ESPN is bringing SportsCenter on a cross-country tour for the first time in 20 years this summer, traveling throughout the United States for a mixture of live on-site shows and original segments beginning on Friday, June 27. The program will present this content emanating from a different U.S. state for 50 consecutive days, an initiative that will bring the show and its anchors to fans throughout the nation. While the exact schedule has yet to be revealed, the network has divulged that shows will take place from athletic venues, events and other hometown spots. This seven-week venture is also going to create anticipation ahead of ESPN launching its direct-to-consumer platform later in the year.
“SportsCenter isn’t just a studio show – it’s part of the fabric of sports culture across the country,” David Roberts, executive vice president and executive editor of sports news and entertainment at ESPN, said in a statement, “and we can’t wait for our anchors and other ESPN personalities to show up in people’s backyards as we celebrate the passion for sports that we all share.”
Segments from each of the stops on the tour are going to be featured across the ESPN platforms, and there will be multiple SportsCenter editions on the ESPN television channel, the ESPN app and social media. The SportsCenter: 50 States in 50 Days enterprise comes as the network has added anchors to the show over the last year, some of whom include Treavor Scales, Kelsey Riggs and MJ Acosta-Ruiz.
ESPN has also been producing a version of the show, titled SC+, exclusively airing on Disney+ featuring Randy Scott and Gary Striewski. Furthermore, one of the forthcoming enhancements associated with the ESPN direct-to-consumer platform will be an AI-powered personalized version of SportsCenter crafted specifically for the preferences and interests of its users.
ESPN recently aired its final episode of SportsCenter emanating from Los Angeles, Calif. featuring anchors Linda Cohn and Stan Verrett along with a guest appearance by former anchor Neil Everett. In a statement provided to Sports Business Journal this past March, the company conveyed that it was relocating the LA-based edition of the program and soccer studio shows to the Bristol headquarters. ESPN had been airing editions of SportsCenter from the Los Angeles production facility located across the street from Crypto.com Arena for the previous 16 years.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
