By admin 
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — As Grand Canyon University kicks off the new semester, Antelope fans already have reason to celebrate!
Read more Crews working to rescue 19 children from flooded wash in Pima County
Gray Media, parent company of Arizona’s Family, and GCU are continuing their partnership to air Lopes home games for free on Arizona’s Family Sports and 3TV.
The three-year renewal of the media deal was announced Monday as excited GCU students returned to campus for the start of the academic year.
“This has been a tremendous partnership for GCU and Lope Nation,” GCU Vice President of Athletics Jamie Boggs said in a statement. “Arizona’s Family has helped us showcase the stories of GCU Athletics across the Valley and throughout the state.”
“Renewing this agreement allows us to continue building on that momentum, making sure Lopes fans can follow our programs in a way that is first class,” Boggs added.
GCU and Gray Media reached the media rights agreement last year, establishing Arizona’s Family as the home for GCU athletics. The TV deal resulted in GCU more than tripling its number of live, locally televised events, the university said.
“The first year of this partnership exceeded all expectations, and we are thrilled to extend our commitment to Lopes fans across the state,” said Debbie Bush, AZFamily vice president and general manager.”
“By continuing to deliver free, over-the-air coverage, we are ensuring that communities throughout Arizona can stay connected to the incredible energy and success of GCU Athletics.”
Read more Lionel Richie in ICU after weekend performance, reports say
The agreement between GCU and Arizona’s Family complements the Mountain West’s media rights deal. The conference’s national partners CBS Sports, FOX Sports and The CW will provide national television exposure for selected conference events. All other GCU home games will be eligible for free over-the-air viewing on Arizona’s Family and Mountain West’s direct-to-consumer streaming platform.
Thursday’s men’s soccer match — featuring the Lopes as a reigning Sweet 16 program — will air on Arizona’s Family Sports at 7 p.m., while Friday’s volleyball home opener will air on 3TV at 7 p.m.
Since its launch in 2023, Arizona’s Family Sports has provided fans the chance to watch their favorite local sports live and for free.
Along with GCU Athletics, the channel’s lineup includes the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, Arizona Cardinals, Phoenix Rising, Valley Suns, and Arizona Interscholastic Association championships.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Read more Seven months into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, retired FBI agent weighs in