• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Digital Sports Desk

Online Destination for the Best in Boston Sports

  • BOSTON SPORTS
    • Red Sox
    • Patriots
    • Celtics
    • Bruins
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • NBA
    • WNBA
    • USA Basketball
  • NFL
    • Super Bowl LIX
  • PGA TOUR
    • LIV GOLF
    • TGL GOLF
  • NCAA
    • NCAA Basketball
      • Big East
      • March Madness
    • NCAA Football
  • SPORTS BIZ
  • BETTING HERO
  • WHILE WE’RE YOUNG

SlamBall is Back; ESPN OnBoard

June 21, 2023 by Digital Sports Desk

ESPN Platforms to Carry More Than 30 Hours of Live Action in 2023, Starting Opening Night, July 21, from 7 to 9 p.m. ET on ESPN

LAS VEGAS/BRISTOL, Conn – (Staff Report from Official News Release) –

SlamBall is Back and ESPN – the worldwide leader in sports – is onboard for the ride, coming this July.

SlamBall, the fast-paced, gravity-defying sport that combines elements of basketball, football, hockey and trampolines, today announced an exclusive, two-year national broadcast partnership with ESPN for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

The broadcasting partnership begins on Opening Night, as SlamBall relaunches live action from its home-base in Las Vegas on July 21 from 7-9 p.m. ET.  ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN+ will combine to air more than 30 hours of live SlamBall programming across five weekends, culminating August 17-19 with the SlamBall Playoffs and SlamBall Championship Game.

All games will be played at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, with ticket sales beginning on June 27.

“ESPN’s multi-year commitment to SlamBall is further validation of the enormous appeal and growth potential of our sport,” said SlamBall creator and CEO Mason Gordon. “The level of interest in our hybrid team sport not just in the United States, but across the world, has been beyond our expectations for the 2023 season. It’s clear that this best talent we have had in the sport’s history.”

“Mason and I couldn’t help but respond to the #BringBackSlamBall clamor,” said SlamBall co-founder Mike Tollin. “Live sports dominate the airwaves these days and audiences are looking for the next big thing. It’s a thrill to collaborate with ESPN in bringing this ground-breaking sport back to the world.”

“SlamBall is a league that combines elements of some of our fans’ favorite sports, resulting in a unique game that’s sure to entertain viewers across ESPN’s platforms.” said Ashley O’Connor, Sr. Director, Programming & Acquisitions at ESPN.

The broadcast team, production details, and full broadcast schedule will be announced in the weeks to come.

SlamBall has a long-term partnership with global premium experiences company Legends to provide e-commerce and on-site event retail; global, data-driven partnership strategy and execution; and business intelligence with actionable insights to drive revenue across all areas of the league.

David Levy at Horizon Sports and Experiences is providing additional sponsorship sales support in the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

SlamBall recently closed an $11 million Series A round led by Roger Ehrenberg’s IA Sports Ventures and Eberg Capital (Owner and Advisory Board Member, Miami Marlins, Betr, Simplebet) with participation from strategic investors across sports, gaming, entertainment, and media.

Strategic investors include David Blitzer (Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, Cleveland Guardians, Crystal Palace), David Adelman (76ers, NJ Devils), Michael Rubin (Fanatics), Gary Vaynerchuk (VaynerX, Major League Pickleball), and Blake Griffin (Boston Celtics power forward and six-time NBA All-Star).

Additional investors include: Kevin Nagle (Sacramento Kings), Lloyd Danzig (Sharp Alpha), Legends, Brian Lovell (Red Games), Jesse Sharf (Gibson Dunn), Accelerate Sports, and Eric Manlunas (Wavemaker Partners). Accelerate Sports provided investment banking services for the round.

Originally staged in 1999 by founders Mason Gordon and Mike Tollin, SlamBall is a one-of-a-kind sports and entertainment property with a rich history of success in the United States and in markets around the world.

It is a compelling hybrid combination of the best elements of basketball, football, and ice-hockey, infused with the essence of a video game come to life. The new, enhanced league, which includes partner Tom Penn, founder of LAFC, is set for its full comeback in the summer of 2023. Amid the current resurgence of interest in alternate sports, the hashtag #BringBackSlamBall has garnered more than 200 million views on social media, offering a powerful foundation of fandom for the sport’s revival.

