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Month: December 2023

Sunday, December 31, 2023

United Football League (“UFL”) Set to Launch as the Premier Spring Football League

Russ Brandon to be President and CEO; Daryl Johnston will lead football operations 

UFL season kicks off on Saturday, March 30, 2024 with the battle of the 2023 champions:  Arlington Renegades vs Birmingham Stallions  

NEW YORK, NY – December 31, 2023 – Today marks the official announcement regarding the launch of the United Football League (the “UFL”), the premier spring football league that will result from the merger of the XFL and USFL.

The 2024 season for the UFL is set to kick off on Saturday, March 30, 2024. Russ Brandon, former President and CEO of the XFL, will lead the UFL as President and CEO. Daryl Johnston, former USFL President of Football Operations, will lead football operations.

Today’s news was first announced by Dany Garcia and Dwayne Johnson on FOX NFL Sunday. Additional details about team markets and football operations will be announced very shortly.

Partner Commentary 

Eric Shanks – Chief Executive Officer and Executive Producer of FOX Sports 

“FOX is football, and the success of the USFL has proven that there’s a bright future for spring football. The opportunity to bring together our two leagues – each with a commitment to advancing broadcast practices, rule innovations and the community – only furthers the potential of the United Football League and solidifies its spot on the sports calendar.”

Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN 

“The United Football League – a powerful combination of the XFL and USFL – will provide passionate sports fans with an entertaining, innovative, and action-packed season,” Pitaro said. “With compelling storytelling across traditional and digital platforms, fan-friendly innovations, and tremendous reach, this visionary league is well-positioned, and we look forward to our continued collaboration.”

Dany Garcia – Founder, CEO and Chairwoman of The Garcia Companies 

“This new venture is possible because of a shared visionary mindset, a profound passion for the game, and first-hand experience living and creating the opportunities that football makes possible. As a unified spring league, we are able to deepen our commitment to unlocking and surpassing the dreams of our players, coaches, staff and fans. This league represents continued legacy and evolution, and we look forward to building the universe of spring football.”

Dwayne Johnson – Founder and CEO of Seven Bucks Companies 

“From day one, our mission has been to expand the game of football and be a league of opportunity, culture and innovation. As we come together to create the UFL, we can build something powerful, exciting and very cool for football fans – a spring league with lasting impact for all the players with a dream to play pro football and the ‘hardest workers in the room’ mentality to make their dreams come true.”

Gerry Cardinale – Founder and Managing Partner of RedBird Capital Partners 

“When you combine the entertainment and marketing expertise of Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia, the broadcast and network reach of FOX and ESPN, and the strategic capital and company building mentality of RedBird, there is a tremendous opportunity to achieve something unique – a valuable and scalable live event entertainment platform that will continue to work closely with the NFL on innovation and player development and have a legitimate shot at becoming one of the top professional leagues in the country after the big four. ”

Thursday, December 21, 2023

FOX Deportes Welcomes Diana Flores as Guest Studio Analyst for Christmas Day Game Featuring the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants

Live Pregame Coverage Begins at 3:00 PM ET Before NFC Rivals Clash on Christmas Day

LOS ANGELES – FOX Deportes today announces Mexican Flag Football World Champion and NFL and IFAF Global Flag Football Ambassador Diana Flores returns to FOX Deportes as guest studio analyst for the NFL Christmas day game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants on Monday, Dec. 25, at 4:00 PM ET.

Flores, who also joined the network on its Thanksgiving game broadcast, joins host and play-by-play announcer Adrian Garcia-Marquez and analysts Jaime Motta and Jessi Losada, on pregame, halftime and postgame coverage. A game day edition of TOTAL SPORTS ESPECIAL ushers in pregame coverage starting at 3:00 PM ET.

“We are extremely excited to welcome back Diana Flores to FOX Deportes,” said Carlos Sanchez, Executive Vice President and General Manager of FOX Deportes. “Diana continues to make headlines on-and-off the field. We look forward to hearing her unique insight during our broadcast of a marquee NFL game on Christmas day.”

“I’m so excited to return to the Fox Deportes studio desk for the marquee Christmas Day game between the Eagles and Giants,” said Flores. It should be a good one!”
Flores first appeared as quarterback for the Mexican Flag Football Team when she was only 16 and won the gold medal at the 2022 Flag Football World Cup. She was also named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Flores rose to fame during Super Bowl LVII when she starred in “Run With It,” the blockbuster NFL campaign that also featured Billie Jean King and FOX Sports reporter Erin Andrews. The commercial won a Sports Emmy Award and marked the first time the league spotlighted Flag football and the women driving the sport forward on its biggest platform of the year.

