ESPN is turning the end of the NFL season into a one-day media event, and part of it will happen inside Disneyland Park. Instead of a traditional post-game wrap-up, ESPN is extending the moment into a full, daylong transition that blends sports coverage with Disney storytelling.
The event is called “The Handoff.” It runs for 24 hours and begins immediately after Super Bowl LX on Sunday, February 8, 2026. Rather than signing off for the offseason, ESPN keeps the momentum going into Monday, February 9, 2026, with live broadcasts from Disneyland Park.
If you are not a football superfan, you are not alone. Here is the simple explanation. ESPN is “handing off” coverage from Super Bowl LX to the road toward Super Bowl LXI, which matters because Super Bowl LXI (Feb. 14, 2027) will be ESPN’s first time airing the game.
As a result, Disney is leaning into the moment by using every major platform it has. That includes ESPN, ABC, and Disneyland Park itself.
What is “The Handoff” in plain English?
Think of it like a baton pass between seasons, networks, and locations. ESPN is not simply ending coverage of one Super Bowl weekend. Instead, it is actively launching the next one the moment the current season concludes.
First, ESPN wraps up its Super Bowl coverage at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, officially closing out the 2025–26 NFL season. From there, longtime ESPN voice Chris Berman ceremonially “hands off” coverage to Scott Van Pelt, signaling a clear shift in focus.
From that moment forward, ESPN pivots to its next big target: Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium. Rather than waiting months to reset, the network begins building momentum immediately.
Where it starts on Sunday night
“The Handoff” begins Sunday night, February 8, immediately after Super Bowl LX coverage concludes. Instead of fading out, ESPN keeps the spotlight moving and the story going.
The opening moments originate from SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California, the future home of Super Bowl LXI. This location choice reinforces that attention has already shifted to the next championship game.
From there, SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt anchors late-night coverage. That broadcast is followed by the debut of Super Bowl Live, hosted by Laura Rutledge, also airing from the SoFi Stadium area.
In short, ESPN ends one Super Bowl night while actively promoting the next.
Why Disneyland Park is part of this event
Now for the Disney fan angle, where this event becomes especially interesting. On Monday, February 9, ESPN’s studio shows will broadcast live from Disneyland Park, bringing national sports coverage directly into the heart of the park.
The set will be located in Town Square, at the foot of Main Street, U.S.A. This is not a quick cutaway or background shot. It is a headline location that places Disneyland front and center in the broadcast.
Shows expected to originate from Disneyland Park include First Take, multiple editions of SportsCenter, NFL Live, and a second episode of Super Bowl Live.
During the Disneyland broadcasts, ESPN also plans to welcome and honor a player from the Super Bowl LX championship team. It is a familiar Disney tradition that blends sports celebration with theme park spectacle in a way only Disney can.
ABC and Disney also join the day
This is not only an ESPN initiative. ABC and the broader Disney media ecosystem are involved as well, turning the day into a coordinated, cross-platform moment.
Good Morning America will originate in part from Levi’s Stadium for its Monday broadcast, while World News Tonight with David Muir will include coverage tied to the event later that evening.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s West Coast programming runs wall-to-wall. The day begins with Get Up from ESPN’s Los Angeles studios and concludes with Jimmy Kimmel Live! from Hollywood.
Together, the lineup turns February 9 into a connected Disney media relay stretching from sports to news to late night.
What Disneyland guests should expect on Feb. 9
If you will be in the park on Monday, plan for a noticeably different atmosphere near the entrance. Disneyland’s front-of-park area will temporarily function as a live television studio, complete with production crews, lighting rigs, and temporary barriers.
Activity will likely begin early in Town Square, and crowd levels may increase during live broadcast windows. While it can be fun to see Disneyland used as a national TV stage, it may affect photos and guest flow near Main Street, U.S.A. and the hub.
If Main Street photos are important to you, consider getting them earlier in the day before broadcasts are fully underway.
Why this matters for Disney fans
This is bigger than a one-off broadcast or promotional stunt. It previews how Disney plans to present major sports moments by using its parks as part of the storytelling.
It also previews Disney’s upcoming Super Bowl era. ESPN will air its first Super Bowl in 2027, and moments like this help set expectations for that scale of production.
Finally, it reinforces Disneyland’s role as a national broadcast backdrop. When Disney wants a moment to feel bigger, the park itself can become the stage.
Sam’s Disney Diary Take
This is a smart use of the Disney playbook as ESPN prepares for its first Super Bowl. ESPN builds long-term hype, while Disneyland adds instant spectacle, turning “The Handoff” into more than highlights.
If you are visiting, enjoy the added buzz in the park. If you are watching from home, pay attention to the staging as much as the sports coverage. Either way, ESPN Handoff Disneyland stands out as one of the most unusual crossovers of the season.
And yes, ESPN Handoff Disneyland is another reminder that Disney can turn almost anything into a moment.
