Live From NHL Stadium Series: ESPN's Front Bench Brings Aura of Ohio Stadium, Passion of Both Fanbases to Viewers at Home Famous college football venue makes a beautiful setting for Red Wings-Blue Jackets By Kristian Hern ndez, Senior Editor Friday, February 28, 2025 - 6:59 pm
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The 2024-25 NHL regular season is hitting its final phase, and for two teams vying for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, the visiting Detroit Red Wings and host Columbus Blue Jackets will fight to move up in the standings at a unique location on Saturday night: the revered Ohio Stadium. ESPN's front-bench duo of lead game director Doug Holmes and lead game producer Jeff Dufine will present this matchup with the utmost of concentration on both the action on the ice and the pageantry that surrounds it.
We have to make this a spectacle that feels as big as possible, but not sacrifice our game coverage, says Holmes. That's a balance that you're constantly thinking about.
Director Doug Holmes and Producer Jeff Dufine will be at the front bench of Saturday's game.
Going Back to College: Crew Adjusts With Preplanning, Experience From Other Outdoor Games College is a place for individuals to learn and grow, and this outdoor game on the campus of Ohio State University is a chance for ESPN's production staff to go back to the drawing board. The crew has done numerous games in the outdoor elements, including their first at the 2023 NHL Stadium Series in Raleigh, NC at North Carolina State University's Carter-Finley Stadium. Their first foray into outdoor hockey two years ago was the first step in feeling comfortable with how to cover a broadcast of this magnitude.
You learn from having done it before, continues Holmes. The creativity aspect of this game, and the collaboration that we need to have with the league, is something that's a lot different than covering a regular event.
After this first trial run, last year at MetLife Stadium showcased the network's growth and commitment to making this game a much bigger televised product. From the inclusion of the Best Seat in the House concept to embracing the culture of the host state, the front bench found a groove that truly highlighted the game's intended purpose.
Ohio Stadium will host the first-ever outdoor professional hockey game in Columbus, OH.
Of the 100 games that we do during the regular season, this is the most unique because each [stadium] has its own nuances, says Dufine. Through multiple meetings and onsite visits, we wanted to put a plan in place to show off this venue.
For this year's affair in Columbus, OH, this return to a college football stadium necessitated a conversation with their production colleagues on ESPN's college football side. Most notably, Holmes and Dufine wanted to understand the best location for their cameras in a stadium that was originally built more than a century ago. This accurate camera mapping, along with diving into the university's gameday traditions, would create a recipe for success.
We needed to understand the lay of the land, but also know the things that are interesting about Ohio State, the Horseshoe, how the band is integrated into the entertainment, and other aspects of what it's like on gameday, continues Dufine. We have to take all of that information and incorporate it throughout the course of a hockey game.
Play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough will call the game from this location.
Making the Most of Extra Space: Bigger Footprint Allows More On-Air Talent, Full Studio Set at Field Level Not only is production planning impacted by the venue, but the typical seating for ESPN's commentary team will be altered as well. Situated within a college-football-sized field, the rink is a lot smaller than what it would be inside of an enclosed arena. NHL Events is also jam-packing the area around the rink with multiple activations, including musical performances on a dedicated stage, ample seating for the Ohio State Marching Band, room for the Blue Jackets' goal cannon, branding with nods to the Ohio State Buckeyes helmet stickers, and more.
We're fitting into a larger footprint in this stadium, so [play-by-play announcer] Sean [McDonough] will call the game from a suite on the 50-yard line and not the typical football booth, adds Dufine. [Analyst] Ray [Ferraro] will still be between the benches, but he'll have a lot more space.
A Skycam will be covering the game from above the ice.
Reporter Emily Kaplan, who's another staple on NHL on ESPN, will provide her in-depth coverage and be assigned to the bench of the Columbus Blue Jackets. With added space in the gigantic stadium, two more reporters were added to the list. Analyst Kevin Weekes will be assigned to the bench of the Detroit Red Wings, and analyst Marty Smith will tap into his love for college football by highlighting specific areas of Ohio Stadium. A roaming RF SteadiCam will follow Smith through various parts of the building.
In addition to more on-air talent on the main broadcast, NHL on ESPN studio programming will also be onsite. Unlike last year, the trio of host Steve Levy and analysts Mark Messier and P.K. Subban will be anchored at a full studio desk down at ice level. They will provide pregame, intermission, and postgame coverage from this position, but they will also preview the Boston Bruins-Pittsburgh Penguins matchup prior to puck drop at 3 p.m. ET.
A jib camera will provide swooping shots of the rink and the crowd near field level.
Time to Lock In: Front Bench Focuses on Game Coverage With Full Slate of Technologies The NHL Stadium Series is unlike any other game on the NHL on ESPN calendar. It requires many layers of planning, investment into the host stadium to intertwine these storylin
