Equal Prize Money for Men and Women in 09 X Games

[bknockazz]

ESPN makes good on 2006 promise to the Alliance for Equal Prize Money for Men and Women!
October 28, 2008

As Peter Yoon of the LA Times wrote back in 2006: "Perhaps the biggest step forward during this year's (2006) X-Games came before the games even started". To recap for those of you that may not remember:

"On the eve of X Games 12, Alliance leadership/co-founders, CB Burnside, Mimi Knoop and Drew Mearns met with the ESPN boss (John Skipper) in a private board room at the Staples Center and struck what many consider will be an historic deal to bring women's actions sports to parity with the men's side - financially and in broadcast exposure - over the next year or two. "He was really good about not only listening to us, but he committed then and there to specific changes that will help all women action sports athletes - not just skaters - this year and on into the future," CB said after the meeting".

Just yesterday, ESPN announced equal prize money for men and women at all winter and summer X-Games events. The Alliance would like to extend a big "thank you" to John Skipper and ESPN corporate for not only following through on their promise, but more importantly, for doing the right thing for women in action sports. The Alliance is proud to have played such an important role in this historic milestone in womens action sports.

Press release from ESPN:
"ESPN is proud to announce that the X Games and Winter X Games will feature equal prize money for both men and women in 2009. ESPN has been a leader in promoting and programming women's athletics, and this recent action sports prize purse increase is the latest example. This past summer saw the X Games feature women's motocross for the first time, and the upcoming Winter X Games will feature a host of female Olympic medalists from several different countries. Starting with Winter X Games 13 in January, 2009, men and women athletes at all X Games events will compete for equal cash awards."

— John Skipper,
ESPN executive vice president, content


http://actionsportsalliance.com/happenings.php

[Rollin 40]

If they get equal money shouldn't they skate equal?

[Nosaj]

i hate to be a creep, but the payment should be relative to the advertising that comes in for the event. If an equal amount of viewers tune in for the girls then they should get the same.

That said, that is rad for them. Mimi definately deserves it. She is definately the best and most marketable.

Overall skaters should get the same money that basketball, football and baseball get. Thats when i will be really happy!

[Brock75]

Equal entertainment for equal pay, womens skate is not as entertaining. Real fair and equal would just be skating regardless of gender. There are a few out there that can hold their own.

[chickndog]

Or maybe they will step it up more and Risk more to earn more. We'll see.

[Rollin 40]

Originally Posted by Nosaj

i hate to be a creep, but the payment should be relative to the advertising that comes in for the event. If an equal amount of viewers tune in for the girls then they should get the same.

That said, that is rad for them. Mimi definately deserves it. She is definately the best and most marketable.

Overall skaters should get the same money that basketball, football and baseball get. Thats when i will be really happy!

I have to Agree..I love that women skate, BUT Its not as fun to watch. Mimi and CB are rad skaters. But I see young amatures boys that just blow them away. And they are fun to watch rip. So should females gat paid that much? Could they draw as many viewers if the Men were not riding? If so then yes.

As far as skaters making the money of other major sports? I cant see that happening anytime soon. Football is played in Stadiums of 60-70k people, some paying over 500.00 for a prime seat. Jerseys cost 75.00+ for Authentic ones.
No one payes that to see skaters ride YET. One day maybe but its a long way off.

[rEVOLUTION26]

Nice. That's great news. "Professional skateboarding" tends to be a chauvinistic joke of unprofessional posturing. It's about time the girls start to get recognized. Let's hope it stays that way and other contests start to follow suit.