The St. Louis Blues and Hubbard Interactive have announced that they have come to terms on a five-year broadcast partnership extension, keeping 101 ESPN as the radio home of the team through the 2027-28 season. WXOS-FM (101 ESPN) has been the flagship radio station for the Blues since the 2019-20 preseason and has been the only local, live sports talk radio station on the air in the city since 2009. The partnership will also implement Blues content across other local Hubbard-owned stations broadcasting in different formats, such as 105.7 The Point, 106.5 The Arch, KSHE 95 and New Country WIL 92.3.
“Our partnership with Hubbard over the past four seasons has been a tremendous asset for our organization,” Chris Zimmerman, St. Louis Blues president and chief executive officer of business operations, said in a statement. “This extension will allow us to continue to expand our reach, explore new revenue streams and collaborate across multiple platforms to bring the latest and greatest Blues content to our passionate fan base.”
The Blues will continue to have Chris Kerber and Joey Vitale call the games while also producing ancillary content to enhance its overall coverage. For example, the Last Minute Blues Podcast with Donny Fandango and new Bally Sports Midwest color commentator Jamie Rivers will make its return for a fourth year. Additionally, Blues promotional incentives will be disseminated over the air, including an upcoming Blues & Brews outdoor street party on Friday, Sept. 22.
“Hubbard Broadcasting and 101 ESPN are very excited to extend this new five-year partnership with the St. Louis Blues,” John Kijowski, Hubbard Interactive vice president and market manager, said in a statement. “This relationship brings exciting opportunities for joint initiatives that will captivate fans, engage communities and amplify our shared message of teamwork and determination.”
The Blues open the 2023-24 regular season on the road against the Dallas Stars before hosting the Seattle Kraken for their home opener from Enterprise Center on Saturday, Oct. 14. The team will look to qualify for the postseason for the first time since the 2021-22 season with hopes of capturing another Stanley Cup championship.
