Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida, served as the host location for the production of this year’s Monday Night Football opening montage featuring Hank Williams Jr., as ESPN decided to use the creation of its well-known segment as a teaching opportunity. Production took place at Full Sail University’s “Full Sail Live” performance venue – a 22,000 square foot, high-definition facility – and 56 students from Full Sail’s entertainment industry focused curricula assisted ESPN over the course of the multi-day shoot.
“Over the years we have produced the show open for Monday Night Football at various locations,” said Bob Toms, vice president of TV production enhancements and interactive at ESPN. “While creating this year’s opening, we found Full Sail’s facilities to be beyond our initial expectations and we were truly impressed by both the enthusiasm and capabilities of the Full Sail students who volunteered and were selected to work on the project.”
Full details of the new production will not be revealed until MNF airs during the upcoming NFL season.
“When we launched our relationship with ESPN, we knew our students would have the opportunity to take part in large and small scale projects that would impact national and global audiences,” said Erik Noteboom, Full Sail’s vice president of education operations. “Hosting the production for ESPN’s Monday Night Football allows our students to participate in sports television history. We are humbled to play a part in such an iconic production.”