COLUMBUS – Providing fans the best in regional sports television, FSN Ohio today announced a five-game Arena Football League schedule featuring the Columbus Destroyers. Steve Liverani, senior vice president and general manager, FSN Ohio, made the announcement.
Kickoff on FSN Ohio is Saturday, February 19 @ 7 pm as the Destroyers take on the Chicago Rush live from Nationwide Arena.
| 2005 Columbus Destroyers on FSN Ohio | ||
| Saturday, February 19 | Chicago @ Columbus | 7 pm (live) |
| Saturday, March 26 | New York @ Columbus | 7 pm (live) |
| Friday, April 8 | Columbus @ Arizona | 12 am (tape delayed) |
| Friday, April 22 | Dallas @ Columbus | 7 pm (Columbus market only) |
| Saturday, April 30 | Austin @ Columbus | 7 pm (live) |
Dan Hoard, Jim Lachey and Jim Day make up the broadcast team for Destroyers games on FSN Ohio. Jeff Piecoro, co-host of the Reds pre-game show, Real Reds, will fill-in for Hoard on the February 19 broadcast.
Hoard has 20 years of broadcast experience and is the current play-by-play voice of the University of Cincinnati football and men’s basketball games. In addition, Hoard is co-host of Real Reds, the Cincinnati Reds pre-game show on FSN Ohio, as well as the host of “Sportswrap” each weekend night on the Cincinnati Fox affiliate WXIX.
The Ohio State University All-American, NFL All-Pro and Super Bowl champion Jim Lachey will provide the analysis. Lachey has been the radio analyst of OSU football for the past seven seasons and was the line coach for the Destroyers last season. The native of St. Henry, OH was a four-time All-Pro, three-time Pro Bowl selection, two-time Offensive Lineman of the Year and Super Bowl XXVI champion during his 11-year career.
Day is co-host of Icebreaker, the Blue Jackets’ 30-minute pre-game show, as well Hoard’s co-host of Real Reds on FSN Ohio. He also handles both teams’ post-game shows, Blue Jackets Ice Cap and Reds Wrap.
“FSN Ohio prides itself on offering fans the best in regional sports action, and we’re proud to add the Columbus Destroyers to our programming line-up,” said Liverani. “We’re thrilled to bring the Arena Football League home to fans across the state, and look forward to growing our relationship with the Destroyers.”
“We have enjoyed a tremendous partnership with FSN Ohio through the Blue Jackets since 2000 and are extremely pleased to expand the relationship with the Destroyers,” said Executive Director of Marketing Marc Gregory, who oversees broadcasting for both teams. Fans have embraced the Destroyers as nearly 150,000 have attended our first nine games at Nationwide Arena, so we are excited to give even more fans the chance to experience the excitement of the AFL through our FSN Ohio broadcasts.”
FSN Ohio reaches more than four million households in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, western Pennsylvania, western New York, and West Virginia. FSN Ohio’s programming includes the Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Cleveland Cavaliers, The Best Damn Sports Show Period, I Max, The Sports List, NASCAR and Totally Football. FSN Ohio is managed by Rainbow Sports Networks.
Rainbow Sports Networks is a division of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC). FSN reaches more than 80 million households nationwide and is a service of National Sports Partners, equally owned by Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc. and Fox Entertainment Group. Rainbow Sports Networks incorporates Rainbow’s 50% ownership of FSN Ohio and Fox Sports National Advertising and the ownership and management of FSN regional networks in five of the nation’s largest markets: Chicago, Florida, Ohio, New England and San Francisco.