NHL Fans Blasted ESPN’s Stanley Cup Final Setup at Game 3 in Edmonton

Andy Nesbitt | Jun 14, 2024

NHL fans were not impressed with ESPN's setup at Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final in Edmonton. /

The Florida Panthers are now a victory away from winning their first Stanley Cup after beating the Edmonton Oilers, 4-3, on the road in Game 3 on Thursday night. They will go for the sweep on Saturday night.

Fans watching the Panthers' win were not impressed with one part of ESPN's setup at Game 3 in Edmonton. In case you missed it, in between periods Steve Levy, Mark Messier, P.K. Subban and Emily Kaplan seemed to be sitting behind a desk that you would find in a college dorm room. This isn't a huge deal, of course, but it was weird to see a major sports network using something that looked so cheap during a championship series.

Check this out:

ESPN didn't exactly go all out with their desk for the #StanleyCup Final in Edmonton. 🏒🎙️📺 pic.twitter.com/nQ2R9koe4w

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 14, 2024

Fans were not impressed:

What's ESPN's deal? Can't afford a TV-quality desk after spending all those millions on McAfee and Stephen A?

Seriously, coverage of the Stanley Cup and NBA Finals has been brutal these last few weeks. https://t.co/a5ZFCTeMvh

— Justin Ritzel (@ReporterRitz) June 14, 2024

🦃when you have to sit at the children's table at thanksgiving ... https://t.co/BHPzXudDkn

— Len Hochberg ⛳ (@LenHochberg) June 14, 2024

We need a new sports broadcast network that cares about sports and the people who cover it and the fans that watch sports to emerge. https://t.co/VXnwEUuHfA

— Jamal Brown of South-Central, Texas (@JBSports_SCTX) June 14, 2024

Sponsored by Goodwill Canada, eh? https://t.co/8GJI9cSrkv

— Illinois Golfer (@IllinoisGolfer) June 14, 2024

They pretty much grabbed that desk from an arena suite https://t.co/XVLaWENPi3

— Noel Fogelman (@thefirstnoel19) June 14, 2024

I noticed this and I really wonder what the hell is going on. They had the full-size network desk in Florida. https://t.co/OoxIgLsGDb

— Damin Esper (@DaminEsper) June 14, 2024

ESPN as of late https://t.co/8cuDszRpLz pic.twitter.com/nXILmCG5Oj

— Cameron Peters (@CamDawg1988) June 14, 2024

lol tell me espn hates hockey without telling espn hates hockey 😂😂😂 https://t.co/nd7RFa6d75

— Zach Takes (@ZachTakes) June 14, 2024

Horrible, horrible of ESPN and this has been ever since they and TNT had access to the NHL. Disgusting. https://t.co/3FSAnJzzMO

— Swaggy3737 (@Swaggy3737) June 14, 2024