ESPN8: The Ocho marks its 10th anniversary in 2026 with a near‑75‑hour broadcast from Aug. 6‑9, airing live at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and the ESPN App.

The concept began as a nod to the 2004 film *Dodge Ball*, and the channel’s tagline, “If it’s almost a sport, we’ve got it here,” highlights its focus on obscure athletics. Two‑time sign‑spinning champion Matthew Doolan, who has practiced for 22 years, calls The Ocho a modern Apollo theater, a steppingstone that gives emerging athletes exposure before they reach mainstream ESPN.

Preparation varies: the T. rex World Championship Races require inflatable dinosaur costumes and qualifying heats; in 2025, Andrew Stuber claimed the men’s title after a close finish among more than 300+ participants, noting he ran “blind.” Sign spinners like Doolan train for years, mastering over 500 tricks with strict 10‑repetition rules and a mobile app that shares video tips.

Since its 2017 launch, The Ocho has grown from a single‑day stunt to a multiday celebration, featuring milestones such as the 2019 cornhole debut, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson’s 1,104.52‑lb deadlift record in 2020, and the 2025 T. rex races, cementing its status as a quirky, ten‑year tradition.