VIPERS SIGN ON WITH THE FAN 960

[Oxygen-Supply]

Mr. Peter Young, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Calgary Vipers announced today that Calgary’s Sports Radio, The FAN 960, will serve as the Flagship Station for Vipers live play-by-play broadcasts during the 2005 season.

The FAN 960 will broadcast 55 regular season Vipers games, home and away, and will audio stream the broadcasts of 43 additional games on the internet through the web pages of both The Fan, www.fan960.com and the Vipers.

“The FAN will provide an excellent home for the Vipers”, said Young. “We understand their commitment to the Blue Jays but it is simply outstanding that more than half of our games will be available over the air to baseball fans of southern Alberta. In addition the FAN will be providing daily team reports, coach’s shows and numerous promotions to get their excellent talent base involved with the Vipers and Foothills Park”.

Kelly Kirch, Program Director at the FAN 960 added, “The Fan 960 is proud to partner with the Calgary Vipers. Calgary's only 24/7 sports radio station is excited to continue the great summer tradition of pro baseball on the air in Calgary.”

Young, a former broadcaster with the Winnipeg Goldeyes and CTV, will be announcing the broadcast team before the start of Vipers training camp on May 5, 2005.

A complete radio schedule will be available by the end of the week but does include the season opening 6 game road trip as well as the home opener, Friday, May 27, 2005.

The Vipers will also be holding a Media Conference later in the week to outline renovations at Foothill Park and plans for an opening night extravaganza.

http://calgaryvipers.com/press/top_story.html

[JiriHrdina]

Not sure if this is indeed good news. Seems to me that this will mean less Jays games will be broadcast on the Fan. I'd rather listen to the Jays then the Vipers.

[CaramonLS]

Originally posted by JiriHrdina@Apr 14 2005, 05:19 PM
Not sure if this is indeed good news. Seems to me that this will mean less Jays games will be broadcast on the Fan. I'd rather listen to the Jays then the Vipers.

I agree Jiri, I'm not too interested in hearing Viper games either.

[Resolute 14]

Wouldnt surprise me if they did the Jays games then joined Vipers games in progress. With the time difference, you would only lose the first two innings or so.

Personally, I like it, as nearly every Jays game is on TV, so they are still easily accesable. That said, I just cant see the Fan abandoning Jays games in favour of the Vipers, and Peter Young stated that in the release.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

55 games eh? I'm making a bold prediction. My guess is that they only get through 30 of those games before the team folds. Call me a pessimist, but low level pro baseball and Calgary aren't exactly the greatest marriage.

[Resolute 14]

The Northern League isnt low level though. We arent talking about the CBL here.

Really, the success of the Vipers is going to be dependant on their marketing. So far, they have done rather well. I'm not expecting much out of year one though, as too much stupidity surrounded the first owners of the club.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Yeah, that whole debaucle is pretty much why I'm so pessimistic. I hope they do well, but I woldn't be supprised if they don't finish the season.

[Resolute 14]

Well, they will finish the season, as the league needs an even number of teams, and needs a parnter for the Edmonton team. If Gidney pulls out, the league will take over.

And this is a ridiculously premature converstation while lacking any sign of problems.

[Homer_J]

I really enjoy going to the Goldeyes games here in Winnipeg. Mind you, Canwest Global Park is a heck of alot nicer than Foothills, or Burns Stadium, or whatever it's called now. The level of baseball is pretty decent, and it will be nice to see some rivalry between Calgary, Edmonton & The Peg.

I never listen to the games on the radio though.