Story

Steeped in History

In the Spring of 2006, an idea came to fruition between Red Bull North America (RBNA) and ESPN to create an event that would stretch the limits of an athlete's creativity and capability — all done in front of a live television audience. To produce this event RBNA understood that they would need a very unique production team. Eric Matijevich and Tes Sewell had both previously worked on productions with RBNA under their two separate companies (Blue 3 and 775 Productions), but this project obviously required something a little special. The two long-time friends formed a partnership under the Blue 3 name to produce these events. This was the genesis of the incredibly successful 'New Year. No Limits.' (NYNL) franchise.

NYNL took a special kind of production company, because the feats showcased at the event had literally never been done before. Each feat required months of planning and exhaustive testing before the final event would take place live each New Year's Eve. The lead production company needed not only to have the resources and the knowledge to build a TOP LEVEL sporting event in a major metropolitan city, but also must understand the sporting needs of the athlete and safely mesh this with the production requirements of a network television show. The NYNL franchise would continue until it's record-breaking double feat in 2012.

After several years of producing the NYNL events along with some of RBNA' s other large consumer facing events the ad hoc partners decided to solidify the annual relationship under a formal business partnership in a single company. Drawing on the birthplace heritage of both partners and the fact that the businesses were now finally 'united', States and Kingdom was born in 2013.

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Story

Steeped in History

In the Spring of 2006, an idea came to fruition between Red Bull North America (RBNA) and ESPN to create an event that would stretch the limits of an athlete's creativity and capability — all done in front of a live television audience. To produce this event RBNA understood that they would need a very unique production team. Eric Matijevich and Tes Sewell had both previously worked on productions with RBNA under their two separate companies (Blue 3 and 775 Productions), but this project obviously required something a little special. The two long-time friends formed a partnership under the Blue 3 name to produce these events. This was the genesis of the incredibly successful 'New Year. No Limits.' (NYNL) franchise.

NYNL took a special kind of production company, because the feats showcased at the event had literally never been done before. Each feat required months of planning and exhaustive testing before the final event would take place live each New Year's Eve. The lead production company needed not only to have the resources and the knowledge to build a TOP LEVEL sporting event in a major metropolitan city, but also must understand the sporting needs of the athlete and safely mesh this with the production requirements of a network television show. The NYNL franchise would continue until it's record-breaking double feat in 2012.

After several years of producing the NYNL events along with some of RBNA' s other large consumer facing events the ad hoc partners decided to solidify the annual relationship under a formal business partnership in a single company. Drawing on the birthplace heritage of both partners and the fact that the businesses were now finally 'united', States and Kingdom was born in 2013.

Bio - Eric - Flag

Eric Matijevich

Bio - Eric - Flag

Eric Matijevich

4-year old Eric defying the elements and ready to take flight.

A native of Northern California, Eric has been working in the event management industry for the past 20 years. Most recently, he was the president of Blue 3 Productions, Inc., a full service event management company. Blue 3 was fortunate to be involved in several great events: Red Bull Flugtag, Red Bull New Year No Limits, Red Bull X-Fighters, Field & Stream’s Total Outdoorsman Challenge to name a few.

His only ‘corporate’ stint was for ESPN as the Director of the ESPN Great Outdoor Games, a multi sport, multi venue event for ABC and ESPN TV. At GOG he oversaw the entire event staging operation: event production, medical services, sports & competition, venue management and operations, logistics, marketing and communications - managing a staff of 12 full time employees and around 120 contract and part time people that staffed the event.

Eric also has a background in such various events as the LaSalle Banks Chicago Marathon, ESPN X Games and several Olympic projects including Olympic festivals in Denver, CO and St. Louis, MO, the Special Olympics World Summer Games and the Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA.

With his wife, Cadence, Eric now lives on the sparkling shores of Lake Tahoe. An avid outdoorsman – he can often be found fly fishing on the banks of the Truckee River, or trying to find ways to tire out his dogs Wallace and Curly.

Bio - Tes - Flag

Tes Sewell

Bio - Tes - Flag

Tes Sewell

15-year-old Tes with his band The Condemned. "If you're not that good a guitar player, just jump higher than everyone else."

Born in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, Tes eventually escaped the British weather to “paddle across the pond”. After straying to Whistler, Canada for 8 snow-packed years he eventually found himself back in California at the heart of the Television and Action Sports industry.

Starting with events in the cycling and skiing world, Tes broadened his horizons to include such varied tenures as Coordinating Producer of the Eco Challenge adventure race, Event Director for the World Snowboard Championships and Sport Organizer for Moto-X at the ESPN Summer and Winter X Games.

After introducing the sport of Freestyle Motocross to the X Games, Tes was then invited to be an on-air host for the sport on ABC and ESPN, eventually increasing his television portfolio to also become ‘talent’ for NBC,CBS and Speed Channel on a whole host of motorsport and action sports properties.

Over the past 7 years, he has – among other things – helped create and direct a national ATV racing tour for ESPN, became a columnist for ESPN.com, got his fix of high speed as Event Director of Race of Champions, figured out how to safely get a motorcycle to jump London’s Tower Bridge and enjoyed globetrotting as the Sport Director of the Red Bull X-Fighters world tour. Tes now lives in Reno with his wife, Gaby. In his spare time he stares at his dirt bike and snowboard and longs for the day he will actually get to use them.

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