Earlier this year, ESPN took over an entire city block in Fort Worth for its Super Bowl XLV headquarters. For Super Bowl XLVI, ESPN has chosen Pan American Plaza in Indianapolis as its base for the entire week leading up to the Big Game. ESPN will construct outdoor studios (this should be fun in a Northern city especially for those personalities that can’t stand the cold) and have many of their shows air live from Pan Am Plaza.
We have the full details from our good friends at ESPN public relations based out of the lovely bucolic town of Bristol, CT.
ESPN to Make Pan Am Plaza Home during Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis
Studio set to be located steps from Super Bowl Village, overlooking Lucas Oil Stadium
ESPN has chosen Pan American Plaza (201 South Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, Ind.) in downtown Indianapolis as its production headquarters for Super Bowl XLVI. In all, more than 110 hours of ESPN television coverage, as well as ESPN Radio shows, and other related content across the company’s multimedia platforms will originate from the host city under the banner “ESPN Indianapolis” from Monday, January, 30 – Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012.
ESPN will construct a large outdoor set (62-by-40-foot) in Pan Am Plaza that overlooks Lucas Oil Stadium. The location is just steps from the Super Bowl Village on Georgia Street and adjacent to the NFL Experience in the Indiana Convention Center. ESPN will also have a 24-by-48-foot demo field and two pod camera locations in the plaza that offer views of the downtown skyline, Union Station and the stadium. A “flycam” suspended 30 feet in the air and traversing some 300 feet will also provide aerial views during ESPN programs.
Some of ESPN’s most popular shows will originate from Pan Am Plaza throughout the week, including daily editions of Mike & Mike in the Morning, SportsCenter, SportsNation, NFL Live, NFL32, a special four-hour edition of Sunday NFL Countdown on Super Bowl Sunday, and more. Chris Berman, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Ron Jaworski, Keyshawn Johnson, Suzy Kolber, Steve Levy, Stuart Scott, Scott Van Pelt, Trey Wingo and Steve Young are among the many on-air commentators expected to be featured throughout Super Bowl week, along with top guests from the world of sports and entertainment.
Program schedules will be released at a later date and all shows will be open for public viewing. ESPN’s set-up will begin around January 20. Pan Am Plaza is owned by Kite Realty.
“Pan Am Plaza is an ideal location because there will be great crowds downtown all week at the Super Bowl Village, and this is the closest ESPN has ever been to the stadium itself,” said ESPN senior coordinating producer Seth Markman, who oversees all NFL studio shows and ESPN’s Super Bowl coverage. “The city, the Host Committee and local business leaders have been very welcoming, and we look forward to arriving in Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI in late January.”
“With ESPN broadcasting live from the heart of the Super Bowl Village, fans will get an up-close and personal opportunity to experience great banter, in-depth reporting and exciting coverage throughout Super Bowl week,” added Allison Melangton, president and chief executive officer of the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee. “As we’ve worked to finalize this location for ESPN, I appreciate the partnership and cooperation of the teams at ESPN, Kite Realty and the City of Indianapolis.”
ESPN’s Super Bowl week coverage from Indianapolis will be seen and heard across ESPN’s many domestic networks – including in Spanish on ESPN Deportes – and available in more than 100 countries and territories via ESPN International.
In addition to ESPN production plans for Super Bowl, ESPN the Magazine will host its annual NEXT event, one of the week’s top parties, in Indianapolis. The NEXT venue will be announced in early January.
That will do it for this post.
