ESPN Sends Legions of Staffers To New Orleans For Super Bowl XLVII

I could write a nice intro and wraparound for the following press release, but since it’s just under 2,200 words, I’ll let it speak for itself and allow you to scroll at your leisure. Take a look at ESPN’s plans for Super Bowl XLVII.

ESPN at Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans

More Than 120 Hours of TV and Radio Programming Will Originate from French Quarter
More Than 35 On-air Commentators, Including NFL Analysts with 18 Super Bowl Rings

ESPN will offer more than 120 hours of TV and radio programming throughout Super Bowl XLVII week from the heart of the French Quarter in New Orleans, beginning Monday, Jan. 28. Many of the company’s most popular programs will originate from ESPN’s on-site set location – the Jax Brewery parking lot on Decatur Street – through Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 3, when the Baltimore Ravens play the San Francisco 49ers for the Lombardi Trophy. Highlights:

More than 35 ESPN commentators (hosts, analysts, reporters and contributors) will be in New Orleans – including an analyst team of former players and coaches with a combined 18 Super Bowl rings in 28 appearances in the NFL’s biggest game. Among the analysts are the last two quarterbacks to start the Super Bowl for the 49ers (Hall of Famer Steve Young, SB XXIX) and Ravens (Trent Dilfer, SB XXXV) as well as Hall of Famer and former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka, winner of Super Bowl XX in New Orleans and a former coach of the 49ers’ Jim Harbaugh;

Content will be available on 18 ESPN platforms, including multiple TV and radio networks (English and Spanish), ESPN Digital/Mobile, ESPN The Magazine, and more; and

ESPN International will present Super Bowl XLVII live to more than 71 million households in 162 countries and territories.

ESPN’s on-site shows in New Orleans will be available for free public viewing in the Jax Brewery parking lot (600 Decatur Street). The production setup includes:

Two outdoor sets: a 40-by-40 foot main stage and a 32-by-24 foot second stage;

A 24-by-48-foot demo field;

Three pod camera locations;

Aerial views via a “flycam” that spans 300 feet and is suspended 30 feet in the air; and

Two 16-by-9-foot LED screens for fan viewing of ESPN’s on-site programs.

What’s New:

ESPN’s SportsCenter (M-F, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. ET, ESPN) will have an expanded presence at this year’s Super Bowl with daily segments hosted by Hannah Storm in New Orleans, while Steve Levy and Stuart Scott will host nightly editions of ESPN’s flagship news and information program (6 and 11 p.m.).

ESPN’s Social Integration Unit will engage fans at home and in New Orleans via Facebook and Twitter:

Live Twitter polls: Live Twitter polls on ESPN shows will give fans the opportunity to answer questions about Super Bowl XLVII, using the hashtag #ESPNSBPicks.

#SBPostcard: SportsNation (M-F, 4-5 p.m., ESPN2) will incorporate social “postcards” from fans, athletes, and celebrities into its daily shows from New Orleans using the hashtag #SBPostcards and the @espn and @SportsNation Twitter handles.

ESPN Audio’s “Legends of Football” (Friday, Feb. 1, 7-8 p.m., ESPN Radio): Monday Night Football voice Mike Tirico will lead a discussion with NFL legends Jim Brown, Franco Harris, Ted Hendricks, Adrian Peterson and Barry Sanders from the Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans. Re-airs: Friday (8 p.m. and 10 p.m.), Saturday (3 a.m., 5 a.m., 7 a.m. and 11 a.m.), and Sunday (4 a.m.).

ESPN’s NBA Countdown will originate from New Orleans on Wednesday, Jan. 30, (7:30-8 p.m., ESPN) with analysts Jalen Rose, Bill Simmons and Michael Wilbon.

Former SportsCenter anchor Josh Elliott and Sam Champion of ABC’s Good Morning America will be live from ESPN’s Super Bowl set in New Orleans on Friday, Feb. 1, (7-9 a.m., ABC) with Saints quarterback Drew Brees and New Orleans chef Emeril Lagasse. Viewers will also be treated to a concert from country superstar Tim McGraw and visits from other surprise guests.

ESPN Programming:

SportsCenter Specials (M-F, 3-4 p.m., ESPN): Daily SportsCenter specials will examine different aspects of Super Bowl week – Monday: The Insiders (Steve Levy and NFL Insiders John Clayton, Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter discuss the latest NFL news); Tuesday: Super Bowl Media Day (Herm Edwards and Mark Schlereth join Levy to offer coach/player perspectives on Media Day); Wednesday: Super Bowl Roundtable (Mike Tirico, Trent Dilfer, Edwards and Tom Jackson); Thursday: Super Bowl Game Plan (Tirico, Merril Hoge and Ron Jaworski break down the Ravens-49ers matchup); and Friday: The Champions (Tirico with Tedy Bruschi, Dilfer, Mike Ditka, Jon Gruden, Keyshawn Johnson, Jerry Rice, Mark Schlereth and Steve Young, all former Super Bowl-winning players/coaches, dissect the NFL’s biggest game and discuss their experiences).

