ESPN opened an Chicago specific site earlier this year which gives you everything you need to know about sports in the Windy City.  SAI is now reporting that ESPN will launch similar sites in LA, New York, and Dallas

The challenge will be competing with local personalities, who have long-term followings in newspapers and on radio and TV. (Though as more papers bust, could be an opportunity for ESPN to hire the most popular as contributors.)

It’s definitely an interesting prospect.  Would local sports reporters move to working for a localized version of ESPN.  It gives those writers/reporters/producers and opportunity to work for the premier sports news network in the world, and it would also give ESPN a network of talent all across the country to filter into their national network.

(Note: I don’t know how well this would work in Knoxville, as TN fans have a natural distrust of the network due to a perceived (or real) bias against the Vols.)

ESPN Launching More Local Sports Sites: NYC, LA, Dallas next