How does ESPN decide which Monday Night Football games will feature the pregame show live on location? Based on seven weeks of evidence this season, it’s all about market size and popularity.
And oh by the way, if you’re not one of the big markets, the “Sports Leader” might just go ahead and spell the names of your local towns wrong. We’re looking at you, “Egan.”
For those unfamiliar, Eagan is the suburb where the Vikings’ headquarters and practice facilities are located.
Meanwhile, Minneapolis is latest market to get snubbed by ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown crew, which was broadcast from the network’s studios Monday night.
It marked the third time in seven weeks that ESPN elected against broadcasting the pregame show on site. The others were Week 2 when Carolina hosted the Saints, and in Week 3 when Tampa Bay hosted Philadelphia.
If you’re keeping track, that’s Charlotte, Tampa and Minneapolis getting snubbed.
The other four Monday night games have featured ESPN broadcasting on location for games hosted by the New York Jets, New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers.
So again, if your’e keeping track, that’s given preferential treatment to the two New York teams, one of the L.A. teams and the team that resides in the gambling capital of the world, Las Vegas.
- Week 1: Bills @ Jets — ESPN crew at the stadium
- Week 2: Saints @ Panthers — ESPN crew in studio
- Week 3: Eagles @ Buccaneers — ESPN crew in studio
- Week 4: Seahawks @ Giants — ESPN crew at the stadium
- Week 5: Packers at Raiders — ESPN crew at the stadium
- Week 6: Cowboys at Chargers — ESPN crew at the stadium
- Week 7: 49ers at Vikings — ESPN crew in studio
Minnesota is definitely getting the flyover country treatment this week…
