gridironmike Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 http://www.arenafan.com/news/?page=pressrel&article=6648 AFL and ESPN enter into long-term agreement Tuesday December 19, 2006 NEW YORK – ESPN and the Arena Football League have entered into a five-year agreement that includes extensive multimedia rights and a minimum of 26 televised games per season, beginning in 2007. ESPN has also purchased a minority ownership stake in the AFL as part of the agreement that enhances ESPN’s football programming lineup, the most comprehensive in sports television, with year-round football on Monday nights. ESPN will televise a minimum of 17 regular-season games and nine playoff games -- including a minimum of three Wild Card games, three Divisional Playoff games, both Conference Championships and the ArenaBowl -- on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC. ESPN will also have an exclusive window for weekly Monday night primetime games on ESPN2 -- continuing to establish Monday night as the "football night" for fans year-round. "This is the longest and most comprehensive media partnership in AFL history," said Commissioner David Baker. "ESPN’s brand is ingrained in sports fans, who watch, read and listen to its multiple media properties. Through its equity purchase, ESPN now owns a piece of the AFL and has the ability to provide exciting football content on Monday nights for fans on a year-round basis. There is no better partner to help continue the AFL’s growth as a leading global, multimedia property than ESPN." Similar to recent major ESPN content acquisitions, the agreement entails a broad range of rights. Fifteen ESPN platforms will benefit from this new agreement, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN on ABC, ESPN Classic, ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD; ESPN.com; Spanish-language ESPN Deportes; ESPN360 (the company's growing interactive and customizable broadband service); Mobile ESPN Publishing (the company's wireless content licensing business); ESPN Radio, ESPN The Magazine and other ESPN-branded services (i.e., iPod, video-on-demand). ESPN also gains the right to both air and syndicate Arena Football League games through ESPN International. "We are committed to the Arena Football League and its exciting brand of football. We will help grow the league across all of our multimedia platforms. As the league grows, so will our business, and we see a bright future for us both," said John Skipper, executive vice president, content, ESPN. ESPN’s 2007 AFL coverage will kick off on ABC with a pair of regional games – defending ArenaBowl champion Chicago Rush at Kansas City Brigade and Dallas Desperados at New York Dragons -- on Sunday, March 4 at 12:30 p.m. ET. ABC will broadcast ArenaBowl XXI live on Saturday, July 29 at 3 p.m. from New Orleans Arena as the city of New Orleans hosts its first team championship since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. This excerpt is from an ESPN chat with Arena commissioner David Baker. Charlie (DC): In an article, a DC expansion team was mentioned. Is it possible for this upcoming season, or will it be more likely in future seasons? David Baker: (3:09 PM ET ) Dan Snyder, the owner of the Redskins, has purchased the rights to an AFL team in DC. We're talking to his people right now about the potential about having a team in that area in 2008. It's not done yet, but we are encouraged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stwasm Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 Hopefully, Dan won't mess up THAT football team! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.Lloyd Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 That would be awesome to have a team in D.C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 here we go. I can see it now. A huge complex on the grounds where RFK is standing. A big stadium complex for the Skins, a big indoor arena for the Washington Warriors (where the Skins might practice indoors sometimes). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.Lloyd Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 here we go. I can see it now.A huge complex on the grounds where RFK is standing. A big stadium complex for the Skins, a big indoor arena for the Washington Warriors (where the Skins might practice indoors sometimes). Why would they practice over there? They already have the nicest facility in the NFL over at Ashburn. What more can you ask for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 because I could see them cutting a deal for tax breaks if they move Redskins Park into the District, by the Stadium. I've beent to the Park. Its nice, I didn't get the grand tour or anything. But I was with my Stepdad who's in a wheelchair and they treated us well. It was a nice place. Nothing I'd call amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stwasm Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 The team probably would play at the Verizon Center. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.Lloyd Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 The team probably would play at the Verizon Center.I kind of remember that Abe Pollin and Leonsis hate the Danny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stwasm Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 I kind of remember that Abe Pollin and Leonsis hate the Danny Well, imagine that! In that case, we could try to the Showplace Arena in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, or the Comcast Center at the University of Maryland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 Or he could build a place and keep all the loot for himself by letting it be used for concerts and other events. