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With apologies to Eddy Electric Avenue Grant, Audio Avenue on Bristol’s campus green was the place to be Wednesday — at least for sports talk radio fans.
Some 17 ESPN Radio outlets set up encampments to send signals back home as part of the inaugural Audio Avenue concept outside at company headquarters.
Audio Avenue celebrated ESPN Radio’s new studios in Building 2, commemorated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a “Faces Of Audio” luncheon that featured national hosts such as Mike Greenberg, Mike Golic, Colin Cowherd and Doug Gottlieb.
“It’s great to see that radio is a priority,” said Max Kellerman, co-host of Max & Marcellus on 710 ESPN Los Angeles with Marcellus Wiley.
The tandem scheduled a four-hour airing from beneath a tent that provided some protection from blistering sunlight.
Los Angeles was one of four ESPN “owned and operated” radio stations represented; 13 affiliates also sent broadcasters, including ESPN Radio 970 WZAM of Marquette, Mich.
For The Sportspen‘s two-hour stint, co-host Casey Ford interviewed ESPN Radio host Scott Van Pelt and baseball analyst Bobby Valentine in person; Ford and co-host Tom Mogush — back in the Michigan studios — also had Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo scheduled to join them by phone.
The show’s visit allowed the 5,000-watt station to share its 100,000-watt FM sister station’s signal for two hours, Ford said.
Although bad weather was approaching by late afternoon, ESPN Radio officials were confident all broadcasts would air as scheduled — even if it meant moving the visitors indoors.
“We got a lot of help from all departments to get lines laid out,” said Brian Janes, a Mulitmedia and Radio Systems Engineer who provided Front Row with a tour of new facilities in a Tuesday post.
“It’s pretty awesome how they’ve accommodated all the stations. The facility is like a fan’s version of Disney World,” said Jose Cruz, an engineer with ESPN 103.3 FM Dallas.
