A new Agreement between ESPN and Aspen/Snowmass will mean that the X Games will remain in the resort for at least six straight years, through to the eleventh Games in 2007. The announcement was made four days prior to the official start of Winter X Games VIII, the third to be staged at Buttermilk, one of Aspen/Snowmass's mountains.

This year's event (January 24-27) will mark the first time a city has hosted an X Games (summer or winter) for three consecutive years. To date, X Games events had primarily changed sites every two years.

Last January, Winter X Games VII in Aspen drew more than 48,000 spectators

(12,000 more than 2002), and set viewer records: all telecasts (ESPN,

ESPN2 and ABC Sports) garnered an average of 412,673 households, the highest

in the event's history and a 33% increase from the 310,810 average

households for Winter X Games VI (2002).

The Winter X Games features more than 250 athletes from across the globe competing for medals and prize money in Moto X, Ski, Snowboard and Snowmobile events. ESPN International will distribute the Games worldwide. EXPN.com will provide extensive online coverage.

More information at www.espneventmedia.com and www.aspensnowmass.com