ESPN Deportes Radio and Soccer United Marketing have reached a multi-year agreement that grants the radio network exclusive broadcast rights to InterLiga, the prestigious eight-team Mexican club tournament that determines two qualifiers to the Copa Libertadores.
ESPN Deportes Radio will provide exclusive coverage of InterLiga, starting with the 2009 edition set to take place January 2 – 11 in alternating locations in Dallas, Houston and Los Angeles. InterLiga 2009 will determine two Mexican club berths for Copa Libertadores known as "Mexico 2" and "Mexico 3". The other spot known as "Mexico 1" has been awarded to San Luis de Potosi due to the club’s finish as SuperLider of the Mexican Torneo de Apertura 2008, or the regular season champions of the current Mexican season. The eight participating clubs in their respective groups for InterLiga 2009 are: Group A – Toluca, UAG, Morelia, Pachuca; Group B – Tigres UANL, CD Guadalajara, Atlas, and América.
“We are thrilled to have reached this agreement with Soccer United Marketing,” said Oscar Ramos, general manager, ESPN Deportes Radio. “Soccer plays an integral role in our programming strategy. Adding InterLiga to our lineup will further solidify ESPN Deportes Radio as the home of premier soccer championship events for the U.S. Hispanic sports fan.”
“In its sixth edition, InterLiga continues to bring first-rate, meaningful competition to the fans in the United States,” said Michael Gandler, VP/Business Development at SUM. “It is a pleasure to work with ESPN Deportes Radio on yet another soccer property and bring this prestigious tournament closer to the fans.”
Coverage kicks off Friday, January 2 with game #1 featuring Toluca vs. Morelia from Frisco, Texas at 8 p.m EST. Interliga 2009 coverage will feature a one-hour pregame and postgame show every game day and will be broadcasted on 30 ESPN Deportes Radio affiliates in markets such as Los Angeles (1330-AM), Miami (WOCN-AM), Dallas (KNIT-AM), Phoenix (KMIA-AM), Fresno-Visalia (KGST-AM), San Diego (XEBG-AM), Albuquerque-Santa Fe (KBZU-FM), Washington, DC. (KBZU-FM), Las Vegas (KENO-AM), Austin (KWNX-AM), Tucson (KTKT-AM) and Bakersfield (KBRO-AM), among others.
In addition to InterLiga, ESPN Deportes Radio is the Spanish-language radio home to the UEFA Champions League, Major League Soccer, Copa América and 2010 Conmebol World Cup Qualifiers.
