08/25/2026
A great event for Bristol!
Join us for a great evening and a special screening of the ESPN documentary “Sports Heaven,” with ESPN historian and co-author Mike Soltys on Thursday evening, September 10, 2026 from 6-8pm.
The event begins at 6pm with a reception with light refreshments in the BAIMS Gallery with the opportunity to purchase a signed copy of “Sports Heaven” for $20. At 6:30pm, guests will be brought upstairs to the theater for a panel discussion concerning the sale of property to ESPN by the City’s Redevelopment Authority. Special guests for the discussion include Soltys, former Mayors Mike Werner and John Leone, Redevelopment Authority member Tom O’Brien and others. At 7pm, the 70-minute documentary will be shown.
“People will find the ESPN origin story remarkable, and it was a thrill to bring it to life. Bill Rasmussen’s idea launched thousands of careers and sparked the sports TV industry’s growth for 50 years,” said Mike Soltys.
“ESPN is a large part of Bristol’s 20th century history and I think this is a great opportunity for the community to see this and understand how these important policy decisions in the late 1970s continue to impact us today,” said Mayor Ellen Zoppo-Sassu. “The recent passing of founder Bill Rasmussen makes this even more poignant.”
There is a $10 suggested donation for the event with tickets purchased at the door. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the local non-profit organizations.