NFL Live (M-F, 4-5 p.m., ESPN), hosted by Trey Wingo, and NFL32 (M-F, 5-6 p.m., ESPN2) hosted by Suzy Kolber with Mortensen, will be live from New Orleans each day of Super Bowl week with a rotation of analysts discussing the matchup and providing all the latest news on the teams.

SportsNation (M-F, 4-5 p.m., ESPN2): new co-hosts Charissa Thompson and Marcellus Wiley travel to New Orleans for their first road shows together.

Complete Super Bowl week schedule

Super Bowl XLVII Sunday on ESPN Networks:

NFL Matchup (3 a.m., ESPN): Sal Paolantonio, Merril Hoge and Ron Jaworski offer Xs and Os analysis.

Mike and Mike in the Morning (6 a.m., ESPN Radio/ESPN2): Special Super Bowl Sunday edition will originate from ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Conn.

SportsCenter (8 a.m., ESPN): Mike Tirico hosts with analysts Jon Gruden and Steve Young from the Louisiana Superdome. Hoge will join the trio from ESPN’s set in the French Quarter.

Sunday NFL Countdown (10 a.m., ESPN): Chris Berman hosts the four-hour Super Bowl edition of Countdown from New Orleans with analysts Tedy Bruschi, Cris Carter, Trent Dilfer, Mike Ditka, Hoge, Tom Jackson, Jaworski, Keyshawn Johnson and Jerry Rice. Tirico, Gruden and Young will join the show from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and NFL Insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter will also contribute reports.

Other Super Bowl-related programs (from New Orleans): Countdown to Super Bowl with Hill & Schlereth (10 a.m., ESPN Radio) and The Sports Reporters (10:30 a.m., ESPN2), hosted by John Saunders.

More Super Bowl-related programs (from Bristol): Outside the Lines (10 a.m., ESPN2) and First Take (11 a.m., ESPN2).

NFL PrimeTime (10:30 p.m., ESPN): Complete post-game coverage with Berman, Jackson and Young from the Louisiana Superdome.

SportsCenter (11:30 p.m., ESPN): Continued post-game coverage with Stuart Scott, Steve Levy, Carter, Dilfer and Johnson.

ESPN Audio

ESPN Radio will broadcast nearly 70 hours of live coverage from New Orleans previewing Super Bowl XLVII. Popular national programs originating from ESPN’s Jax Brewery set in the French Quarter include Mike and Mike in the Morning with Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic; The Herd; and SVP & Russillo with Scott Van Pelt and Ryen Russillo. Hill & Schlereth with Mike Hill and three-time Super Bowl champion Mark Schlereth will broadcast from “Radio Row” in the New Orleans Convention Center.

In addition to the show, Hill will work as a behind-the-scenes reporter for ESPNRadio.com, chronicling ESPN Radio activities in New Orleans, and conducting interviews with athletes, celebrities and others during Super Bowl week.

Note: All ESPN Radio shows will be streamed live on ESPNRadio.com and available via ESPN Podcast.

ESPN Digital

ESPN.com’s coverage of Super Bowl XLVII from New Orleans will be featured on Page 1, the main NFL page, and on the 2013 edition of Super Bowl Central. ESPN.com will provide analysis, commentary, breaking news, chats and more throughout the week leading up to the game. ESPN.com’s roster of journalists includes senior NFL writer John Clayton, as well as Adam Schefter, Ashley Fox, Elizabeth Merrill, Jeffri Chadiha, the NFL Blog Network and Scouts Inc. They will provide insight, commentary, breaking news and analysis of all facets of the Super Bowl XLVII matchup. Highlights:

“Secrets of The Super Bowl Quarterbacks”: Super Bowl champion quarterbacks, including John Elway, Troy Aikman, Steve Young, Joe Namath, Ben Roethlisberger, Kurt Warner and Ken Stabler, talk about little-known events during their Super Bowl experience.

“Lost Heroes of the Super Bowl”: Stories on five players who were not named MVP but affected the outcome of past Super Bowls. The players are: Mike Reis (Saints, SB XLIV); Mike Jones (Rams, SB XXXIV); Ricky Sanders (Redskins, SB XXII); Rod Martin (Raiders, SB XV); and Jim O’Brien (Colts, SB V).

Complete coverage of Media Day on Tuesday, Jan. 29, including opportunities for fans to interact with ESPN journalists on the scene.

A feature by Jeffri Chadiha examining the myriad decisions a head coach must make in the course of a game.

In-depth analysis, scouting reports and rankings of all 106 players on the Super Bowl rosters from Scouts Inc.

In-depth game coverage, including analysis posted just minutes after the game ends (Rapid Reactions, grades for each team and best-worsts for the game). In addition, fans may interact with journalists on the scene in New Orleans.

espnW.com will have behind-the-scenes coverage of Super Bowl XLVII, including stories from espnW contributors Kate Fagan and Sarah Spain, photo galleries, player features, and more.

