Most viewers know Curt Menefee from his job as the host of “FOX NFL Sunday,” but come Saturday he will be sitting on set in London anchoring the network’s coverage the UEFA Champions League Final. It is a killer final where Manchester United and F.C. Barcelona will hit the pitch before a sellout crowd at the famed Wembley Stadium.
I spoke to Menefee from London, where he’s preparing for Saturday’s big event.
Where does this rank in your things done list?
| ON THE AIR |
| UEFA Champions League Final |
| Manchester United vs. F.C. Barcelona |
| Where » Wembley Stadium |
| When » 2 p.m. |
| TV » FOX |
| » Coverage starts at 1 p.m. with an extended pregame show on both FOX Soccer Channel and FOX Deportes. |
| » At 2:45 p.m. the action will be called by Martin Tyler with his broadcast partner, analyst Alan Smith. |
| » The game will be streamed on FOXSports.com or on XM channel 169, so you can listen to the game online. |
Menefee » “Well this last year I hosted Super Bowl which watched by the largest audience in American history. Now here I am in London getting ready for a UEFA Champions League Final between two of the world’s most popular teams in a game that will be seen internationally by more people than the Super Bowl. So to say I have two outstanding assignments and that this has been a good year for me would be an understatement.”
Why do the pregame show on site at Wembley?
Menefee » “I really think that viewers are going to see the passion and feed off the crowd around us on site. I know that my partners, analysts Eric Wynalda, Warren Barton and Christopher Sullivan are all very excited to breakdown the game. I know that Eric is predicting a win for Manchester United and has been quite outspoken about F.C. Barcelona and some of their tactics. While both Warren and Chris think that F.C. Barcelona is the best team in the world but they are not happy about their diving. But that should make for very interesting conversations on the set.”
What about the commitment to the UEFA Championship League at FOX?
Menefee » “The UEFA brand has been a wonderful franchise for FOX Soccer Channel, FX and of course on FOX. We know that American soccer fans love watching soccer at its highest level and you won’t see soccer and the UEFA Championship League with the best teams from the best leagues in Europe facing each other for biggest prize in the sport other than the World Cup.”
By the way, these two teams will face each other in a friendly on July 30 at FedEx Field.
Examiner columnist Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this!
