By Isabella Simonetti

When ESPN told employees in March it would be closing its Los Angeles "SportsCenter" operation, it gave about 35 staffers a choice: Move to the network's headquarters in Bristol, Conn., or lose your job. Fewer than half accepted.

That was fine with ESPN. To work at the world's most storied sports-media company, it's often Bristol or bust. And ESPN isn't going anywhere.

"Never," said Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN's chairman. "We've never contemplated relocating and I don't have any plans to relocate. Again, we love it here."

Employees have lamented living in the central Connecticut city practically since ESPN was founded in 1979. Decades later, Bristol is often still a punch line. Keith Olbermann, a former anchor, jokingly named it the most "God-forsaken place" on the East Coast during an appearance with former ESPN colleague Craig Kilborn, the first host of the "The Daily Show." Even Bill Rasmussen, ESPN's founder, described its roots sardonically: "They took a dump, put fresh grass over it, and called it prime real estate."

It was Rasmussen, a Connecticut resident already, who chose Bristol as the network's homebase. It offered the satellite capabilities and land ESPN needed.

Bristol (population 61,129) also boasts carousel and clock museums and is home to a 383-foot elevator test tower. A description on the jobs site for Disney, ESPN's parent company, highlights the city's "picturesque hills and fall foliage," saying it offers "wonderful memories no matter your pace."

"It was a place you went to become a star," said Scott Van Pelt, a veteran anchor who worked in Bristol for about 20 years before relocating to Bethesda, Md. "For a lot of folks, it was the cost of doing business."

That was a different era, said Van Pelt, when social media couldn't launch careers and ESPN was one of the only major outlets for broadcast sports journalists.

Still, for those looking to climb the sports-media ladder today, Bristol remains part of the bargain. Employees often work long, odd hours, and living there can create a unique bond.

"You're all sort of in this same weird circus life," said Van Pelt.

Avoiding Bristol is a privilege mostly reserved for ESPN's biggest stars. Stephen A. Smith, the more than $100-million face of the network, is based mainly in New York. Pat McAfee, whose YouTube show ESPN is licensing for more than $85 million over five years, is based in Indianapolis. Shams Charania, ESPN's NBA scoop monster, lives in Chicago.

Employees getting their start aren't often granted those kinds of privileges. To have fun, they need to get creative.

Summer interns live in Homewood Suites hotel rooms in Southington, southeast of Bristol, near a LongHorn Steakhouse and a string of gas stations. Nearby, there's Lake Compounce, which describes itself as "America's first amusement park."

ESPN visitors often stay in the nearby DoubleTree by Hilton, where they have extra-large beds intended for former athletes. Pitaro said he grew fond of the chain, including its complimentary chocolate chip cookies.

"It's definitely not the sexiest place in Connecticut," said Sierra Galanza, 28, who helps run a career-development program at ESPN.

Galanza got a mini Australian Shepherd -- named Boomer after the anchor Chris Berman -- early into her time in Bristol. She has built a social life around going to the farmers' market, playing club volleyball and visiting parks.

"I think I'll live here throughout my thirties," she said. "I can see myself raising a family here."

Another upside: Rent on her two-bedroom is less than $1,100 a month.

A downside: wildlife. ESPN's campus, which sits on more than 100 acres, occasionally gets visits from bears and bobcats. Johanna Goldblatt, a programming and acquisitions manager, sometimes dodges angry Canadian geese on campus.

"They'll hiss at you," said Goldblatt, 28.

ESPN has contracted a company that uses Border Collies to shoo them away. "I don't mess with it," she said. Goldblatt, who has worked in Bristol for six years, lives nearby with her boyfriend, whom she met at ESPN.

Pitaro moved to Connecticut from L.A. in 2018, when he was offered the top job. "It was clear to me that I needed to be here," he said.

While Pitaro, who lives an hour south of Bristol, said he and his family love their lives in Connecticut, he conceded it was challenging at first.

"I was leading the place, and I felt lonely," said Pitaro.

That prompted a conversation with human resources and employee relations about supporting people at work and in Bristol. The company rents out Lake Compounce for an annual picnic and hosts regular town halls, outdoor movie nights and a speaker series featuring celebrities and league commissioners.

"There are times when I felt bad for some of the younger women who were like, 'I can't meet anybody here,'" said Laura Rutledge, a football reporter and host. Rutledge, who lived in Bristol from 2022 to 2024 with her husband, said she encourages them to visit New York and Boston.

Love in Bristol is possible. A "monstrous" number of people meet their significant others at ESPN, said Van Pelt, whose wife also worked there.

Michael Heimbach, who helps run security for ESPN and Disney, said he met his now-wife on his second day, when she was an executive at Herman Miller, getting a tour of a building on ESPN's campus.

"I said, 'I love your furniture,'" Heimbach said.

After the last-ever episode of ESPN's L.A. "SportsCenter" show in May, veteran anchor Stan Verrett delivered farewell remarks to staff.

Verrett, who has since left ESPN, recounted a conversation he had with Kobe Bryant during which the NBA legend asked how he liked L.A. At the time, around 2009, Verrett had just moved from Bristol.

"I said, 'How do I like L.A.? Do you know where I came from?'" Verrett said. "I would've taken Pittsburgh to get out of Bristol."

Write to Isabella Simonetti at isabella.simonetti@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 01, 2025 05:30 ET (09:30 GMT)

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