When Rebecca Lowe left England in 2013 to host NBC’s Premier League coverage, she wasn’t sure whether the U.S. was ready to go all-in with the most popular soccer league in the world.
“But very quickly it proved to me that it was, and the trajectory ever since has blown me away,” said Lowe, who hosts “Premier League Mornings” and “Premier League Live,” NBC’s pregame and postgame shows. “Where we are now in comparison to 2013 is night and day in terms of recognition and audience figures. It’s been something that I’m so proud of being a part of since Day 1.”
An example of the league’s popularity stateside is NBC’s “Premier League Mornings Live” Fan Fest, which makes its 10th appearance and first in Chicago this weekend. Lowe will host coverage of 10 matches across NBC, USA and Peacock on Saturday and Sunday from Lincoln Park, near the intersection of North Stockton Drive and West La Salle Drive. The broadcast starts at 6 a.m. both days.
“It’s not something that happens in England,” said Lowe, who will be joined by analysts Robbie Earle, Robbie Mustoe and Tim Howard. “It’s unique to American fans because in the U.K., you wouldn’t want to do it, let’s just put it that way, with the rivalries of the fans. It’s tribal in England, whereas here it’s much more of a celebration. I’ve never seen anything other than sheer joy when I look out from the stage.”
During the season, Lowe commutes weekly from her home in Northern California to NBC’s studios in Stamford, Connecticut. After taking her 8-year-old son to school on Friday morning, she hops on a flight to New York. Lowe said she has grown accustomed to living on Pacific Time, flying to Eastern Time and working on British Time. On Sunday afternoon, she flies home and “turns back into mom.”
While she’s in Chicago, Lowe will attend the Nationals-Cubs game Friday and sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” The crew’s visit to the ballpark will be featured on the studio shows over the weekend.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever been to Chicago,” Lowe said. “It’s the city I’ve wanted to go to most since coming to America. I know all about how special Wrigley Field is, and we are going to be singing. I have been trying to learn the words. We were practicing in the studio. I did look up the Ozzy Osbourne video [from 2003], and I do think I can do a better job than him.”
Remote patrol
As part of its new season of “Chicago Stories,” WTTW-Channel 11 will air the hourlong documentary “The Black Sox Scandal” at 8 p.m. next Friday. The film tells the story of the 1919 White Sox, who were accused of throwing the World Series, and examines the lingering effects on the game today.
• Tim Brando and Devin Gardner will call Nebraska-Illinois at 7 p.m. Friday on Fox. Jason Ross Jr. and Matt Millen will call Buffalo-Northern Illinois at 2:30 p.m. Saturday on ESPN+ (subscription required). Alex Faust and Robert Smith have Northwestern-Washington at 6 on FS1.
• Andrew Catalon, Tiki Barber and Jason McCourty will call the Bears-Colts game at noon Sunday on CBS 2.