Shaw Media and Daily Herald Media Group today announced the launch of Chicago Football, a print and digital sports media franchise covering high school, college and professional football. Veteran football analyst and Chicago-area sports personality Hub Arkush will spearhead the initiative.
The first edition of Chicago Football magazine hits newsstands in early April, and will focus on the Chicago Bears’ preparation for the 2014 NFL Draft. The first edition will include exclusive interviews with head coach Marc Trestman and general manager Phil Emery. It also will break down the professional prospects of Chicago-area players including Jimmy Garoppolo (Rolling Meadows), Jordan Lynch (Chicago), C.J. Fiedorowicz (Johnsburg) and others.
In print, Chicago Football will be a glossy magazine published weekly during the football season, and monthly in the offseason. The publishers also plan to produce several annual football guides to be distributed nationally.
The website HubArkush.com is now ChicagoFootball.com. The new site will provide in-depth news and analysis of the Bears, along with extensive information about the NFC North division and coverage of all 32 NFL teams. The site also will provide analysis of local high school and college programs as the 2014 season approaches.
In addition to Arkush, Chicago Football contributors include Shaw Media’s Kevin Fishbain and Tom Musick, and the Daily Herald’s premier Bears expert Bob LeGere and fantasy football analyst John Dietz. Veteran designer and editor Bob Peters – who previously worked with Arkush at Pro Football Weekly – also has joined the Chicago Football team. Arkush indicated that he is in the process of hiring additional staff.
Chicago Football will be headquartered in the Daily Herald offices in Arlington Heights.
Arkush noted that the time is right for this venture.
“The NFL’s popularity is at an all-time high, and many fans have an affiliation with at least one college and high school program while many follow more than one,” Arkush said. “Chicago Football will be unique in its look at the sport from a geographical perspective, and our singular focus will allow us to go more in-depth than other media.”
Chicago Football’s NFL Draft Preview edition will be available on newsstands April 7. The magazine can be purchased at area newsstands or included as part of an annual subscription, available at ChicagoFootball.com.