ESPN "sliced a ceremonial fiber optic cable Monday to open its massive new digital center" in Bristol, and vowed to "continue to compete and grow in its hometown," according to Steve Collins of the BRISTOL PRESS. ESPN anchor Sarah Walsh said the "SportsCenter" studio, one of five in the new building, is "the most amazing set we’ve ever seen." It includes "massive video screens, movable walls, a floor that can lift up and all sorts of technology to create a viewing experience that company leaders hope will wow the audience and awe competitors." ESPN VP/Communications Mike Soltys said the new center “is the most technically sophisticated media facility in the United States.” He added that its "6 million feet of fiber optic cable will connect the Bristol hub to the rest of the world." ESPN President John Skipper said that even as the company "finishes the work inside the new center, ESPN still has its eye on the future." He said that the net will "begin renovating a cafeteria this summer, replace its generator facility and begin an upgrade to give the entire Bristol complex 'a little bit more of a campus feel.'" Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, whose “First Five” program pumped $10M in urban tax credits into the project, called it “a great day for us” to see it completed (BRISTOL PRESS, 5/20). ESPN anchor Hannah Storm said the new digital center is "vastly different." She added, "It will be a significant change, unlike anything on sports TV." In Hartford, Dan Haar notes the center "goes live in late June, producing ESPN's flagship show a staggering 18 hours a day, with 42 anchors, and the ESPN NFL shows." It is "twice as big as the old digital center, which will remain in use for several shows." The new building also has "room for technology not yet invented." Skipper said, "I'm told it's future-proofed" (HARTFORD COURANT, 5/20).
