College GameDay Set All Ready for Temple/Notre Dame Game
Photo | Rob DiRienzo
Market Street between 5th and 6th streets is not a street right now. It’s a TV set.
ESPN’s College GameDay has completely taken over the block in front of Independence Hall for Temple’s big matchup with Notre Dame tomorrow. Police blocked off the street and a heavy private security presence guarded the set.
By 1 p.m., the setting up was pretty much complete, everything was in position. Corporate sponsors had begun giving out freebies to curious passersby. Several cameras, two Jumbotrons and dozens of TVs were at the ready for the show tomorrow, which kicks off at 9 a.m.
On 5th and 6th, traffic was a little bit heavier than normal, but was still moving.
A press conference was held in front of the set with host Rece Davis and senior producer Lee Fitting, among others. Temple is expected to bus in thousands of students for the show, the location of which was not announced until Monday.
“A big part of the holdup was logistical challenges with the city and federal government,” Fitting told reporters. “This is awesome. This is an historical and once-in-a-life time backdrop and the city and federal government went above and beyond. They gave us a ton of cooperation.”
Fitting said in picking the Temple/Notre Dame game as the focus of the show, the deciding factor was the quality of the story, not the quality of the game or fame of the teams.
“It’s Philadelphia. It’s unique. It’s a landmark of the city, a landmark of the country. We’ll never have a backdrop like it again.”
Follow @RobDiRienzo on Twitter.
