Fall 2020 was an exciting time for University of California San Diego as the school began a new era in NCAA Division I. AJP was proud work in partnership as the university’s Owner’s Representative and Broadcast Consultant, developing cutting-edge broadcast technology solutions that set a new bar for Mid-Major D1 live broadcast production.

UC San Diego’s move to the Big West Conference garnered unprecedented national exposure for its 23 intercollegiate athletic teams and nearly 600 athletes. In preparation, AJP worked closely with the Department of Athletics on a redesign of the existing Dana Chaiken Production Studio, as well as the design and implementation of a new, second production control room in LionTree Arena (formerly RIMAC Arena). The department is anticipated to annually produce an estimated 160+ home events for distribution on various platforms including ESPN3 and the Big West Network, while still maintaining the in-facility board shows.

The state-of-the-art facility features three control rooms connected via Fiber backbone to all UCSD sporting venues (LionTree Arena, Triton Soccer Stadium, Triton Ballpark, Canyonview Aquatic Center, and Triton Softball Field). Each sporting facility has also undergone the addition of a complete Broadcast Cable package to connect them to the new production facility, centralizing control from the production studio and enabling full utilization of the newly expanded capabilities at each venue.  The upgrades will allow the department to produce as many as three simultaneous live, multi-camera events.

“For the control room design, our intention was to use the same caliber of equipment you’d find in a professional sports venue or television studio,” explained Michael Martin, Director of Broadcast Services for Anthony James Partners. “We employed cutting-edge switching, CG and replay, and designed a centralized control build-out that effectively manages workflow for all sporting venues, which is the same advanced approach used by ESPN’s SEC and ACC networks.”

Upon joining the project, AJP worked closely with UC San Diego to redefine the early project direction and parameters that were limiting what was possible. For instance, fiber connections were initially expected to come in at 10 times higher the cost. By switching gears and taking a highly collaborative approach across campus departments, institutional resources were able to come together and drastically reduce the cost of implementation. Key bridging efforts such as these resulted in the school achieving a facility and a build-out that far exceeded stakeholder hopes and expectations. Moreover, the unified fiber infrastructure will benefit a variety of UCSD departments.

“AJP served a significant role in the development of our broadcast and in-venue display production capabilities,” said Richard Kilwien, UC San Diego’s Senior Associate Director of Athletics. “From the design and oversight of facility construction to the selection of equipment, engaging various campus stakeholders and shepherding the procurement process, our investment into a partnership with AJP has allowed us to both maximize our limited resources and execute a first-class broadcast solution.”

Not only has UC San Diego been able to accomplish big things on a limited budget to accommodate the transition to D1, the upgrades have set the new standard for Mid-Major in-venue and linear broadcast production capabilities. The technology upgrades also represent key value and opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in assisting high-caliber broadcast sports productions while shadowing professional directors and producers contracted by the university.

We look forward to celebrating UC San Diego accomplishments in the coming years. Go Tritons!

ESPN3 TO CARRY TRITON BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL IN 2019-20

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Entering its final season of NCAA Division II competition this fall, UC San Diego athletics will receive unprecedented national exposure through an agreement with ESPN to stream Triton home men and women’s basketball and men and women’s volleyball matches live on ESPN3.

Triton athletics will produce approximately 60 of its nearly 175 live home events in 2019-20 for ESPN3, including the 2020 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Men and Women’s Basketball Tournament semifinals and finals. Home events in the sports of baseball, men and women’s soccer, softball and men and women’s water polo will be streamed live at no cost via UCSDTritons.com through an agreement with Sidearm Sports.

“We are incredibly appreciative of ESPN’s confidence in our production capabilities and for providing a platform to showcase Triton athletics during such a transformative time in program history,” said Earl Edwards, UC San Diego’s director of athletics. “While much of our focus is on the athletic program’s rapidly approaching Division I transition period, we are committed to making our final year of Division II memorable. Producing our home games for ESPN3 and Sidearm Sports will allow a broad audience to learn more about our elite programs and talented scholar-athletes.”

ESPN3 is ESPN’s live multi-screen sports network that delivers thousands of exclusive sports events annually, at no additional cost to fans who access it using their “TV Everywhere” credentials from an affiliated high-speed Internet or video subscription provider. Subscription service ESPN+ and ESPN3 are accessible through the ESPN App on computers, smartphones, tablets and most major streaming devices, as well as through ESPN.com.

Following significant investment into a video production facility in summer 2018 in RIMAC Arena, UC San Diego produced all 11 home men’s volleyball matches last season for ESPN3 through the Big West Conference’s agreement with ESPN. The Triton men’s volleyball team enters its third season in the Big West in 2019-20, while women’s water polo begins league play this spring. Next season, UC San Diego will begin a full Division I and Big West Conference schedule and its 4-year reclassification to NCAA Division I.  Every home game in 10 sports will be produced for distribution on ESPN3 and the Big West Network.