 | |
| Type | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Broadcast area | National |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Picture format | 720p/1080i (HDTV) 480i (SDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Silver Chalice |
| History | |
| Launched | August 21, 2017; 8 years ago (2017-08-21) June 9, 2025; 5 months ago (2025-06-09) (Return to OTA) |
| Replaced | American Sports Network (broadcast) Campus Insiders and120 Sports (online) Chicago Sports Network (select OTA affiliates) |
| Closed | October 30, 2023; 2 years ago (2023-10-30) (OTA only) |
| Replaced by | The Nest (OTA only) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Watch live |
| Website | watchstadium |
| Availability | |
| Streaming media | |
| Twitch | [1] |
| Plex, Stremium,Xumo,FuboTV, Roku Channel, VidGo,YouTube TV | |
Stadium is an Americaninternet televisionsports network owned bySilver Chalice. It is headquartered at theUnited Center inChicago, Illinois.
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In March 2017, unconfirmed reports speculated that Sinclair was planning to shutter its sports unit,American Sports Network, and give its remaining sports rights toCampus Insiders. TheCharleston Gazette-Mail, however, citing ASN employees, reported that the rumors of a complete shuttering were false, but that the division was planning to re-locate its headquarters, restructure its operations, and achieve "stronger, more diversified distribution." The original rumors were based upon reports of layoffs from ASN's current headquarters inWest Palm Beach, Florida, connected to the planned re-location.[1]
On April 13, 2017, Sinclair officially announced that ASN would be re-launched later in the year as part of a joint venture with Campus Insiders owner Silver Chalice (itself owned by theChicago White Sox), and its online sports video service120 Sports. The new operation will be operated as linear and digital offerings; the linear service would utilize the syndication and broadcast network built out for ASN, while the digital platform would stream full-time online and throughTwitter. 120 Sports would provide original studio and long-form programming to the venture.[2][3]
On May 1, 2017, it was announced that the new joint venture would be known as Stadium.[4] On June 1, 2017, it was reported that Stadium would officially launch around late-July 2017.[5] The service officially launched on August 21, 2017.[6][7]
In 2019, with Sinclair's expansions intoregional sports networks via acquisitions ofFox Sports Networks, a minority stake inYES Network, and the establishment ofMarquee Sports Network with theChicago Cubs, Sinclair CEO Chris Ripley said of Stadium's role in the expanded sports offerings: "That will be our national play. I don’t see it competing head to head withFS1 orESPN. It's not there yet with its maturity."[8]
In 2021, Stadium began to synergize with the rebrandedBally Sports, including co-producing anOpening Day launch special for the networks on April 1,[9] and adopting its on-air graphics package for college sports broadcasts beginning in the 2021–22 academic season.[10] The Fox College Sports cable channels were quietly rebranded asStadium College Sports in June,[11] and in 2022 Stadium began to produce the national studio showThe Rally for the Bally Sports channels.[12]
In May 2023, amid the bankruptcy of Bally Sports' parent companyDiamond Sports Group, Sinclair sold its controlling interest in Stadium to Silver Chalice. Sinclair stated that the network did not have enough viewership to continue funding it. The network continued to supply some programming.[13][14] As a consequence of the sale, Sinclair discontinued its distribution of Stadium in October 2023, replacing it with its new networkThe Nest.[15] Stadium College Sports also ceased operations at the end of the year.[16]
In June 2025, Stadium replacedChicago Sports Network on some of its Illinois OTA affiliates, as CHSN was required to leave as part of its carriage agreement with Comcast.[17][18]
The service is distributed mainly via streaming television services and associated apps (including third-party services, as well as Sinclair's ownStirr service).[19] The American Sports Network linear service, which was distributed as adigital subchannel network, transitioned to Stadium on September 6, 2017.[20] The network has also reached deals for traditional cable distribution.[21] Stadium also offers a subscription service, "Stadium Plus", which offers access to premium events and on-demand content (including commercial-free replays of broadcasts, and classic games).[22]
In November 2017,Facebook acquired rights to 47 college basketball telecasts from Stadium, which stream exclusively onFacebook Watch and an associated Facebook page.[23]
In May 2018, Stadium partnered withTwitch to stream its content on the service, as well as an exclusive Twitch Stadium 2 channel that features additional commentary and analysis.[24]
Live sports airing on Stadium includeMinor League Baseball, theSavannah Bananas,[25] theA7FL,[26] theIndoor Football League,[27] and the United Fight Alliance.[28]
Its weekday lineup of studio programs currently includeThe Territory withMichael Kim,Emerge (which focuses on high school sports),Campus Insiders, andSauce & Shram with Dave Ross and Tyler Jacobs, andThe Fantasy Sportsbook.[29]
Stadium's college sports programming at launch included events fromConference USA, theMountain West Conference, thePatriot League, theSouthern Conference, and theWest Coast Conference.[30]
Stadium, as with other networks distributed by digital multicast networks, was required to preempt three hours of its weekly schedule foreducational children's programming. With the exception ofDragonflyTV, most of Stadium's educational shows are sports-related to minimize interruption;The Real Winning Edge,Sports Lab,Future Phenoms andSports Stars of Tomorrow make up Stadium's educational lineup from 2019–2023, due to the network's closure on over the air television.
