ESPN’s “First Take” announced on Monday that scheduled road shows, including those tied to HBCU football games, would now be virtual.
“We have made the difficult, yet necessary, decision to change from an on-site to virtual presence,“ said Antoine Lewis, First Take’s senior coordinating producer, in a statement.
ESPN’s @FirstTake has canceled all live remotes/road shows and will not appear in Memphis Friday, September 10th. pic.twitter.com/ObtZSohvs6
— Southern Heritage Classic (@ClassicMemphis) August 9, 2021
The show was supposed to feature the Southern Heritage Classic in Memphis, Tennessee ahead of the annual Jackson State-Tennessee State matchup played at the Liberty Bowl.
Also read: ESPN’s ‘First Take’ bringing show to Southern Heritage Classic
Said Lewis: “ We remain committed to showcasing and celebrating the importance of HBCUs.”
The show will now have a special of First Take from ESPN’s New York Seaport Studio on Aug. 27. This will be ahead of the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff featuring Alcorn State and North Carolina Central.
“We look forward to exploring every potential opportunity for First Take to connect with fans on site during future road shows,” Lewis said.
