Sports Business Journal has announced their 2021 awards and among the winners are ESPN and ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World.
What’s Happening:
- Sports Business Journal announced the winners of their 2021 awards Wednesday night, among the winners included ESPN for best in sports media, and ESPN Wide World of Sports at the Walt Disney World Resort for hosting NBA and MLS games during the pandemic.
- You can read the full award announcements for both ESPN and ESPN Wide World of Sports below from Sports Business Journal.
Best in Sports Media: ESPN
- “It was a typically busy year for ESPN, which produced more sports events than other media outlets. But it was how ESPN performed when live sports were on a pandemic-related hiatus that showed its leadership in sports media. It produced a broadcast-quality virtual NFL draft telecast that set a viewership record. It moved up the release of the acclaimed documentary series “The Last Dance,” which also set viewership records. ESPN President of Programming & Original Content Burke Magnus said this award was especially gratifying in this trying year. "What we're most proud of is the immense hard work and creativity displayed by ESPN's 4,000 employees navigating the shutdown of sports," he said.”
Sports Facility of the Year: ESPN Wide World of Sports
- “The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will forever be remembered for hosting “bubbles” for two professional leagues to play amid the pandemic. Across the NBA and MLS, 223 games or matches were played at the 200-plus-acre facility last summer. There were 33 days where the two bubbles overlapped but both were carried out safely. Significant construction took place, including two broadcast compounds, blue screens and video walls. "None of this would have been possible without the leagues' trusting us," said Disney VP/Sports Faron Kelley, when accepting the award. "Finally, the cast at ESPN Wide World of Sports. You should always be proud that … when they talk about the bubble, they were talking about you," he added.”
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