The jersey worn by Flores and her football in the commercial, signed by Billie Jean King and New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner, were also included in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of a “Run With It” exhibit. The inclusion marks the first time that a flag football player has had artifacts in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The week prior to the Super Bowl, Flores also served as the offensive coordinator for the AFC at the NFL Pro Bowl under the tutelage of AFC Head Coach Peyton Manning.
Flores was also just recently recognized by Forbes Magazine as part of its prestigious “30 Under 30” List for the Class of 2024.

Following conclusion of the NFL regular season, FOX Deportes broadcasts the best of the NFC Playoffs including one Wild Card game, one NFC Divisional game and the NFC Championship.

Fans can also visit www.foxdeportes.com and follow FOX Deportes on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for exclusive content.

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DIANA FLORES VUELVE A FOX DEPORTES COMO ANALISTA DE ESTUDIO PARA EL JUEGO DE NAVIDAD ENTRE LOS EAGLES Y LOS GIANTS

La previa arranca a las 3:30 PM, hora del Este

LOS ANGELES –FOX Deportes anuncia que la campeona mundial mexicana de Flag Football y Embajadora Global de la NFL y la IFAF, Diana Flores será su analista invitada para la transmisión del juego de Navidad de la NFL entre los Philadelphia Eagles y los New York Giants el Lunes, 25 de junio, 2023 a las 4:00 PM, hora del Este.

Flores, quien se unió a FOX Deportes durante el juego del Día de Acción de Gracias, estará con el presentador/narrador Adrian García-Márquez y los analistas Jaime Motta y Jessi Losada en la previa, análisis del medio tiempo y el programa después del juego. La previa arranca a las 3:00 PM, hora del Este.

“Estamos muy contentos de darle la bienvenida de nuevo a Diana Flores a FOX Deportes”, dijo Carlos Sanchez, vicepresidente ejecutivo y gerente general de FOX Deportes. “Sin duda Diana aportará su experiencia durante nuestra transmisión de un gran juego de la NFL esta Navidad.

“Estoy tan emocionado de Volver a los estudios de FOX Deportes para el juego estelar de Navidad entre los Eagles y los Giants”, dijo Flores. “¡Será un gran juego!”
Flores debutó como quarterback de la Selección Mexicana de Flag Football a los 16 años y hace poco ganó la medalla de oro en el Mundial 2022. Además, también fue nombrada la Jugadora Mas Valiosa del torneo.

La fama de Flores creció tras ser la protagonista en “Run With It”, la campaña mediática de la NFL durante el Super Bowl LVII en el que también aparecieron Billie Jean King y Erin Andrews de FOX. El comercial acaba de ganar un Sports Emmy Award y marcó la primera vez que la liga le habia centrado la atención en el Flag football y las mujeres que se destacan en ese deporte.

La camiseta firmada por Flores y su balón en el comercial firmado por Jean King y el cornerback de los New York Jets Sauce Gardner recientemente fueron incluidos en Pro Football Hall of Fame como parte de una exhibición de “Run With It”. La inclusión marca la primera vez que un jugador de Flag Football ha tenido artefactos en el Salón de la Fama.

La semana previa al Super Bowl, Flores también sirvió como la Coordinadora Ofensiva de la AFC en el NFL Pro Bowl bajo el tutelaje del Entrenador en Jefe de la AFC Payton Manning.

Este año, Flores también fue incluida en la prestigiosa lista de “30 Under 30” por Forbes Magazine.

Tras el cierre de la temporada regular de la NFL, FOX Deportes transmite lo mejor de los Playoffs de la NFC incluyendo un juego de comodín, un juego divisional y el Campeonato de la NFC.

Los fanáticos también pueden visitar www.foxdeportes.com seguir FOX Deportes en YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook para contenido exclusivo.

Monday, December 4, 2023

FOX Sports Presents Live Coverage of the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024™ Final Draw

LOS ANGELES – FOX Sports, America’s English-language home for the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024™, today announces coverage plans for the tournament’s Final Draw on Thursday, Dec. 7, live on FS1 starting at 7:00 PM ET.

The Final Draw for CONMEBOL Copa America 2024™ will take place at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Fla. and reveal match fixtures for the 10 CONMEBOL teams and six guest teams from Concacaf participating in next summer’s 48th edition of the world’s oldest national team tournament from June 20 – July 14. The U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) headlines a field of fierce competitors featuring reigning FIFA World Cup™ champion Argentina, as well as Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, Jamaica, Panama and two to-be-determined teams.

FOX Sports reporter and host Jenny Taft will be on-location in Miami gathering live reactions from participants and attendees at the event, while host Rob Stone anchors coverage from the FOX Sports studio in Los Angeles. National Soccer Hall of Famer Alexi Lalas and former USMNT midfielder Stu Holden join Stone in studio as analysts for the Final Draw.