ESPN revs up for ’50 states in 50 days’ tour, featuring Rock Hill cornhole event
ESPN announced the full lineup for its anticipated “50 states in 50 days” in partnership with SportsCenter, according to a release.
Inspired by the original 2005 SportsCenter across America tour, 20 years later ESPN has revamped its segments. With the launch of its new direct-to-consumer model, ESPN wants to ensure that the tour, which begins on June 27, highlights the latest generation of sports fans, the release said.
After beginning with more prominent stops such as Washington, D.C., New York, and New Jersey, ESPN will make stops in the Carolinas.
In true southern fashion, the South Carolina stop will feature the American Cornhole League World Championships. The strategic bag game will include intermediate and elite singles facing off one-on-one, leading up to the finals broadcast.
The ACL World Championships will be held from July 28 to Aug. 3 at the Rock Hill Sports and Event Center. The live ESPN broadcast will begin at noon on the event’s final day.
The cornhole event’s featured hosts are Charlotte-area residents — ESPN writer Ryan McGee and journalist Marty Smith.
Tickets are available for purchase on the website here.
SportsCenter will later migrate to North Carolina and air its 6 p.m. show on Aug. 8 from the Little League Softball World Series in Greenville. It will be hosted by WNBA anchor Elle Duncan.
Other tour stops
ESPN kicks off the tour Friday, June 27, in Washington D.C., with SportsCenter anchor Scott Van Pelt, the release said. The tour will be covering a variety of sports and related activities to broaden the reach of different sports across the country. Notable events and featured speakers on the tour:
▪ The ESPYs, hosted in California by Duncan and Kevin Negandhi.
▪ Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest & Subway Series in New York, hosted by Treavor Scales & Kevin Connors.
▪ Dude Perfect Tour in Kansas, hosted by Negandhi.
▪ NASCAR Cup Series race in Delaware, hosted by Smith.
▪ WNBA Finals rematch in Minnesota, hosted by Duncan.
Segments from each location can be viewed all across ESPN platforms, third-party streaming sites and SportsCenter editions.
This story was originally published June 20, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
