ESPN.com Local Sites

[Gator_Hawks]

These things were popping up all over the map: Chicago, LA, NYC, Dallas, Boston...

Are there plans to expand into more markets?

 

[Ace]

You have a small map.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

There are quite a few "unoffical" ones that are struggling a lot.

Those five seem to be doing very well.

 

[Gator_Hawks]

I'm not aware of any official ESPN.com local sites other than Chicago, Boston, LA, NY and Dallas (I'm not talking about local espn radio web sites).

I'm asking if anyone knows about plans to expand to other markets with the big espn.com local type of sites.

 

[MileHigh]

Nope. No expansion from the current five are in the works. The last one to launch was New York more than a year ago.

 

[Ace]

They're gonna call me if they expand to Cleveland, though.

 

[BYH]

They're gonna call me if they expand to Cleveland, though.

No they're not.

 

[mustangj17]

They're gonna call me if they expand to Cleveland, though.

No they're not.

Yeah because they know he's just going to leave in 2 months and go to the Plain-Dealer.

 

[Ice9]

Just thinking aloud here...Philly would be the next logical step, followed by DC.

 

[Versatile]

Just thinking aloud here...Philly would be the next logical step, followed by DC.

Philly would be a very, very difficult nut to crack. Comcast runs Philadelphia. In addition, Philly.com has been a success in terms of traffic (even if it has many, many flaws), and a unified front between the Daily News and Inquirer would be tough to compete against.

With all that said, Philadelphia makes a lot of sense as a sports-crazy town that doesn't ever stop caring.

Washington would've been the perfect market to move into about three months ago because The Washington Times hadn't rebooted, and the Post (as well as the lesser-than-Philly Comcast presence) would have been the only real competition. In addition, at least a couple of the writers from the Times staff, including a few not back on the new staff, have followings that would have been a natural fit. It's still a very viable market to crash, and I would think it would be wise to make it ESPN Beltway, not ESPN DC, because Baltimore has a rich fanbase and the Sun has taken so many hits in the sports department that it wouldn't be difficult to compete with them even if you limited the allocated resources.

I could see San Francisco, Phoenix, St. Louis, Denver and Minnesota as other viable markets to crash in the early going.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I keep hearing somewhere in Florida (likely Miami) is next.

 

[dkphxf]

I keep hearing somewhere in Florida (likely Miami) is next.

That's what I thought would be next, what with LeBron's talents being there.

 

[LanceyHoward]

How many of the ESPN sites are linked to radio stations that Disney/ABC owns? Thought I read somewhere that was one of the most important criteria for a local site.

And as someone who does not live in a market where there is a site how does their staffing compare to the local daily? They seem to have beat writers for NFL, MLB and NBA and I suppose the NHL but do they cover as many colleges as the big, metro daily? I would assume that do not cover stories about local bowling tournaments or the local racetrack at all but what about preps?

 

[Dan Hickling]

They're gonna call me if they expand to Cleveland, though.

You could so work for ESPNCleveland

 

[Ace]

They're gonna call me if they expand to Cleveland, though.

You could so work for ESPNCleveland

Finally! Someone I can use as a reference!

 

[Fran Curci]

My understanding is that ESPN is holding off on any further local sites because they haven't figured out how to make a lot of money from them.

If they did want to go to Washington, the Washington Times would not be an impediment or even be discussed.

If they go to Florida, the thinking has been more ESPN.Florida.com than ESPN.Miami.com, with a view toward covering the whole state (to take advantage of interest in Gators, especially).

 

[imjustagirl]

As far as I know, there are no plans in place to expand. No Miami, no Cleveland (sorry, Ace!).

(Fran beat me to it)

 

[zebracoy]

They're going to be opening an ESPNDeportes.com local site in Los Angeles, according to USA Today.

 

[MileHigh]

As far as I know, there are no plans in place to expand. No Miami, no Cleveland (sorry, Ace!).

(Fran beat me to it)

Hearing the same thing. Nothing in the works.

 

[flexmaster33]

I've heard ESPN Bismark is in the works, but that may just be the cows talking.