ESPN Mobile will provide on-the-go alerts, updates and news throughout the game. Additionally, fans can access the latest action through the ESPN mobile Web site and up-to-the-minute news and scores via the ESPN SportsCenter Feed and ESPN ScoreCenter mobile apps.

ESPN International

ESPN International will present Super Bowl XLVII live to more than 71 million households in 162 countries and territoriesthroughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Brazil, Africa, the Middle East, Israel, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Pacific Rim, and much of Europe. Commentary and analysis will be provided in four languages — English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. Highlights:

The game will be seen in HD in Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Brazil, the Caribbean, Europe, and Canada.

Spanish language coverage features a team of seven reporters/analysts in New Orleans. Alvaro Martin (play-by-play), N.Y. Giants Super Bowl-winning kicker Raul Allegre (analyst), and John Sutcliffe (sideline reporter) will call the Super Bowl, while Ciro Procuna, Eduardo Varela, Pablo Viruega and Mauricio Pedroza will host reports throughout daily NFL Semanal specials, SportsCenter, Radio Formula, Nacion ESPN, Los Capitanes, and NFL Esta Noche.

Live coverage on Super Bowl Sunday in Latin America will begin at 3 p.m. with an extended pre-game NFL Esta Noche: Previo Super Bowl XLVII EN VIVO followed by live telecast of the Super Bowl at 5:30 p.m.

Spanish digital coverage will feature ESPN commentator live chats, video, and complete coverage from New Orleans on ESPNDeportes.com and via social media on Facebook and Twitter.

ESPN Brazil will feature Portuguese coverage with Marques Everaldo, Paulo Antunes, and Andre Kfouri on the live Super Bowl XLVII broadcast and reporting for Semana NFL, Abre o Jogo, and SportsCenter Brasil.

ESPN Pacific Rim will feature Jason Bennett and NFL punter Mat McBriar, a native of Australia, hosting Aussies Abroad Super Bowl Preview Special and Pre-Game coverage, as well as a five-hour marathon featuring NFL Films highlights of the best Super Bowls of all time.

English-speaking ESPN networks in the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Rim and much of Europe will feature ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown and US network coverage of Super Bowl XLVII on Super Bowl Sunday.

RDS Canada will provide French coverage beginning at 5:30 p.m.

ESPN Deportes

ESPN Deportes will offer comprehensive coverage of Super Bowl XLVII via its renowned team of reporters and commentators, who will be in New Orleans all week for nightly segments onSportsCenter and live feeds and special segments during Los Capitanes, Nación ESPNand#Redes. Additionally, ESPN’s signature Spanish-language NFL news and analysis program, NFL Esta Noche, will air a special Saturday edition from New Orleans with hosts Allegre, Martín, Procuna and Sutcliffe.

ESPN Deportes Radio, the only around-the-clock national Spanish-language sports radio network in the U.S., will provide Super Bowl coverage beginning Sunday, Jan. 27, across the radio’s top shows including ESPN Al Despertar, Zona ESPN and SportsCenter. In addition, the network will air a Super Bowl Special on Saturday, Feb. 2, at 9 a.m., and in anticipation of the game on Sunday at 12 p.m., followed by El Ultimo Pase at 10 p.m.

ESPNDeportes.com will provide complete reporting and highlights from New Orleans all week, including daily live streaming segments featuring on-site analysts Carlos Nava, Sebastian M. Christensen and features reporter Kary Correa. Spanish-language fans can also follow the action via social media on the network’s Facebook page and using hashtag #SB47ESPN on Twitter throughout the week and during the game. A live Twitter chat during the game will be hosted by @ESPNDeportes and will feature tweets by the network’s analysts reacting to the Super Bowl. Extensive coverage of Super Bowl week will also include fan polls, blogs, chats and original video content.

ESPN The Magazine

ESPN The Magazine will host the ninth annual NEXT EVENT on Friday, Feb. 1, in New Orleans to celebrate its annual NEXT issue, which recognizes an elite group of emerging athletes to watch in the year ahead. The Magazine will take over Tad Gormley Stadium in City Park, a few miles from downtown, creating a one-of-a-kind experience within a 50,000 square foot tent. Guests will walk a 40-foot red carpet leading into a lighting and video extravaganza which will come alive with décor in reds, blacks, silvers and grays. NEXT will feature a live performance by multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning artist CeeLo Green with Goodie Mob alongwith music by DJ D-Nice. In addition to athletes, musicians, VIPS and celebrities, Grammy Award winner Kelly Rowland will be on hand as the celebrity social media ambassador taking over the @ESPNMag Twitter handle to give an inside look on the fashion and celebrity happenings from NEXT. The invite-only party will showcase what’s NEXT in sports, technology, lifestyle, and, of course, what’s NEXT from ESPN.