SlamBall inks multi-year broadcasting deal with ESPN
SlamBall is coming to ESPN this summer.
The resurrected sports league agreed to a two-year broadcasting deal with ESPN for its 2023 and 2024 seasons, according to TMZ Sports. The games will air on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN+, beginning with opening night on July 21.
"ESPN's multi-year commitment to SlamBall is further validation of the enormous appeal and growth potential of our sport," SlamBall creator and CEO Mason Gordon told TMZ. "The level of interest in our hybrid team sport, not just in the U.S., but across the world, has been beyond our expectations for the 2023 season. It's clear that this is the best talent we have had in the sport's history."
The sports league, which combines elements of basketball, football, and hockey with trampolines, originally aired on The National Network (now the Paramount Network) for two seasons from 2002-03 before being dissolved.
SlamBall recently completed an $11-million Series A funding round, with Boston Celtics forward Blake Griffin, Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils co-owner David Adelman, and Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin among the investors.
The upcoming season will be played at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas and will consist of a six-week slate of regular-season games followed by one week of playoffs.