and Northstar.
The added international spotlight would be a welcomed boost to the tourist industry, not only in Tahoe, but all the surrounding areas, from Sacramento to Reno.
Comments