ESPN announced today that they’re closing down Grantland.
The sports and culture website, noted for its long-form articles, was founded by American journalist Bill Simmons, who left the network earlier this year, and recently signed a deal with rivals HBO.
In a statement released earlier this evening, ESPN said: “Effective immediately we are suspending the publication of Grantland. After careful consideration, we have decided to direct our time and energy going forward to projects that we believe will have a broader and more significant impact across our enterprise.”
Staff and readers paid tribute to the influential website, while the website’s founder said the decision is “simply appalling.
I loved everyone I worked with at G and loved what we built. Watching good/kind/talented people get treated so callously = simply appalling.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) October 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/ShaneRyanHere/status/660169211881332737
https://twitter.com/ShaneRyanHere/status/660155491201523712
not to get on a high horse but Grantland regularly turned BME journalists into incredibly visible writers so yeah it is bad that it's gone
— Sam Diss (@SamDiss) October 30, 2015
I've loved Grantland as a reader and a colleague and am sad about today's news.
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) October 30, 2015
For what it's worth, next Weds was to be my last day at Grantland. Now it's today. Will forever be proud of the amazing work & friendships.
— Andy Greenwald (@andygreenwald) October 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/TheM_L_G/status/660165540875542528
https://twitter.com/clubtrillion/status/660166045395779584
Well that's the first time I've ever found out I was laid off via Twitter
— Michael Baumann (@MichaelBaumann) October 30, 2015
goodbye pic.twitter.com/XbZG7WQaiZ
— Rembert Browne (@rembert) October 30, 2015
Extremely upset to hear that @Grantland33 is suspended. I feel awful for the many great writers; I feel sorry for myself as a reader.
— Greg Hanlon (@GregHanlon) October 30, 2015
ESPN's handling of @Grantland33 and its staff post-Simmons has been, to be blunt, a train wreck. That staff deserved much better.
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) October 30, 2015
