The landscape of action sports underwent a fundamental transformation at Cosm Los Angeles as the 2026 MoonPay X Games League (XGL) Draft officially launched a new era of team-based competition. The event, which convened over 50 of the world’s elite skateboard and BMX athletes alongside 500 industry stakeholders, marked the first time in the 31-year history of the X Games that a draft system was utilized to organize talent. By moving away from the traditional model of individual, standalone competitions toward a structured league format, the X Games aims to foster long-term narratives, regional rivalries, and year-round fan engagement.
The First Pick: A Landmark Moment for Chloe Covell
The proceedings began with high anticipation as XC New York General Manager Steve Rodriguez stepped to the podium to make the historic first selection. Rodriguez, a foundational figure in the New York City skate scene, selected 16-year-old Australian skateboarding sensation Chloe Covell as the number one overall pick. Covell’s selection underscores the league’s focus on the next generation of talent; despite her youth, she has already established herself as a dominant force in street skating, consistently podiuming at major international events.
Visibly moved by the selection, Covell expressed both surprise and gratitude regarding her position at the top of the draft board. She noted that the recognition served as a validation of years of intensive training and expressed her eagerness to contribute to a team environment—a novelty in a sport that has historically prioritized individual achievement.
Following Covell, the draft continued with a focus on established legends and record-breakers. XC Los Angeles General Manager Sharalee “Haze” Hazen selected 17-time X Games medalist Tom Schaar. A Southern California native, Schaar brings a veteran presence and a deep resume of vert and park success to the Los Angeles franchise. XC Tokyo General Manager Harumi Suzuki then secured Arisa Trew, the Australian phenom who has recently rewritten the record books by becoming the first female skater to land a 720 and a 900 in competition. Rounding out the first round, XC São Paulo General Manager and skateboarding icon Bob Burnquist selected Brazilian skater Gui Khury. At just 17 years old, Khury already holds the record for the most X Games medals won by a teenager (15), making him the cornerstone of the South American franchise.
The Cosm Experience: A Technological Marvel for Sports
The choice of venue played a critical role in the evening’s presentation. Cosm Los Angeles, located in the heart of Hollywood Park, utilized its state-of-the-art "Shared Reality" technology to bridge the gap between traditional sports broadcasting and immersive entertainment. The venue’s massive wraparound LED dome provided a cinematic backdrop, allowing the audience to feel as though they were in the center of a digital arena.
This immersive environment is a key component of the XGL’s strategy to modernize action sports for a digital-first audience. The draft was not merely an administrative event but a high-production broadcast, streamed live globally via the ESPN App, The Roku Sports Channel, YouTube, Kick, and the X Games TV FAST Channel on Amazon. By leveraging these platforms, the league ensured that fans in Tokyo, São Paulo, and New York could witness the formation of their local teams in real time.
Jeremy Bloom, a multi-sport icon and key executive behind the league’s vision, emphasized that the draft represents a "defining moment" for the brand. Bloom noted that while the X Games has celebrated individual excellence for three decades, the shift to a league format allows for the creation of rivalries and storylines that can be sustained throughout the calendar year, rather than being confined to a single weekend of competition.
Strategic Evolution: From Standalone Events to a Global League
The MoonPay X Games League introduces a structured format designed to mirror the organizational success of major professional leagues like the NFL or NBA, while retaining the counter-culture essence of action sports. The inaugural season features four clubs, each representing a major global hub:
- XC New York: Led by Steve Rodriguez
- XC Los Angeles: Led by Sharalee “Haze” Hazen
- XC Tokyo: Led by Harumi Suzuki
- XC São Paulo: Led by Bob Burnquist
Each roster consists of 10 athletes, strictly divided into five men and five women. This 50/50 gender split is a significant step in professional sports, ensuring equal representation and visibility across all disciplines. During the draft, the four general managers selected from a pool of more than 180 athletes who had opted into the draft system. The final 40-player roster includes representatives from eight different countries, with ages ranging from 11 to 35, highlighting the multi-generational appeal of the sport.
The inclusion of global icons like Nyjah Huston, Kevin Peraza, and Hannah Roberts alongside emerging teenagers ensures that each club possesses a mix of marketability and competitive edge. The team-based format requires athletes to compete together, with their individual performances contributing to a cumulative team score.
Blockchain Integration: A New Frontier in Athlete Compensation
A notable departure from traditional sports drafting was the integration of modern financial technology. The league’s title partner, MoonPay, along with founding partner Exodus, introduced a first-of-its-kind activation: crypto signing bonuses. Drafted athletes received their bonuses through the Exodus self-custody crypto wallet platform.
This move reflects the X Games’ historical trend of aligning with disruptive technologies and youth-centric financial trends. By providing digital asset compensation, the league is positioning itself at the intersection of sport, tech, and culture. Analysts suggest that this approach could provide athletes with more diverse earning opportunities and financial autonomy, particularly for international competitors who may benefit from the borderless nature of digital assets.
The draft event concluded with a celebration on the rooftop of Cosm, overlooking Hollywood Park. The evening featured a surprise performance by Grammy-winning producer BNYX, further cementing the event’s status as a cultural crossover between the worlds of high-level athletics and contemporary music.
The 2026 Competition Roadmap: From Sacramento to New Orleans
The draft serves as the prelude to a condensed and high-intensity summer season. The 2026 MoonPay X Games League schedule is designed to build momentum across three major international stops:
- Season Opener (June 26): The league begins in Sacramento, California, where the four clubs will face off for the first time in a team-based format.
- International Round (July 4–5): The competition moves to Japan, tapping into the massive skateboarding and BMX fanbase in the Tokyo region.
- League Championship (July 24–26): The season culminates inside the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. This final event will determine the first-ever MoonPay X Games League champion based on the highest cumulative score across the three stops.
This itinerary reflects a strategic geographic spread, hitting the West Coast of the U.S., a major Asian market, and a iconic Southern U.S. venue for the finale. The move to the Caesars Superdome is particularly significant, as it places action sports in a traditional "stadium" environment, signaling the league’s ambitions for scale and mainstream legitimacy.
Broader Impact and Industry Implications
The transition to the XGL comes at a time when action sports are seeking to solidify their place in the professional sporting pantheon. Following the successful integration of skateboarding and BMX into the Olympic Games, there has been an increased demand for structured, high-stakes competition outside of the quadrennial Olympic cycle.
By creating a league, the X Games is addressing several historical challenges in action sports, including athlete job security and fan retention. A year-round team format provides athletes with a more stable platform for sponsorship and visibility, while fans are given a reason to follow the sport beyond the highlights of a single event. The "Club" model also creates regional identities, potentially attracting "home team" fans who may not have previously followed individual skaters or riders.
Furthermore, the partnership with brands like Monster Energy, Stake, 805 Beer, and Kraken Rum indicates strong commercial interest in the league format. These partners are looking for consistent brand integration throughout a season rather than a one-off sponsorship of a weekend event.
As the inaugural season approaches, the focus shifts from the draft board to the ramps and rails. The performance of the "foundation four"—Covell, Schaar, Trew, and Khury—will be closely watched as they lead their respective clubs into a new chapter of sports history. If successful, the MoonPay X Games League could serve as a blueprint for other individual-centric sports looking to modernize and scale in an increasingly crowded global entertainment market.
