November 28 – CBS Sports and Cosm have announced that six English Football League (EFL) matches will be presented in ‘shared reality’ at Cosm’s immersive entertainment venues in Los Angeles and Dallas.
Of those six matches, three will feature Welsh club AFC Wrexham who have created an almost cult-like status in the US thanks to their Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and their documentary series ‘Welcome to Wrexham’.
The partnership will see a minimum of six Sky Bet EFL matches broadcast, commencing December 3, with a further additional EFL match at Cosm to be announced at a later date.
Other matches will also feature Leeds United, home of USMNT star Brendan Aaronson, and Burnley, whose American ownership includes ex-NFL star JJ Watt and his former USWNT wife Kealia, as well as popular American YouTube channel personality Dude Perfect.
To facilitate the screenings, Cosm installed several ‘discreet’ 8K cameras around a number of Championship stadiums to help to capture all angles for their events. This footage is then “stitched” together to create the unique wide-angle effect designed to recreate the feeling of being in the ground itself.
Cosm is the latest broadcast tool enabling the League to continue to grow its exposure and presence in the USA, leveraging the Championship’s unique matchday atmosphere. Supported by US sports marketer Relevent Sports, the announcement is in addition to CBS’s coverage of the league.
The confirmed matches are:
- Wrexham v Barnsley – Tuesday 3 December, 2.45pm (ET)
- Sheffield United v Burnley – Thursday 26 December, 10.00am (ET)
- Wrexham v Birmingham City – Thursday 23 January, 3.00pm (ET)
- Coventry City v Leeds United – Saturday 8 February, 10.00am (ET)
- Huddersfield Town v Wrexham – Tuesday 4 March, 7.45pm (ET)*
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1734882524labto1734882524ofdlr1734882524owedi1734882524sni@g1734882524niwe.1734882524yrrah1734882524