A Zamboni sits on the Selland Arena floor during the May 6, 2026 announcement that professional hockey is returning to Downtown Fresno. The Fresno Falcons will begin play in the Federal Prospects Hockey League this fall. Photo by Ben Hensley
The Fresno Falcons took two major steps toward their return to the ice Monday, naming Central Valley native Jimmy Fries as team president and securing a broadcast partnership with Nexstar-owned KSEE24 and CBS47.
Fries brings more than 20 years of experience in sports management, marketing, business development and live event promotion. A former Falcons front office employee, he most recently held leadership roles with Fresno State Athletics and regional marketing and operations organizations. Earlier in his career, he worked in concert promotion with high-profile touring acts, including Taylor Swift.
As president, Fries will oversee business operations and community engagement as the franchise prepares for the 2026-27 season.
The team also announced a media partnership with Nexstar Broadcasting that will stream all 56 regular-season games on the KSEE24 CBS47+ app. The agreement includes a weekly coaches show produced from the station’s OBS Podcast Studio.
Matt Morse, vice president and general manager of KSEE24 and CBS47, said the deal reflects the direction local television is heading.
“This partnership is exactly where local television and streaming are headed — combining live sports, community connection, original content, and streaming accessibility on KSEE24 CBS47+,” Morse said. “From game broadcasts to weekly coaches shows and community coverage, we believe the Falcons can become one of the great local sports stories in the Valley, and we’re proud to help tell that story.”
Falcons ownership said the agreement is designed to broaden the team’s reach across the region.
“One of our biggest priorities in bringing the Fresno Falcons back is making sure every fan in the Valley has a real chance to connect with this team,” the ownership group said.
The Falcons are set to begin play in the 2026-27 season, roughly a decade after the original franchise ceased operations.