For additional information, visit https://slamballleague.com/

Filed Under: Sports Business Tagged With: ESPN, SlamBall, Sports Biz, Sports Business

Primary Sidebar

NBA & NHL Sports Desk

Loading RSS Feed
Loading RSS Feed

Trending on Sports Desk

2023 NBA Playoffs 2024 NBA Finals Baltimore Orioles Basketball Hall of Fame BC Eagles Big East Big East Basketball Big East Tournament Boston Bruins Boston Celtics Boston College Boston Red Sox Buffalo Bills Chicago White Sox FedEx Cup Playoffs Houston Astros Kansas City Chiefs LIV Golf MLB MLB Postseason NBA NCAAB NCAAF New England Patriots New York Knicks New York Yankees NFL NFL Thursday Night Football NHL PGA Tour PGA Tour Brunch Red Sox Sports Biz Sports Business St. John's Texas Rangers The Masters The Open TL's Sunday Sports Notes TL Sunday Sports Notes Tokyo Olympics Toronto Blue Jays USA Basketball While We're Young Ideas World Series

Twitter

DigitalSportsDesk 🏆 Follow 27,574 10,840

Boston Sports Commentary 🏀 ⚾️🏒🏈 Pro point of view; Expert analysis of #RedSox #NBA #PGATour #NHLBruins #SportsBiz #NFL & BIG EAST hoops

DigSportsDesk
DigSportsDesk avatar; DigitalSportsDesk 🏆 @DigSportsDesk ·
25 May 1926711145349472447

And the fine?

And the fine?
Oh No He Didn't @ohnohedidnt24

Griner to the refs before an interview: "Being fucking better!"

DigSportsDesk avatar; DigitalSportsDesk 🏆 @DigSportsDesk ·
24 May 1926320711842296138

Red Sox announced Game 1 start time is 1:30pm EDT

DigSportsDesk avatar; DigitalSportsDesk 🏆 @DigSportsDesk ·
24 May 1926320491343609881

Fenway Park Grounds Crew makes its move at 12:51pm

Image for the Tweet beginning: Fenway Park Grounds Crew makes Twitter feed video.
DigSportsDesk avatar; DigitalSportsDesk 🏆 @DigSportsDesk ·
24 May 1926315779735040292

Game Delay at #FenwayPark

Image for the Tweet beginning: Game Delay at #FenwayPark Twitter feed video.
DigSportsDesk avatar; DigitalSportsDesk 🏆 @DigSportsDesk ·
21 May 1925131163162509800

Well put POV for a generation of #Cheers fans

Well put POV for a generation of #Cheers fans
Mike Greenberg @Espngreeny

If you are my age, you just lost one of your best friends. #ripgeorgewendt

Load More...

Facebook

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
DigitalSportsDesk.com
2 months ago
DigitalSportsDesk.com

Sunday Sports Notebook

... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

TL's Sunday Notes | March 30

open.substack.com

While We're Young (Ideas) and March Go Out Like a Lyons
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • likes 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

DigitalSportsDesk.com
4 months ago
DigitalSportsDesk.com

Gotta Give Pitino the credit. Constant and Full-Court Press made the difference and his players were in condition to wear down UConn. digitalsportsdesk.com/st-johns-defeats-mighty-uconn/ ... See MoreSee Less

Gotta Give Pitino the credit.  Constant and Full-Court Press made the difference and his players were in condition to wear down UConn. https://digitalsportsdesk.com/st-johns-defeats-mighty-uconn/
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • likes 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

DigitalSportsDesk.com
4 months ago
DigitalSportsDesk.com

Groundhog Day!

whileyoungideas.substack.com/p/tls-sunday-sports-notes-feb-2 ... See MoreSee Less

Groundhog Day!

https://whileyoungideas.substack.com/p/tls-sunday-sports-notes-feb-2
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • likes 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

DigitalSportsDesk.com
4 months ago
DigitalSportsDesk.com

Plenty O' Notes and a Look at Boston Pro sports for 2025 - ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

TL's Sunday Sports Notes | Jan 12 - Digital Sports Desk

digitalsportsdesk.com

In each round-up, there are far too many questions and not nearly enough definitive answers to the woes facing the New England clubs, the Celtics included. It might be time for some major shake-ups at...
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • likes 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

DigitalSportsDesk.com
5 months ago
DigitalSportsDesk.com

The first Sunday Sports Notes of 2025 | Including Some Predictions

... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

TL's Sunday Sports Notes | Jan 5 - Digital Sports Desk

digitalsportsdesk.com

KEY DATES IN 2025: Everyone needs to circle these dates on their sports calendar: KEY DATES IN 2025: Everyone needs to circle these dates on their sports calendar:
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • likes 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

Load more

The Custom Facebook Feed plugin

Digital Sports Desk

May 2025
S M T W T F S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Apr    

Digital Sports Desk: Copyright © 2022
www.digitalsportsdesk.com