PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — When Dan Koob and his friends were Temple University students studying broadcasting more than a decade ago, they had an idea for a show. Their careers pulled them in different directions, but now, they’ve teamed up to explore the best sports towns in the country.
“We’ve sort of had this idea for a long time and it wasn’t until about 18 months ago that we really decided to go for it,” said Koob, host and executive producer of “SportsTown,” now streaming on YouTube.
The KYW Newsradio alumnus and TV news reporter says the show is all about community.
“The people who go to the games, who build their schedules around it, who live and die with their teams, a lot of, like, people in Philadelphia. Those are the greatest sports towns.”
For the pilot episode, Koob took a four-day trip to Lexington, Kentucky. He sat with students at the Rupp Arena for some Kentucky Wildcats basketball and also got a tour of the Buffalo Trace Distillery.
“Where they keep the most rare bourbons in the world in their rickhouses,” he said, exemplifying that towns that embrace their teams and sporting events offer fun things to do — a lot to eat, drink and enjoy away from the games and tailgates.
“We want you to watch SportsTown and come away thinking, ‘I would love to go there.’”
Future episodes are in the works. Green Bay and Buffalo are potential locations, but of course, there’s no place like home.
“Philly is coming. We’re in preproduction on a Philly episode right now.”