Spence Checketts, who has been on the air in Utah for most of the last 18 years, is staying put at ESPN 700. BSM has learned Checketts and ESPN 700 owner Broadway Media have agreed to a long-term contract extension which will keep Checketts hosting The Drive weekday afternoons from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. local time.
The announcement comes on the same week as the 5-year anniversary of the show. This is Checketts’ second time around at ESPN 700, which is where he started in 2006. He spent some time at 1280/97.5 The Zone from 2012-2018 and then started back at ESPN 700 in August 2019.
“I want to thank Steve Johnson and Broadway Media for their faith in me,” Checketts told BSM. “Building this show from scratch to the number 1 rated show in the market over the last five years has been the highlight of my career. I’m eager and excited to keep building. Special thanks to Kayvon Motiee and Bill Riley for giving me the shot, and a very special shout out to my producer and show booker Porter Larsen for all of his work every day to make the show what it is.”
During his time with the station, Checketts has also hosted pre half and post-game coverage for Real Salt Lake, University of Utah basketball and football, BYU football, and Utah Jazz basketball.
In addition to his radio career, Checketts has also worked as a Regional Scout for the New York Knicks, Venue Manager for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in SLC, and arena manager for Disney’s Wide World of Sports.
Checketts is the son of longtime sports executive Dave Checketts, former president of the New York Knicks.
