Favorite shows hit the road via ESPN Radio remotes

As ESPN’s Matthew Berry (seated, left) and Stephania Bell (far right) observe, a fan proposes marriage on stage during a Fantasy Focus Football podcast in Boston. (Elizabeth Paige Fierman/ESPN)

Mike & Mike in Chicago (L-R): Fox’s Kevin Burqhardt; Mike Greenberg; Mike Golic; Alex Rodriguez. (Jason Romano/ESPN)

ESPN Radio College GameDay crew (L-R): Doug Kezirian, Brad Edwards, Trevor Matich. (Elizabeth Paige Fierman/ESPN)

Danny Kanell (L) and Ryen Russillo report from Madison, Wis., on their ESPN Radio show’s Fall Football Tour. (Elizabeth Paige Fierman/ESPN)

From Oct. 14–Nov. 16, ESPN Radio will have done 11 shows on the road, for a total of 17 remote broadcasts this Fall – three more than last year.

Mike & Mike, Russillo & Kanell, ESPN Radio College GameDay and more have broadcasted live from locations including Chicago (in advance of Game 3 of the World Series), FSU’s Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla., and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., ensuring that ESPN Radio is bringing its signature shows to fans in key markets.

Front Row caught up with Elizabeth Paige Fierman, manager, ESPN Radio event marketing, on the ambitious schedule and the logistics to consider when putting it all together.

How far in advance do you start planning for these productions?
It depends on the event, but typically 2-3 months out. Of course, some opportunities come up on a much shorter timeline, but that window of 8-12 weeks is ideal.

What do you have to consider when looking at sites for the broadcasts?
There are so many factors. Our priorities include foot traffic and the best positioning for fan engagement, venues with strong ESPN Radio affiliate relationships, unique branding and sponsorship opportunities on site, the best content plays for the show, the overall aesthetic and how open the venue is to welcoming us through their doors for a day or two. The best events stem from the cities and hosts that check all those boxes.

For an event like Mike & Mike in Chicago, that came together fairly quickly. How did you get that done in such a short amount of time?
It was on everyone’s radar for some time, but a lot of the planning details couldn’t be finalized until much closer to the event and the World Series teams were determined. A similar situation arose when Mike & Mike went to the NBA Finals in Cleveland this past June. For Mike & Mike in Chicago on Friday for Game 3 of the World Series, the venue and planning efforts were led by Justine DeLuco [Director of Production and Events for ESPN2] and the ESPN2 Production & Events team with strong partnership from our radio partners at ESPN Chicago.