One of ESPN’s most popular annual events, “ESPN8: The Ocho,” will return to ESPN2 this Thursday, August 3 through Saturday, August 5 for 43 hours of unique and groundbreaking programming and sports rarely or never seen on ESPN.
The Details
The seventh edition of the fan-favorite event inspired by the 2004 film, “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story,” will feature 52 different sports, including 31 brand new seldom-seen sports making their Ocho debut.
The Ocho will begin, for the first time ever, live in primetime on Thursday, Aug. 3 at 7pm ET.
First up, as covered in the ESPN+ Original series “Bananaland,” Banana Ball will make its Ocho debut when the Savannah Bananas will take on the The Party Animals.
After the spirited baseball game, the American Cornhole League will kick off events from Rock Hill, SC with the 2023 ACL Pro Shootout Championship (9pm ET) followed by the 2023 Table Hockey World Championships (10pm ET) and Red Bull Fierste Ljepper (10:30pm ET).
In fact, Rock Hill will play host to many of these sports events.
Venues in Rock Hill, where portions of The Ocho will be taking place live – Manchester Meadows and Rock Hill Sports and Event Center – will each open an hour before the first event. Tickets are required for ACL cornhole, with all other events being free for fans.
Throughout the day on Friday, Aug. 4, attendees can enjoy the Fan Zone at Manchester Meadows. Food trucks, music, vendors and giveaways will be available.
Here is a recap of last year’s The Ocho events:
Ryan McGee and Marty Smith will be joining events live surrounding their hosting duties on “The Ocho Show” (Aug. 4, 3pm ET). Joining McGee and Smith in Rock Hill will be professional pool player Jeanette Lee, who will take part in the Professional Cuesports League’s first-ever appearance on The Ocho (Aug. 4, 1pm ET).
All I’m saying is if they haven’t hired Gary Cole and Justin Bateman to reprise their “Dodgeball” roles of Ocho hosts Cotton McKnight and Pepper Brooks to do some marketing spots for this, ESPN has missed a huge opportunity.
The programming will also include replays of past Ocho events such as the 2021 US Air Guitar Championships and the 2022 Disc Golf Pro Tour Championship.
And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention one of the programming highlights is sure to be the 2023 Corgi Races.
How to Watch
“ESPN8: The Ocho” will air on the ESPN2 channel. It will also be available to watch online at ESPN.com, and on demand through the ESPN App.
The Schedule
August 3
- 7pm: Savannah Bananas vs. The Party Animals
- 9pm: 2023 ACL Pro Shootout Championship
- 10pm: 2023 Table Hockey World Championships
- 10:30pm: Red Bull Fierste Ljepper
- 11pm: Slamball
August 4
- 1am: Stern Heads-Up Pinball Invitational
- 1:30am: 2020 USA Mullet Championships
- 2am: 2021 US Air Guitar Championships
- 3am: 2022 Disc Golf Pro Tour Championship
- 4am: Jelle’s Marble Runs
- 4:30am: Foosball World Cup
- 5:30am: World Chase Tag 5
- 6:30am: 2023 Wisconsin Auctioneers Championship
- 7am: Microsoft Excel World Championship
- 7:30am: Truck and Tractor Pulling
- 8am: One Wheel World Championship
- 8:30am: Arm Wrestling Reborn
- 9am: Extreme Axe & Knife Games
- 10am: Omegaball Women’s Invitational
- 11am: 2023 BullShooter Invitational Shootout
- 12pm: Omegaball Men’s Invitational
- 1pm: Professional Cuesports League (PCL)
- 2pm: TurfWars Invitational: Adult Kickball Championship
- 3pm: The Ocho Show
- 4pm: 2023 NWLA Wiffleball All-Stars
- 5pm: Major League Table Tennis
- 6pm: 2023 Slippery Stairs
- 7pm: Johnsonville SuperHole IV Championship
- 9pm: Viii Sports YMCA Invitational
- 10pm: Pillow Fight Championship
- 11pm: 2023 FootGolf World Cup
- 11:30pm: Masskrugstemmen Stein Holding Competition
August 6
- 12:00am: 2023 Corgi Races
- 12:30am: World Dog Surfing Championship Best Waves
- 1am: USA Dodgeball All-Star Showcase
- 2am: CROSSNET Sand Series: SoCal
- 2:30am: 2022 eSkootr Championship
- 3am: 2022 Spikeball’s Co-Ed Invitational: Utah
- 4am: Red Bull Paper Wings
- 4:30am: Corunna Belt Sander Races
- 5am: Franklin Rock River Stone Skipping Competition
- 5:30am: Teqball Tour: Los Angeles
- 6:30am: 2020 Tetris Championships
- 7:30am: Golden Tee World Championship
- 8am: World Sign Spinning Championship
- 8:30am: Grass Drag Racing Season Opener
- 9am: 2022 AUDL Championship
- 9:30am: Ultimate Ninja World Finals
- 10am: Red Bull Rapids
- 10:30am: FlingGolf: San Diego Open
- 11am: Professional Horseshoes League
- 12pm: 2023 ACL Pro Doubles World Championship