The global landscape of action sports is poised for a fundamental transformation as the X Games prepares to host its first-ever professional team draft. On Thursday, March 12, 2026, the MoonPay X Games League (XGL) Draft will take place at the state-of-the-art Cosm Los Angeles venue in Hollywood Park. Streaming live from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. PT, the event represents a departure from the individual-centric competition model that has defined the X Games since its inception in 1995. By transitioning to a structured, team-based league format, the X Games aims to foster year-round engagement, regional rivalries, and a more sustainable professional ecosystem for athletes across skateboarding, BMX, and other disciplines.
The draft serves as the official launchpad for the 2026 MoonPay X Games League season. During the broadcast, 40 of the world’s elite action sports athletes will be selected to populate four foundational franchises: XC Los Angeles, XC New York, XC São Paulo, and XC Tokyo. This move into a league structure mirrors the organizational evolution of traditional sports like the NBA or NFL, providing a centralized narrative for fans to follow throughout the calendar year.
A New Era of Team-Based Competition
The MoonPay X Games League introduces a coed, team-based format that is unprecedented in the high-stakes world of action sports. Each X Games Club (XC) will consist of 10 athletes, strictly divided into five men and five women. This parity is a strategic move to highlight the depth of talent across genders and to ensure that the league appeals to a broad, diverse global audience.
Unlike the traditional X Games events, which functioned as standalone festivals, the XGL will operate on a points-based season. Teams will accumulate scores across three major summer events, culminating in a championship where the highest-ranking club will be awarded the inaugural league title and a significant team purse. This structure is designed to incentivize consistency and teamwork, shifting the focus from individual gold medals to collective franchise success.
The Draft Mechanics and Selection Process
The selection process on Thursday night is the result of months of logistical planning and a comprehensive talent scouting effort. A total of 180 professional athletes opted into the draft pool, representing the upper echelon of global talent. From this pool, only 40 will be selected during the live event, which consists of five rounds of eight selections.
The draft order was established earlier this month through a randomized lottery conducted in the presence of the league’s four general managers. The order is as follows:
- XC New York (General Manager: Steve Rodriguez)
- XC Los Angeles (General Manager: Sharalee “Haze” Hazen)
- XC Tokyo (General Manager: Harumi Suzuki)
- XC São Paulo (General Manager: Bob Burnquist)
The general managers bring a wealth of industry experience to their respective clubs. Bob Burnquist, a legendary figure in skateboarding with 30 X Games medals, leads the São Paulo franchise, bringing a deep understanding of the Brazilian action sports market. Steve Rodriguez, an influential figure in the New York City skateboarding scene, is expected to prioritize athletes who embody the gritty, technical style associated with East Coast skating. Harumi Suzuki and Sharalee Hazen are tasked with building rosters that balance veteran experience with the explosive energy of the next generation.
Elite Talent and Potential First-Round Picks
The draft pool features a mix of established icons and rising phenoms who have dominated the international circuit and the Olympic Games. Among the most anticipated names is Nyjah Huston, a 15-time X Games gold medalist whose competitive record makes him a likely top-tier pick for any franchise seeking immediate star power.
Joining Huston in the pool are athletes such as Tom Schaar, known for his versatility across park and mega-ramp disciplines, and Kevin Peraza, one of the most decorated BMX riders in the history of the sport. The women’s side of the draft is equally competitive, featuring Arisa Trew, the teenage skateboarding sensation who has recently rewritten the record books, and Hannah Roberts, a two-time X Games BMX Park gold medalist.
The requirement for a 50/50 gender split on each roster adds a layer of strategic complexity to the draft. General managers must balance their selections across different disciplines and genders to ensure their club is competitive in every event throughout the summer season.
Global Broadcast Strategy and Digital Reach
To maximize the reach of this historic event, the X Games has secured a multi-platform streaming strategy. In the United States, the draft will be available via the ESPN App, maintaining the brand’s long-standing relationship with the sports media giant. Globally, the event will be accessible on The Roku Sports Channel, YouTube, Kick.com, and the X Games TV FAST Channel on Amazon.
This diversified media approach reflects the changing consumption habits of action sports fans, who increasingly lean toward digital and social-first platforms. By utilizing FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channels and interactive platforms like Kick and YouTube, the XGL ensures that the draft is accessible to a worldwide audience without the barriers of traditional cable subscriptions.
Venue Spotlight: Cosm Los Angeles
The choice of Cosm Los Angeles as the draft venue underscores the league’s commitment to cutting-edge technology. Located in Hollywood Park, Cosm features "Shared Reality" technology—a massive LED dome that provides an immersive experience for attendees. This high-tech environment is intended to mirror the progressive nature of the X Games brand, offering a visual spectacle that complements the high-energy atmosphere of a professional sports draft.
Chronology of the 2026 Inaugural Season
Following the conclusion of the draft on March 12, the four clubs will enter a preparation phase before the summer season officially commences. The 2026 schedule is strategically designed to hit key international markets:
- June 26, 2026: The inaugural MoonPay X Games League Summer Season kicks off in Sacramento, California. This opening event will serve as the first test of the new team format and will likely draw significant crowds from the Northern California action sports hub.
- July 4–5, 2026: The league moves to Japan for X Games Tokyo. As action sports continue to explode in popularity across Asia, this stop is critical for the league’s global branding and the Tokyo franchise’s home-turf debut.
- July 24–26, 2026: The season culminates in New Orleans at the Caesars Superdome. The league championship will be held here, where the first-ever XGL champion will be crowned.
The transition to winter disciplines is already in the planning stages, with the XGL Winter Season set to debut in early 2027.
Economic Impact and Corporate Partnerships
The formation of the XGL has attracted a sophisticated roster of corporate partners. MoonPay serves as the league’s title partner, suggesting a deep integration of fintech and digital fan engagement strategies. Monster Energy, a long-time supporter of action sports, joins as a founding partner. Other notable sponsors include Stake, Exodus, 805, High Noon, and Kraken Rum.
These partnerships provide the financial backing necessary to sustain a year-round league model and offer a larger prize pool for the athletes. Industry analysts suggest that the move to a league format makes the X Games a more attractive proposition for advertisers, as it offers predictable schedules and long-term narrative arcs that individual events lack.
Strategic Implications for Action Sports
The launch of the MoonPay X Games League Draft is more than just a promotional event; it is a calculated attempt to professionalize action sports in a way that provides better stability for its participants. For decades, action sports athletes have relied on individual sponsorships and intermittent contest winnings. The XGL model introduces the concept of team salaries and collective bargaining potential, which could fundamentally change the career trajectories of professional skaters and riders.
Furthermore, the regional nature of the teams—Los Angeles, New York, São Paulo, and Tokyo—is designed to tap into local pride. By giving fans a "home team" to root for, the X Games is betting that it can cultivate a level of tribal loyalty similar to that found in European football or American baseball.
As the draft approaches this Thursday, the eyes of the sporting world will be on Hollywood Park. Whether this team-based experiment will achieve the same cultural impact as the original X Games remains to be seen, but the scale of the investment and the caliber of the athletes involved suggest that the MoonPay X Games League is the most significant evolution in the history of the franchise.
