ESPN & SFC AGREE TO MEDIA RIGHTS DEAL, ANNOUNCE 2025 SCHEDULE

(Dallas, TX, April 3, 2025) – Sport Fishing Championship (SFC) announced today that it has entered into a new media rights agreement with ESPN, with ESPN+ set to present more than 50 hours of SFC’s 2025 tournaments across its digital platforms. With more than 70 million Americans participating in recreational fishing annually, this agreement showcases the commitment by SFC and ESPN to bring offshore fishing to new fans. Additionally, SFC coverage will be distributed internationally to Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean on ESPN via Disney+. 

This new agreement with ESPN comes as SFC is set to debut its new professional team format, featuring 14 angling clubs, each representing a region across North America. These clubs will compete weekly, spotlighting sport fishing's top competitors and building dedicated regional fan bases across the continent. Owners of those angling clubs include world No. 1 golfer and Olympic gold medalist Scottie Scheffler, NFL Hall of Famer and ESPN NFL Analyst Randy Moss, five-time Pro Bowl selection and New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara, Oakland Raiders Pro Bowl RB Raheem Mostert, inaugural LIV Golf Singles Champion Talor Gooch and Grammy-nominated country star Brian Kelley. 

“The capabilities that ESPN provides will help SFC continue to grow sport fishing by reaching a largely untapped audience,” said Mark Neifeld, SFC CEO and Commissioner. “The platform makes SFC and its compelling personalities more accessible to fans and will naturally inspire new viewers to learn more about this incredibly underserved sport that has been around for more than a century.” 

ESPN+’s live coverage will span all 14 SFC competitive events on its 2025 season calendar, including The Catch, Powered by Verizon, a pro-am tournament featuring NFL superstars and legends competing alongside the SFC angling clubs, the 12 regular season tournaments across the Atlantic and Gulf Divisions, and the season-ending Zane Grey Championship Playoffs. 

The 2025 SFC tournament schedule includes:

• Fort Lauderdale Billfish Open (Fort Lauderdale, FL): April 17-19 (Atlantic)
• East Pass Challenge (Fort Walton Beach, FL): April 24-26 (Gulf)
• Hurricane Hole Louisiana Open (Grand Isle, LA): May 8-10 (Gulf)
• Walker’s Cay Open (Walker’s Cay, BHS: May 28-31 (Atlantic)
• Huk Charleston Billfish Cup (Charleston, SC): June 5-7 (Atlantic)
• Gulfport Mississippi Open (Gulfport, MS): June 12-14 (Gulf)
• Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic (Miramar Beach, FL): June 19-21 (Gulf)
• Pensacola Billfish Release Tournament (Pensacola, FL): July 3-5 (Gulf)
• Oak Bluffs Bluewater Classic (Oak Bluffs, MA): July 14-18 (Atlantic)
• Huk Big Fish Classic (Ocean City, MD): July 25-27 (Atlantic)
• The MidAtlantic (Cape May, NJ): Aug. 20-22 (Atlantic)
• MBGFC Labor Day Invitational (Orange Beach, AL): Aug. 29-31 (Gulf)
• Zane Grey Championship Playoffs (TBA): Oct. 18-20

Registration is open for all fishing teams looking to fish alongside the professional angling clubs and earn prize money for tournament placement and optional entries.

“Some of the most hallowed fishing grounds in our sport are back on the calendar around iconic events like the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500,” Neifeld said. “Capturing the flag atop the Walker’s Cay gantry in May, hoisting the Zane Grey Championship Trophy at the end of the year are career-defining moments in sport fishing that get to shine under the spotlight of ESPN.”

About Sport Fishing Championship
Founded in 2021, the Sport Fishing Championship (SFC) is a competitive sports fishing league representing 14 regions across North America. With a focus on growing the sport and engaging fans through innovation, SFC+ offers a direct-to-consumer OTT platform that delivers unparalleled access to live events, fishing content, and its celebrity-driven team format.

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the No. 1 sports streaming platform, serving fans in the U.S. with exclusive access to more than 32,000 live sports events each year, an unmatched library of on-demand replays and acclaimed original content, and premium written articles by the top reporters and analysts from ESPN.com. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $11.99 a month (or $119.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or in the ESPN App on mobile and connected devices. For more visit the ESPN+ Press Kit.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Rudy Tomarchio
Director of Content
rudy@sportfishingchampionship.com