ESPN Chicago 1000 Reaches Agreement to become Flagship Station for Notre Dame Football and Men’s Basketball
ESPN Chicago 1000 has reached a multiyear agreement to broadcast every Notre Dame football and men’s basketball game beginning with the 2016-17 seasons. The deal returns the Fighting Irish to Chicago’s No. 1 sports station, which was previously the home for Notre Dame sports from 1999-2005. ESPN Chicago 1000 will produce Notre Dame basketball games, while IMG will produce Notre Dame football games, as part of IMG’s Notre Dame Football Network. The Fighting Irish will kick off their 2016 football season on Sunday, Sept. 4, at Texas.
“In the world of college sports, there is nothing more prestigious to a broadcaster than teaming with Notre Dame,” said Jim Pastor, general manager, ESPN Chicago 1000. “Returning Notre Dame football and basketball to our airwaves is great news for their legion of fans in Chicago and a great addition to ESPN 1000’s menu of championship play by play offerings.”
Dan Skendzel, Notre Dame’s senior associate athletics director for media operations and branding , added, “We are pleased to be partnering with Chicagoland’s leader in sports, ESPN 1000. In addition to the live broadcasts of Notre Dame football and basketball games, in-depth programming in the form of the Jack Swarbrick, Brian Kelly and Mike Brey Shows will now be available on Chicago radio.”
Notre Dame Football Schedule on ESPN Chicago 1000:
| Date | Game |
| Sun, Sep 4 | Notre Dame at Texas |
| Sat, Sep 10 | Nevada at Notre Dame |
| Sat, Sep 17 | Michigan State at Notre Dame |
| Sat, Sep 24 | Duke at Notre Dame |
| Sat, Oct 1 | Notre Dame vs. Syracuse (at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.) |
| Sat, Oct 8 | Notre Dame at North Carolina State |
| Sat, Oct 15 | Stanford at Notre Dame |
| Sat, Oct 29 | Miami at Notre Dame |
| Sat, Nov 5 | Notre Dame vs. Navy (at EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Fla.) |
| Sat, Nov 12 | Notre Dame vs. Army (at the Alamodome, San Antonio) |
| Sat, Nov 19 | Virginia Tech at Notre Dame |
| Sat, Nov 26 | Notre Dame at USC |
About ESPN Chicago 1000
ESPN Chicago1000 is the flagship station of ESPN Radio, providing a popular weekday talk lineup featuring Carmen & Jurko, Kap & Co. and Waddle & Silvy, news, local and national play-by-play coverage. It’s also the official home of the NBA playoffs, including the entire post-season, Major League Baseball, including the World Series, Notre Dame football and basketball, the College Football Playoff and high school sports coverage. Also streamed live at www.ESPNCHICAGO.com.
About Notre Dame Football and Men’s Basketball
The University of Notre Dame boasts one of the most tradition-rich football programs in America, dating back to a 1913 upset win over Army that put the Irish on the football map and the first three of 11 consensus national titles under Knute Rockne in the 1920s. Coaches Frank Leahy, Ara Parseghian, Dan Devine and Lou Holtz also have contributed championship teams—and current Irish coach Brian Kelly led his 2012 squad to the Bowl Championship Series title game and saw his 2015 unit qualify for a New Year’s Six berth in the Fiesta Bowl. The Irish men’s basketball team under Mike Brey has played in an NCAA Championship regional title game in both 2015 and 2016—and the program, now part of the Atlantic Coast Conference, has a long tradition of knocking off #1 opponents.
About IMG
IMG is a global leader in sports, events, media and fashion, operating in more than 30 countries. The company represents and manages some of the world’s greatest sports figures and fashion icons; stages hundreds of live events and branded entertainment experiences annually; and is one of the largest independent producers and distributors of sports media. IMG also specializes in sports training; league development; and marketing, media and licensing for brands, sports organizations and collegiate institutions. In 2014, IMG was acquired by WME, a leading global entertainment agency.
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