Press Release

(February 6, 2009) The Arkansas Travelers have reached an agreement with Citadel Broadcasting to air radio broadcasts of all home and road games on KARN 920 AM. This new relationship brings the Travs back to their radio roots on the same signal that carried the club's broadcasts for close to three decades.

"I think Travs fans will be very well served by KARN," said Phil Elson, who will return for his ninth season as Voice of the Travs. "Their strong AM signal will increase the amount of people that can hear our broadcasts, and when you look at KARN's history and standing as one of the top stations in our market it makes a lot of sense for us."

The Travelers had broadcast only home games on KARN 920 AM during a long relationship that ended after the 2000 season when the franchise decided to air all home and road games. In the eight years since, the Travs aired games on four different signals in the Central Arkansas market most recently on 101.1 FM over the past two seasons.

“We’re tremendously excited to welcome the Travelers home to KARN 920 AM,” said Citadel Radio’s Little Rock Market Manager Cindy Thompson. “There’s such a rich history here. Jim Elder was the Voice of the Travs on KARN for so many years, and he was such an important part of KARN and the Arkansas Travelers. It’s that history that makes us proud to bring the Travelers back to KARN.”

The legendary Elder, who passed away in 1998, was KARN’s sports director and served as the Voice of the Travs for over 30 years.

“We’re excited about the possibilities that this renewed partnership brings to both KARN 920 AM and the Travs,” Thompson added. “We thank Bill Valentine, Pete Laven, Phil Elson and the rest of the Travelers staff for their enthusiasm and for the opportunity.”

Valentine, the Travs’ Executive Vice President since 1976, used to broadcast Travs games on KARN with Elder during the late 1960s and early 1970s. As he has for the past two seasons Valentine will continue to join Elson on the air as color commentator for Sunday home games.

“We are so tickled to be back on KARN 920 AM,” said Valentine, who worked as a DJ and on-air host on KARN when it had the call letters KARK. “KARN is where I started in radio and I think this is exactly where Travs radio broadcasts belong.”

The first Travs broadcast on KARN 920 AM is set for Thursday, April 9 when the Travs open the season at Dickey-Stephens Park against the Midland RockHounds.