L.A. Avengers & Fox Sports Net 2 announce 2004 television schedule
February 3, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Avengers will have seven games televised on Fox Sports Net 2 in their fifth season of play in the 18-year-old Arena Football League, team president and chief operating officer Todd Merkow announced today.
Fox Sports Net 2's local coverage will supplement the AFL's national television partnership with NBC Sports, which will showcase the Avengers eight times over the course of the 16-game 2004 schedule, giving the franchise an extremely comprehensive broadcast package.
"Fox Sports Net 2 has been with the Avengers since the very beginning, providing valuable exposure and helping us build a tradition of Arena Football into the marketplace," Merkow said. "We are pleased to announce the continuation of our relationship and look forward to them joining us for what will be a wonderful season for the Avengers."
Veteran Southland broadcaster Bill Macdonald will return for his fifth year as the television play-by-play voice of the Avengers. His busy schedule includes calling the play-by-play for UCLA football and men's basketball, and hosting the pregame shows and doing sideline work for the Los Angeles Lakers, Anaheim Angels and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.
Color commentary will be provided by Ed Cunningham, who handled those duties last season for the Avenger radio broadcasts on XTRA Sports 690/1150. One of the top young football analysts in the country, he has been working college football games for ABC Sports for the past four seasons. Cunningham made his ABC debut in the summer of 2000, as the color man for ArenaBowl XIV. Prior to that, he was the analyst for TNN's coverage of the AFL and spent three seasons (1997-99) working college football games for CBS.
"Ed Cunningham has been involved with broadcasting AFL games since 1995, when he was working with the Arizona Rattlers," Merkow said. "More recently, he spent a season coaching in the arenafootball2 ranks. With that kind of experience in the game paired up with his broadcasting expertise, we feel that out telecasts will be second to none. Bill and Ed will keep Avengers fans informed and entertained throughout the entire show."
The first Avenger game on Fox Sports Net 2 will be a special "Monday Night Football" edition versus the Georgia Force at STAPLES Center on March 1, which will kick off at 7:30 p.m.
Four other Avenger home games will be carried on Fox Sports Net 2: April 3 (Austin Wranglers on Fox Sports Net), April 10 (Colorado Crush), May 1 (Arizona Rattlers) and May 22 (Las Vegas Gladiators). Two road contests -- March 21 (at Dallas Desperados) and March 26 (at San Jose SaberCats) -- will be televised on Fox Sports Net 2.
The deal with Fox Sports Net 2 also calls for a half-hour preseason special entitled "This is L.A. Football: These are your L.A. Avengers," which will be televised tonight at 7:30 p.m. (it will be rebroadcast on Feb. 5, at 10 a.m.; and Feb. 7, at 5:30 p.m.). In addition, Avenger highlights, features, reports and interviews will be featured throughout the season on Fox Sports Net's nightly "Southern California Sports Report."
"The Avengers play an exciting brand of professional football and we are happy to continue to be their home team network," said Steve Simpson, vice president and general manager of Fox Sports Net and Fox Sports Net 2. "We look forward to the seven games on Fox Sports Net 2, as the Avengers begin their quest for ArenaBowl XVIII."
Fox Sports Net and Fox Sports Net 2 present more live, local sports programming than any other cable network or broadcast station in the market. Fox Sports Net 2 reaches 4.2 million viewers in Southern California, Nevada and Hawai'i. In addition to the Avengers, FSN 2 is also home to Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers, the NHL's Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers, the WNBA world champion Los Angeles Sparks, plus UCLA and USC athletics.
The Avengers will open their 2004 season on Sunday, Feb. 8, versus the Arizona Rattlers at America West Arena in Phoenix. The game, which will kick off at noon, will be televised live on KNBC Channel 4.
Nine-game season ticket packages are now on sale and can be purchased by calling 1-888-AVENGERS or online at www.laavengers.com.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 3, 2004
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- Detroit Fury game notes - Detroit Fury
- Grand Rapids Rampage game notes - Grand Rapids Rampage
- L.A. Avengers & Fox Sports Net 2 announce 2004 television schedule - Los Angeles Avengers
- VooDoo to offer discounted game tickets to families of armed services personnel - New Orleans VooDoo
- Crush sign three to practice squad - Colorado Crush
- Arizona Rattlers game notes - Arizona Rattlers
- Rattlers Set Roster for Opener - Arizona Rattlers
- Georgia Force add touch of UGA and Tech to helmet - Georgia Force
- Tampa Bay Storm game notes - Tampa Bay Storm
- Las Vegas Gladiators game notes - Las Vegas Gladiators
- AFL, ADT extend partnership through 2007 - AFL I
- Georgia Force game notes - Georgia Force
- Detroit Fury Trade for WR/LB Thabiti Davis - Detroit Fury
- Carolina Cobras game notes - Carolina Cobras
- San Jose is AFLWA preseason favorite to win ArenaBowl XVIII - AFL I
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