May 23, 2006
ANNAPOLIS, Md.-Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk announced Tuesday that Navy has entered into a partnership with Bonneville Radio to air Navy football, basketball and lacrosse games in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia.
The three Bonneville stations join WBAL, the 50,000-watt station in Baltimore that is also the home of the Baltimore Orioles and Baltimore Ravens, 1430 WNAV in Annapolis, 1520 AM in Frederick, Md. and two new stations in the military markets of Norfolk, Va. (WLRT, 1490 AM) and Jacksonville, Fla. (ESPN Radio, 1460 AM) to go along with Sirius Satellite Radio and the Armed Forces Radio Network to give Navy one of the strongest radio networks in the country. Bob Socci and Omar Nelson will return to call the action on the Navy Football Radio Network and will be joined by legendary author and sportswriter John Feinstein for pregame commentary and a select number of games.
Washington Post Radio (1500 AM and 107.7 FM), a 50,000-watt station that is also the home of the Washington Nationals, will air a minimum of 10 regular-season football games, while WFED (1050 AM) will broadcast all 12 regular-season football games, a minimum of 10 basketball games and four lacrosse games. It will be the first time Navy will have exposure in the Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia markets for both their basketball and lacrosse programs.
"We are excited that Bonneville Radio will be the home for Navy Athletics in the Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia markets, as well as points south," said Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk. "Washington Post Radio has a powerful signal that will allow our fans from as far away as Norfolk to pick up our games loud and clear. The addition of Navy basketball and lacrosse broadcasts on WFED was very important. It will give those two programs exposure that they've never had before. Between WBAL and Washington Post Radio, Navy fans will be able to get our broadcast over the air waves up and down the Eastern Seaboard."
"The opportunity to develop a relationship with Navy football, and most importantly the United States Naval Academy as a whole, is something we view as an honor," said Bonneville's Sports Director, Mike Spacc. "We are proud to be the home of Navy Football as well as Naval Academy athletics in the Nation's Capital."
As part of the agreement, the Bonneville stations will air a 60-minute pre-game show and a 30-minute post-game show for all Navy football games and will air a weekly Navy Magazine show. Washington Post Radio will also rebroadcast each Navy football game every Saturday night at midnight.
Navy kicks off the 2006 season Sept. 2 against East Carolina at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Kick-off is set for 5:30 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally by CSTV. Season tickets are still available by calling 1-800-US4-NAVY, on the web at www.navysports.com or at the Ricketts Hall Box Office.
