X Games in Austin, TX, June 6-8, 2014, is shaping up to be a different sort of event than it was in Los Angeles. Today, they announced that not only would there be the world-class action sports competitions, but 9 themed festival villages along with an entire music line-up.
The festival villages are called Galleria, Gaming Shack, ESPN Clubhouse, The Playground, Sound Factory, Next X Parks, Texas Ranch, The Garage and Green Planet.
The new festival villages will offer spectators a unique and wide-ranging interactive experience to complement the X Games sports competitions and acclaimed headline music acts, including fully immersive music and gaming areas, go kart racing, learn-to-ride clinics and demonstrations, sports bar, movie theatre, camping and a variety of food and drinks. Fans will also be able to connect and interact socially onsite like never before – utilizing RFID (radio-frequency identification) technology – throughout the venue with photo opportunities, social media check-ins at designated locations and more.
“As the X Games transition into its new home in Austin, we are proud to expand the festival and music elements, offering spectators a new and wide-ranging experience relevant to youth culture, lifestyle and the characteristics the city has grown to be known for,” said Tim Reed, ESPN X Games senior director, events & content. “While the world’s best action sports athletes and the competitions remain at the core of the X Games, we’re thrilled to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the franchise in Austin with the addition of these nine-themed festival villages and more live music than ever before.”
Here are details about the X Games Austin festival villages:
Galleria
The Galleria is the central retail hub featuring sponsor activations, including a zip line, the X Games museum, barber shop, vendor shops, social media wall, food court and more.
The Playground
Fun for kids and kids at heart, The Playground will feature summer activities for all ages. The youth play area will be filled with swings, bungee jumping, King of the Hill and a hip-hop horsey race track. This festival village also offers an area for older fans including the Last Man Standing, hydro tag, an obstacle course and giant gyroscopes where fans can experience a taste of the X Games adrenaline.
Sound Factory
The Sound Factory will be a fully immersive area for music enthusiasts to dance, sing, record, listen to and play music in a variety of activations. In addition to the Silent Disco, Karaoke, Disney Fantasia and Guitar Hero competitions, the Sound Factory stage will also showcase the X Games: Battle of the Bands, where eight bands will compete to be crowned the winner.
Next X Park
The Next X Park will feature myriad of professionally designed and built courses including park, street and a mini ramp where fans will have the opportunity to master and learn new tricks from the pros. They will also have the option of riding a bike or a skateboard around the last turn of the Circuit of The Americas Formula 1TM racetrack.
Gaming Shack
Major League Gaming (MLG) comes to X Games for the first time with the debut of the inaugural MLG X Games Invitational tournament. The pro-gaming competition will take place in the MLG tent, where the world’s best Call of Duty: Ghosts teams will compete for X Games medals. Additional activities in the Gaming Shack include a laser tag obstacle course and a retro arcade.
ESPN Clubhouse
Whether fans prefer to watch or participate, the ESPN Clubhouse is the place for traditional sports fans to interact and compete. This village features a volleyball court, dodgeball games and basketball courts as well as the Sports Bar where they can watch their favorite teams on one of the many big screen TVs. The gaming zone also features a mechanical bull and several classic games.
Green Planet
At the Green Planet, fans can learn to be more environmentally conscious through interactive displays featuring artwork and interactive booths, educating visitors on how to compost and recycle. Fans can take part in an X Quest Scavenger hunt to win prizes. The Green Planet also provides water rehydration stations and shaded hammocks to escape the heat.
The Garage
A full-throttle fan experience, The Garage celebrates all things fast, featuring Go-Kart Racing, Racing Bugs, racing simulators and more. Fans can experience the transformation of a garage into the Man Cave, and also get up close with pro Rally and Moto X athletes in the pits.
Texas Ranch
The Texas Ranch will celebrate the spirit and flavor of Austin, including the Alamo Drafthouse movie theater, a genuine western saloon, mechanical bull and food options from local Austin favorites. The Texas Ranch will be home to the KUTX stage, highlighting local bands from around Austin, the “Live Music Capital of the World ®.”
Villages will support local charitable efforts and several invited non-profit organizations, including Team ESPN, The V Foundation for Cancer Research, Boarding for Breast Cancer (B4BC), Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM), Special Olympics, KaBoom!, Make-a-Wish Foundation, National Recreation & Parks Association, W.C. Akins High School – F1 in Schools and Mack, Jack & McConaughey (MJ&M).
The most updated X Games Austin competition and music schedules can also be found at www.xgames.com. Tickets for X Games Austin 2014 are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com/xgames.
