After a 20-year run, NBC Sports Chicago is no more.
With the Chicago White Sox’s miserable, record-setting season coming to a fitting close, the station has also closed its doors for good. In addition to the White Sox, the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls will depart their longtime broadcasting home for the Chicago Sports Network (CHSN).
With it being Oct. 1, 2024, Tuesday marks 20 years since (Comcast SportsNet Chicago) officially launched. So that means this final month was a celebration of the last two decades and the final days before it officially ceased operations.
After taking time to celebrate its 20th anniversary earlier in September, it was now time to say goodbye. It wasn’t cause for a celebration, but more so to reflect on what was and toast to the crew and individuals who helped build the station into becoming must-see TV during the White Sox’s historic futility in 2024.
But now, it’s no more, and host Chuck Garfien toasted the crew and the station Tuesday, saying, “This has been my home for 20 years, and when I see everyone here, I see the last 20 years. Excellence, greatness, friendships, bonds that will never, ever be broken — what we have here.
“It’s been a gift to be able to work with all of you—talented, passionate people. And the gift that you gave to Chicago sports fans filled their hearts and souls. Thank you very much. Cheers to all of you. What you mean to me, what you mean to them, memories of what we did will last forever.”
Chuck Garfien toasts the @NBCSChicago crew as the station ends its 20-year run.
“It’s been a gift to be able to work with all of you. Talented, passionate people. And the gift that you gave to Chicago sports fans filled their hearts and souls.” 💔 pic.twitter.com/7JKCYRcLtX
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 1, 2024
As the curtain falls on NBC Sports Chicago, it’s not just the end of a channel but the end of an era for countless Chicago sports fans. For two decades, it was more than a place to watch games—it was a community, a trusted voice, and a source of shared memories.
From the highs of championship runs to the lows of seasons like the White Sox’s 2024 campaign, NBC Sports Chicago was there to capture it all.
While the Chicago Sports Network will soon carry the torch, NBC Sports Chicago’s impact will be felt for years to come. As Garfien and the crew raise their glasses in a final toast, it reminds us that although the station may be gone, its spirit, stories, and friendships remain forever in the hearts of those who built it—and those who watched.
Cheers, indeed.
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.