ID: 7231172
ESPN on Friday announced that it is shutting down Grantland, the sports and culture website started by Bill Simmons in 2011.
“Effective immediately, we are suspending the publication of Grantland,” the company said in a statement Friday at the same time staffers were informed of the news. Other writers announced that they had learned the news on Twitter.
Though the site will be suspended immediately, staffers’ contracts with ESPN will remain in effect. Each staffer was to meet with ESPN brass Friday to discuss and negotiate contract obligations and their individual roles.
In May, it was announced that ESPN would not be renewing Simmons’ contract, and Chris Connelly was appointed interim editor-in-chief.