ESPN to Make French Quarter Home during Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans

Two Stage Sets and Demo Field to be constructed in Jax Brewery Parking Lot

ESPN has chosen the Jax Brewery parking lot (600 Decatur Street) in the heart of the French Quarter in New Orleans as its production headquarters for Super Bowl XLVII. In all, more than 120 hours of ESPN television coverage, as well as ESPN Radio shows, and other related content across the company's multimedia platforms, will originate from the host city under the "Ultimate Countdown" banner from Monday, January 28 - Sunday, February 3, 2013.

ESPN will construct two outdoor sets - a 40-by-40-foot main stage and a 24-by-24-foot second stage - in addition to utilizing a 24-by-48-foot demo field and two pod camera locations. The famed French Quarter and its historic architecture will serve as the ESPN backdrop throughout the week. A "flycam" suspended 30 feet in the air and traversing some 300 feet will also provide aerial views of the sets during ESPN programs.

Some of ESPN's most popular shows will originate from the Jax Brewery location throughout the week, including daily editions of Mike & Mike in the Morning, SportsCenter, SportsNation, NFL Live, NFL32, a special four-hour edition of Sunday NFL Countdown on Super Bowl Sunday, and more. Chris Berman, Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Ron Jaworski, Keyshawn Johnson, Suzy Kolber, Steve Levy, Stuart Scott, Hannah Storm, Scott Van Pelt, Trey Wingo and Steve Young are among the many on-air commentators expected to be featured throughout Super Bowl week, along with top guests from the world of sports and entertainment.

Program schedules will be released at a later date and all shows will be open for public viewing. ESPN's set construction will begin around January 23.

"New Orleans is one of the great Super Bowl host cities, and the broadcast location we've identified in the French Quarter will put ESPN in a prime spot to capture the atmosphere of this huge event while surrounded by enthusiastic crowds all week," said ESPN senior coordinating producer Seth Markman, who oversees all NFL studio shows and ESPN's Super Bowl coverage. "We thank the city, the Host Committee and the local business leaders who have already been so welcoming."

"ESPN and the Host Committee have worked together closely to guarantee that their extensive live coverage will showcase an incredible setting that only the historic French Quarter of New Orleans can deliver. We welcome the ESPN broadcasts, talent, crews and viewers back to New Orleans as we showcase our city on the world's largest stage for our tenth time, and thank them for creating another free high-profile event for local and visiting fans in the heart of the city," said Jay Cicero, Executive Director of the Super Bowl XLVII Host Committee.

ESPN's Super Bowl week coverage from New Orleans will be seen and heard across ESPN's many domestic networks - including in Spanish on ESPN Deportes - and available in more than 100 countries and territories via ESPN International.

In addition to ESPN production plans for Super Bowl week, ESPN The Magazine will host its ninth annual NEXT event on Friday, Feb. 1, in New Orleans to celebrate its annual NEXT issue, which recognizes an elite group of emerging athletes to watch in the year ahead.

* ESPN Front Row podcast with senior coordinating producer Seth Markman: http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=8630877