The 2020 Monster Energy Supercross schedule will end at Rice-Eccles Stadium in May, giving the state “one of the biggest sporting events ever held in Utah,” according to Jeff Robbins, president and CEO of the Utah Sports Commission.
The circuit's World Finale has been staged in Las Vegas for the 23 past years. The Las Vegas stop moves to the second-to-last week of the 2020 season, with the final event scheduled May 2 in Salt Lake City.
“This will get worldwide attention,” Robbins said.
The Supercross tour markets itself as “the most competitive and highest profile off-road motorcycle racing championship” in the world, and the Utah stop has attracted big crowds and TV audiences. Nearly 1 million viewers watched the Rice-Eccles Stadium event in April 2018, positioning Salt Lake City to land the 2020 World Finale.
“Our goal is the continued growth of the sport and rotating markets every couple of years, expanding Supercross Futures events and moving the finale to a new location helps keep the series fresh and exciting for the fans, as well as for the race teams and athletes,” Todd Jendro, Feld Entertainment's vice president of operations-motorsports, said in a news release. “Utah has become synonymous with elite, world class sporting events and we thought hosting the finale in Salt Lake City would be a fitting choice.”
The competition will be televised by NBC. As the season progresses, accounts of the four-month tour will mention the World Finale. “Throughout the year, everything leads up to Salt Lake City,” Robbins said.
Rice-Eccles Stadium joins a list of Major League Baseball and NFL stadiums hosting the 17-round tour, along with Dayton International Speedway. The tour begins Jan. 4 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.
The Utah Sports Commission cites an overall media value of as much as $20 million and economic impact of $80 million attached to the World Finale and the next day’s Supercross Futures event with nearly 800 amateur riders competing.
