Executive producer Jed Drake had a vision for ESPN’s studio coverage of UEFA EURO 2012 that he shared nearly a year ago with creative director Noubar Stone.
Drake’s goal was to capture the atmosphere of host countries Poland and Ukraine in the set design while incorporating the graphic animations used in the television presentation.
How did Stone and his team do it? The short answer is creativity and dedication. The long answer entails utilizing some 1,800 square feet of studio real estate (Studio G on ESPN’s Bristol, Conn., campus) that normally belongs to NASCAR Now and a few other shows covering a variety of sports.
Ultimately, by bringing in custom set pieces inspired by the host countries, ESPN will give fans a studio presentation befitting the enormity of the event.
As you see from the above video, Stone and his team have created a compelling setting adorned with everything from alternate skyline backdrops to border crossing posts and cobblestone flooring.
The only downside to this unique project is that it’s only temporary. The studio space will be transformed back for NASCAR Now within one week after the final match.
Until then, NASCAR Now and other shows that have been impacted will originate from Studios A, S, and E during the three weeks of EURO 2012 play.
From Friday, June 8, through Sunday, July 1, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes will combine to present more than 200 hours of live coverage of the UEFA EURO 2012 including all 31 matches live on English-language networks and 27 on the Spanish-language sports network ESPN Deportes.
