Rush featured prominently on new ESPN TV deal
Published on December 19, 2006 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
Mike Ditka's ArenaBowl XX champion Chicago Rush will be one of the most-televised teams in the league in 2007, hosting three national games on ESPN - including Monday night games April 30, against Jon Bon Jovi's Philadelphia Soul and May 7, against John Elway's Colorado Crush, the AFL announced today.
The 2007 national television schedule also features the Rush season opener March 4, at Kansas City and the team's June 18, game at Colorado, bringing the total number of Rush games on the network to five. Only Bon Jovi's Soul will appear more often on ESPN.
"There is not a better broadcast partner for a sports property than ESPN, and nothing more American than Monday Night Football," said Rush president/general manager Mike Polisky. "We are excited that fans all around the country will be able to watch the Rush as the players and coaches work to defend their title."
As part of the new five-year agreement, ESPN, which has acquired a minority ownership in the league, 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.
Chicago Rush schedule on ESPN
Date Opponent Time Network
Sunday, March 4 @ Kansas City 11:30 a.m. ESPN on ABC
Sunday, April 1 Los Angeles 12:30 p.m. ESPN2
Monday, April 30 Philadelphia 7 p.m. ESPN2
Monday, May 7 Colorado 7 p.m. ESPN2
Monday, June 18 @ Colorado 9 p.m. ESPN2
The AFL's Friday night national television package and its regional packages likely will be announced in January, making the 2007 season the most-widely televised in AFL history.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from December 19, 2006
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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