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GibbsFactor Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 Or he could build a place and keep all the loot for himself by letting it be used for concerts and other events. Just to screw with Abe. I can see him in his evil little office rubbing his greedy little fingers together. He's my hero!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gridironmike Posted December 20, 2006 Author Share Posted December 20, 2006 I remember the same thing about Abe and Snyder. The Comcast Center has been mentioned (and shot down) before. This has been ongoing since December of 1999. I hope it really happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stwasm Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 I remember the same thing about Abe and Snyder. The Comcast Center has been mentioned (and shot down) before. This has been ongoing since December of 1999. I hope it really happens. Why is it I get the feeling that greedy little snot is going to mess this up? :doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raub Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 Arena football is just slightly more exciting than that WNBA... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Clark Fan Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 This is good news! I think Dan will need to sell the skins in order to finance the purchase of the AFL team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stwasm Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 Arena football is just slightly more exciting than that WNBA... Don't be hatin' on the WNBA. I LOVE that league! This is good news! I think Dan will need to sell the skins in order to finance the purchase of the AFL team. From your mouth to God's ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanCollins Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 Tampa has a good team"The Storm". They've won the league championship several times. I've never been to a game, so don't get too excited. Stwasm this is for you buddy :laugh: CONGRATS to the new 2007 Tampa Bay Storm Cheerleaders! I dunno about you, but I think these girls are eating way too many cheese burgers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinfan133 Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 maybe dan snyder bought the rights so no one else could start an AFL team in DC to compete with his profits? hmmmmmm. snyder mnakes himself out to be more heartless and greedy every day. free WGMS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tizzod Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 Hmmm...so I wonder who the big-name coach and high-priced free agents are in Arena Football? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herrmag Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 Just to screw with Abe. I can see him in his evil little office rubbing his greedy little fingers together. He's my hero!!! If he wants to screw with Abe so be it. However, if he turns his evil little gaze upon Ted, he's in trouble. Don't mess with uncle Teddy! :mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reddrummer Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 i think it would be kinda cool to have an afl team Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raub Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 Don't be hatin' on the WNBA. I LOVE that league! I'm sorry dude, but the WNBA sucks. It's like watching bad HS B-Ball. I love basketball, but I can't watch it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCsportsfan53 Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 Tampa has a good team"The Storm". They've won the league championship several times. I've never been to a game, so don't get too excited. Stwasm this is for you buddy :laugh: CONGRATS to the new 2007 Tampa Bay Storm Cheerleaders! I dunno about you, but I think these girls are eating way too many cheese burgers say WHAT? Too many cheeseburgers? Ain't nothing wrong with a healthy girl with a little back to her. :laugh: Besides, even excluding that, none of those girls are big at all. You've been brainwashed by commercials, Dean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gridironmike Posted December 21, 2006 Author Share Posted December 21, 2006 This is good news! I think Dan will need to sell the skins in order to finance the purchase of the AFL team. Actually, he paid $4 million for the rights to a franchise. The AFL offerered this deal for NFL owners to control an AFL team in their market and Snyder bit. Franchises go for $16 million plus now, so he made an initial investment in December of '99, paid the balance of the $4 mil in April of 2003, and has sat on it since. The AFL reportedly has worked with Fred Drasner on the franchise, which was supposed to have hit the field in 2003 and then again in 2005 or '06. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeInJc aka M.I.A. Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 I've heard rumer that there will be a new stadium built in 2011 for the skins and it is to be a domed stadium and right where RFK is. I would figure that's where the AFL team would play in the future, but as for right now I'm not sure where they would play if the tensions are so high with Abe and playing in the verizon center. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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