Rogue Invitational, the annual three-day CrossFit and Strongman competition organised by Rogue Fitness, concluded its third consecutive year at The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA) this past weekend – a remarkable run that started out as a one-year commitment.
It is unusual for Rogue Fitness to stage the Invitational at the same venue for three years running, but the organisers attribute this commitment to the incredible support generated by the thousands of volunteers, suppliers and fans that have attended, along with the exceptional welcome, professionalism and hard work of the TECA team.
The 2024 Rogue Invitational was the first to be held outside the USA, attracting visitors from 39 different countries and a 700-strong contingent of operations staff, athletes, coaches, volunteers, sponsors and vendors to Aberdeen, generating an estimated local economic benefit of £3.9 m.
The 2025 event drew visitors from 40 different countries, and together the two events sold 30,000 tickets and generated a combined local economic benefit of some £7m. Cumulatively, the three-year residency is expected to deliver visitor spend and resulting economic benefit in excess of £10 million, based on research by Visit Aberdeenshire, offering a significant boost for local hoteliers, restaurateurs, retailers and the wider supply chain.
In terms of media reach, the 2024 event attracted more than 4m live stream viewers and more than 18m views across social media platforms, while the 2025 Invitational drew more than 5m live stream viewers and 12m impressions across social media. Across the three years, fans around the world have watched the world’s best athletes battle it out for a share of prize purses totaling close to $5 million.
Rogue Invitational (left to right): Rob Wicks - MD (TECA), Peter Stott - Head of Operations & Event Delivery (TECA), Lord Provost, Caity Matter Henniger - Chief Sales Officer (Rogue Fitness), Aberdeen Councillor Miranda Radley, Aberdeen Councillor Alex McLellan.
Rob Wicks, Managing Director at the venue in Aberdeen, said: “To have hosted the Rogue Invitational for three successive years has been a pleasure and a landmark achievement for our venue. It rare for Rogue to remain at one location for this long, and I believe that is a testament to the dedication, hard work and warm welcome of our entire team – from the events and operations staff to the hospitality and front-of-house colleagues who have made everyone feel at home. The economic impact speaks for itself: in excess of £10 million flowing into the region over three years, supporting local businesses and showcasing Aberdeen and the North East of Scotland to a truly global audience. We are immensely proud of what we have built together with the Rogue team and we hope to see the event return sometime in the near future.”
Caity Matter Henniger, Chief Sales Officer at Rogue Fitness, said: “Three years in Aberdeen – that doesn’t happen by accident. From the very first event in 2024, the venue team welcomed us with open arms and went above and beyond to make the Invitational a success, year after year. Their professionalism, flexibility and genuine warmth made the decision to return an easy one each time. With the city, the venue, and the deep history of strength culture in Scotland, Aberdeen has become a true home for the Rogue Invitational. I know our athletes and coaches, along with the fans and volunteers are grateful to everyone across the region who has helped make these three years so special.”
Over the three years, competitors in the Rogue Invitational have included Iceland’s Hafthor “Thor” Bjornsson, the Scottish Stoltman brothers, Canadian Strongman Mitchell Hooper, and CrossFit Games winners Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr, Laura Horvath and Jeff Adler.
The event has also become known for weaving Scottish culture into the competition, presenting competitors with their own unique tartan kilts each handcrafted by a local supplier, and introducing challenges inspired by the legendary Inver Stones.