HispanicBusiness

In the United States, Hispanic sports fans are most rabid in their love for soccer. ESPN Deportes Radio and Soccer United Marketing (SUM) are bringing them a treat: radio broadcasts of the popular eight-team tournament, InterLiga.

ESPN Deportes and SUM have agreed to a multi-year contract that will grant the radio network sole broadcasting rights to InterLiga. The outcome of the tournament will determine which two additional Mexican clubs will gain entry to the Copa Libertadores, as one position was awarded to San Luis de Potosi for winning the Mexican Torneo de Aperture 2008.

Vice President of Business Development at SUM, Michael Gandler said, "it is a pleasure to work with ESPN Deportes Radio on yet another soccer property and bring this prestigious tournament closer to the fans."

The sentiment was echoed by ESPN Deportes Radio's general manager, Oscar Ramos, who stated, "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 Mr. Gandler

The eight clubs battling in the InterLiga 2009 with hopes for a Copa Libertadores berth are, in group A: Toluca, UAG, Morelia, Pachuca, and in group B: Tigres UANL, CD Guadalajara, Atlas, and America

ESPN Deportes Radio network, in addition to InterLiga play, also covers the UEFA Champions League, Major League Soccer, Copa America, and the 2010 Conmebol World Cup Qualifiers.

Programming Details

Each match day, the broadcast games will have one-hour pregame and postgame shows that will be heard on 30 ESPN Deportes Radio affiliates in Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Phoenix, Fresno-Visalia, San Diego, Albuquerque-Santa Fe, and many more. For a complete list of the affiliates covering the games go to www.espndeportesradio.com.

Coverage of InterLiga 2009 starts Friday Jan. 2, when game one will take place in Frisco, Texas, with Toluca battling Morelia at 8 p.m. ET. Coverage continues through Sunday Jan. 11.


Schedule of Games:

Friday, Jan. 2, Toluca vs. Morelia, 8:00 p.m. ET

Friday, Jan. 2, Tecos vs. Pachuca, 10:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, Jan. 3, Tigres vs. Atlas, 8:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, Jan. 3, America vs. Chivas, 10:30 p.m. ET

Monday, Jan. 5, Tecos vs. Morelia, 8:00 p.m. ET

Monday, Jan. 5, Toluca vs. Pachuca, 10:30 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Jan. 6, Tigres vs. America, 8:00 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Jan. 6, Chivas vs. Atlas, 10:30 p.m. ET

Thursday, Jan. 8, Morelia vs. Pachuca, 9:00 p.m. ET

Thursday, Jan. 8, Toluca vs. Tecos, 11:30 p.m. ET

Friday, Jan. 9, Atlas vs. America, 9:30 p.m. ET

Friday, Jan.9, Tigres vs. Chivas, 12:00 a.m. ET

Sunday, Jan. 11, 7:00 p.m. Final #1 (Winner goes on to Copa Libertadores)

Sunday, Jan. 11 9:30 p.m. Final #2 (Winner goes on to Copa Libertadores)