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Future of 'X' in Aspen still in question |
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Wednesday, January 11, 2012 15:10 |
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Photo by Chris Council, Aspen Daily News
By CAROLYN SACKARIASON, ASPEN DAILY NEWS
Officials from the Aspen Skiing Co. and ESPN remain tight-lipped on whether there will be an announcement before, during or after the upcoming Winter X Games regarding if the event will remain in Aspen after this year.
As ESPN has extended or renewed its contracts with SkiCo over the past decade, the announcement typically came during the games. But with last-minute negotiations occurring between ESPN and the SkiCo, it’s unclear whether they will result in a contract.
It’s been nearly a month since John Rigney, SkiCo’s vice president for events, met with Aspen City Council and Pitkin County commissioners in two different executive sessions to discuss strategy in negotiating a new contract with ESPN, according to attorneys who directed the public officials into those closed-door meetings.
Rigney has characterized those private meetings as more of an update on the status of negotiations and informing public officials of what SkiCo’s challenges are. ESPN is asking for more support to host the event, given the increased competition from other resorts vying for the winter action-sports event.
If the council or commissioners are going to be asked to help by contributing financially, that will have to be done in public meetings, government officials say.
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