Executive Voice: Vice President, Production, Linda Schulz, serves up her first Wimbledon
Working with trusted partners managing day-to-day operations, Schulz explains how she oversees both NHL and tennis productions during a packed sports calendar
LONDON – Linda Schulz, with close to three decades at ESPN, recently added leadership of ESPN’s Grand Slam tennis coverage to the National Hockey League and NCAA College Hockey productions which she already helms.
She’s at The Championships, Wimbledon – her first tennis assignment since being promoted to Vice President last year. Here’s how she’s approaching one of the sport’s most iconic events.
What are you most excited about for this year’s Wimbledon?
I had the chance to witness Wimbledon in person for a few days last year, and the magic of experiencing the tradition and sportsmanship was incredible. Having watched and enjoyed tennis for years, I know the continued challenge will be to allow those not so lucky to experience the Championships in person, to feel the vibe and scene, as much as the athleticism on the courts.
What’s your approach to covering events?
I’ve spent more than 28 years covering all kinds of sports, from NASCAR and college basketball to hockey and now tennis, and I’ve learned that our analysts are the true experts of the game. My role is to find ways to bring the action to life, providing clear, inclusive documentation of the sport while educating and entertaining the fan. I love the opportunity to bring any event, game or match closer to the fans.
How do you stay engaged with tennis while you are deeply entrenched in NHL events?
We work at ESPN because we love sports. While we all have a job to do, staying engaged in the day-to-day of sports is the fun part. I was already on the ground at Wimbledon while I was also overseeing the production of the NHL Draft. The team of people you build, whom you trust and rely on, makes all the difference.
I am very fortunate to have incredible management partners with both sports. David Gibson, Coordinating Producer II, NHL, is our fantastic new addition who oversees the day-to-day on NHL, and Brett Jackson, Coordinating Producer, Tennis & College Hockey, with deep knowledge of how to cover tennis, takes the day-to-day on that sport. And all three of us have the support of [EVP, Sports Production] Mike McQuade, who provides us with clear goals and direction.
What’s new that fans can expect in our coverage this year?
This year, we will revamp our virtual graphics both at Wimbledon and the US Open, partnering with a company called Girraphic. We are very excited to unveil the design and functionality of these graphics to enhance the storytelling of the matches.
Additionally, you will see improved navigation to help the fan experience overall and to guide fans to find matches and what’s coming up next. You will also see a strong direction towards storytelling through player access, as we build our current and future stars of the sport.
Take a tour of the redesigned hallway art at ESPN's Wimbledon broadcast compound. (Willie Weinbaum/ESPN)
To further ESPN’s dedication to Wimbledon, we redesigned the hallway of the AELTC broadcast compound to reflect Wimbledon’s traditions and display past champions. We are also excited to show fans the new interior designs in the booth and the Bunker to model the new main ESPN studio at Wimbledon that debuted last year. We will also unveil a new Studio 18 VO room that will call outer courts (overlooking Court 18).
