Feld Entertainment have announced the 2017 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, schedule which includes a long-awaited return to Minneapolis on February 18, making its debut at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The 17-race championship also includes return visits to Seattle's CenturyLink Field on April 8 and Salt Lake City's Rice-Eccles Stadium on April 22. Tickets for the 2017 Monster Energy Supercross Season will go on sale Friday, October 21, 2016.
The 2017 season will kick off on January 7 at the sport's most hallowed grounds, Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. The 69th race at the proverbial home of the Monster Energy Supercross, located in the racing hotbed of Southern California, will set the tone for what is sure to be an exceptional season of competition amongst an international field of the world's most elite riders.
The anticipated return to Minneapolis, Seattle, and Salt Lake City will bring the visual and audible thrills of Monster Energy Supercross to three of the country's most unique stadiums. The brand new, state-of-the-art U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis is an architectural marvel, with a fixed, translucent roof and five glass wall panels that provide incredible views of the downtown skyline.
Seattle's CenturyLink Field has become legendary for its acoustics, and when tens of thousands of raucous race fans converge inside the iconic stadium to welcome the return of the championship to the Pacific Northwest. With its mountainside placement perched high above downtown Salt Lake City, Rice-Eccles Stadium provides one of the most breathtaking settings for a Monster Energy Supercross race. The unique atmosphere of racing in one of the country's most popular outdoor destinations makes it a favorite of riders and fans, alike.
"We eagerly anticipate the return to key markets like Minneapolis, Seattle and Salt Lake City that have such a strong legacy in Monster Energy Supercross, continuing the growth of the sport to more major markets where we can deliver a world-class fan experience live at the race, or via our broadcasts on FOX Sports," stated Todd Jendro, Vice President, Tour Operations/Motor Sports, Feld Entertainment. "We also want to congratulate Ryan Dungey on his remarkable championship victory as we prepare for the season-ending celebration this weekend in Las Vegas."
"I'm really looking forward to chasing my fourth 450SX Class title in 2017 and what could be three straight championships with Team Red Bull KTM. It's been a dream to achieve so much success together the last two seasons and I'm ready for the challenge of another title run," said 2016 Monster Energy Supercross 450SX Class Champion Ryan Dungey. "It's amazing to see Minneapolis back on the schedule.
"It's my hometown race and I have a lot of great memories there racing in front of the hometown crowd, including a win the last time we raced there in 2013. It's been cool to watch the progression of U.S. Bank Stadium and I can't wait to bring supercross into that state-of-the-art facility. It'll be memorable, for sure."
After the initial west coast run through California and Arizona, the championship returns to Arlington, Texas (AT&T Stadium), and Atlanta (Georgia Dome) prior to crossing the Canadian border into Toronto for a second consecutive year. The growing Midwest fan base will be entertained by races in Indianapolis (Lucas Oil Stadium), Detroit (Ford Field), and St. Louis (The Dome at America's Center), while the demand for Monster Energy Supercross in the Northeast will bring the championship back to East Rutherford, New Jersey (MetLife Stadium), before concluding at Las Vegas' Sam Boyd Stadium on May 6.
"This past season of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, once again delivered the greatest show in stadium motorsports as fans around America and the world witnessed Ryan Dungey once again claim the AMA No. 1 plate racing against world-class talent," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. "As the country's leading advocate for motorcyclists' rights and the largest motorsports sanctioning body in the world, the American Motorcyclist Association is proud of the opportunity AMA Supercross provides for some of our most talented members.
"As is the case each year, Feld Entertainment created a phenomenal showcase for the sport, and there is no doubt that the venues on the 2017 calendar will exceed fans' and teams' high expectations for another amazing season."
2017 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship Schedule
Round 1: January 7 - Angel Stadium, Anaheim, Calif.
Round 2: January 14 - Petco Park, San Diego
Round 3: January 21 - Angel Stadium, Anaheim, Calif.
Round 4: January 28 - University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
Round 5: February 4 - O.co Coliseum, Oakland, Calif.
Round 6: February 11 - AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Round 7: February 18 - U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
Round 8: February 25 - Georgia Dome, Atlanta
Round 9: March 4 - Rogers Centre, Toronto
Round 10: March 11** - Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Round 11: March 18 - Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
Round 12: March 25 - Ford Field, Detroit
Round 13: April 1 - The Dome at America's Center, St. Louis
Round 14: April 8 - CenturyLink Field, Seattle
Round 15: April 22 - Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City
Round 16: April 29 - MetLife Stadium , East Rutherford, N.J.
Round 17: May 6 - Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
**Daytona is not a Feld Entertainment produced race
