Q&A: X Games CEO Jeremy Bloom

In December 2024, Jeremy Bloom was named CEO of the X Games. It was a return to the action sports world for Bloom, now 44, who had been a U.S. Olympian in skiing and starred in college football at Colorado. Bloom never got the chance to compete in X Games as an athlete, but now is charged with reimagining the property’s future. That plan has started to come to life with the conclusion of the first X Games League Championship, held in New Orleans, Louisiana, from July 24—26, which wrapped up the three-event inaugural season. Bloom spoke to SportsTravel Managing Editor Ted Keith about why he wanted to accept this challenge, why New Orleans was the right city for the championship, and what he plans to do next with the league.

ST: Why did you want to get involved with the X Games?

Bloom: I’ve spent my life competing in sports, building businesses, and thinking about how sports can inspire people. X Games sits at the intersection of all three. It’s one of the most iconic brands in sports, with athletes who continually redefine what’s possible.

What excited me most wasn’t preserving what X Games has been, it was building what it can become. We have an opportunity to transform X Games from a collection of incredible events into one of the world’s great sports leagues, while remaining true to the culture that made it iconic in the first place.

ST: What made you want to bring this particular event to New Orleans and the Superdome?

Bloom: This is our championship, so we wanted a stage worthy of crowning our first MoonPay X Games League champions.

New Orleans is one of the world’s great event cities. It understands how to create experiences that people remember, and it has a rich culture that aligns well with the energy of X Games.

The Superdome gives us the ability to create a completely immersive environment. We control everything, from the courses and competition to the music, lighting, and production. It allows us to deliver an experience that’s every bit as exciting for fans in the building as it is for those watching around the world.

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ST: Were other cities in the running for this week’s event? If so, which ones?

Bloom: We’ve had significant interest from cities across North America and internationally.

What ultimately separated New Orleans was the partnership. They understood that we’re not simply looking for a venue—we’re looking for cities that want to build something meaningful over multiple years. They embraced our vision for growing the MoonPay X Games League, attracting visitors, engaging youth, and creating a signature global sporting event.

ST: What are your top priorities in growing the X Games, and how are you using technology (such as AI) to do so?

Bloom: Our first priority is successfully building the MoonPay X Games League into one of the premier global sports leagues. The early response has been incredibly encouraging, with multiple team sales completed in just a matter of months and strong interest from investors around the world.

Second, we’re focused on growing our global audience by meeting younger fans where they already spend their time, whether that’s live events, television, streaming, gaming, social media, or creator platforms.

Technology is a major part of that strategy. AI is helping us create more personalized content, streamline production, better understand fan behavior, and make our sports easier for new audiences to follow. We also see tremendous opportunity in using AI to explain tricks, judging, and athlete stories in real time, making action sports more accessible without losing the authenticity that makes them special.

ST: What kind of markets are you looking to be in moving forward?

Bloom: We’re looking for global cities that are ambitious and want to be part of building something much bigger than a single weekend event.

Our league model has fundamentally changed the conversation. Cities now have the opportunity to become part of a global sports property with year-round relevance through teams, content, athlete development, and community engagement.

We’ve seen strong interest across North America, Asia, South America, Europe, and the Middle East. Ultimately, we’re looking for partners who share our long-term vision and want to grow alongside us.

ST: What does an ideal host city look like for you?

Bloom: The best host cities view X Games as an investment—not simply an event.

They recognize the economic impact, the tourism opportunity, and the chance to inspire young people to become active through action sports.

We also look for cities that have a strong international profile, embrace innovation, and understand the importance of reaching younger generations. The best partnerships are the ones where both sides are thinking five or ten years into the future, not just about this year’s event.

ST: What does an ideal venue look like for you?

Bloom: One of the unique things about X Games is that our sports can come to life almost anywhere, from mountains and beaches to city centers and world-famous stadiums.

For us, the ideal venue creates an unforgettable fan experience while giving our athletes the best possible stage to perform. Great sightlines, world-class television capabilities, flexibility to build innovative courses, strong athlete facilities, and enough room to create an immersive entertainment experience all matter.

Ultimately, we want every venue to feel unmistakably like X Games.

ST: Do you wish that you’d had a chance to compete in the X Games, and if so, does leading the company make up for that in any way?

Bloom: Absolutely. Like so many athletes of my generation, I grew up watching X Games. It represented creativity, progression, and a completely different way of thinking about sports.

Leading the company is obviously different than competing, but it’s incredibly rewarding. Today, I have the opportunity to help create the platform that inspires the next generation and gives athletes more opportunities than ever before, not only to compete, but to build careers, grow their brands, and become global stars.

ST: How does being an elite athlete help you lead an organization like the X Games?

Bloom: Elite athletes understand that success is never static. You’re constantly learning, adapting, and trying to improve.

That mindset translates directly into leadership. Every event teaches us something. Every season is an opportunity to get better. We constantly ask ourselves how we can improve the experience for athletes, fans, partners, and host cities.

It also gives me a unique perspective because I’ve experienced many of the same pressures our athletes face. I understand the commitment it takes to compete at the highest level, and I want X Games to be the best possible platform for them to succeed.

ST: Where do you want the X Games to be in two years’ time? Five years?

Bloom: In two years, I want people to look at the MoonPay X Games League and say, “This is real.” More teams. More global host cities. Larger audiences. Stronger commercial partners. More opportunities for athletes. A league that’s clearly on an upward trajectory and attracting world-class ownership groups from around the globe.

Five years from now, our ambition is much bigger than becoming the world’s leading action sports league. We want X Games to be recognized as one of the most culturally influential global sports leagues.

That means world-class franchises competing on multiple continents. It means deep integration with music, gaming, technology, creators, and entertainment. It means athletes who are global stars, not just within action sports but across popular culture.

Most importantly, I want millions more kids around the world to discover skateboarding, BMX, motocross, skiing, and snowboarding because of what we’re building. If we inspire the next generation to be more active, dream bigger, and fall in love with action sports, then we’ll have accomplished something far more important than simply growing a business.