Nothing is really going to change with the way Sports Center is presented, but ESPN LA will officially hop on-air tonight at 1am EST (10pm PT). The complex itself is what's really impressive. The over 12,000 square foot studio will be home to 80 employees, and according to the LA Times, it contains "three production control rooms, two master control rooms, a newsroom-screening area, eight editing suites, a music room, a radio control room and studio, a voice-over room and two studios."

The other extremely impressive thing about the new LA digs, is that it is the only studio in the world that can broadcast in 1080P high definition production. It's no small undertaking and that certainly has the powers that be a little nervous....

"I'm very excited, very nervous," Cordray [ESPN LA's VP and GM] said Sunday. "Somebody asked me early last week if I was nervous and I said no. But now I'm getting first-day butterflies. The energy level is rising."

Cordray said that like any Hollywood production, the last few days have been spent rehearsing. She was unwilling to talk about how different the future of "SportsCenter" and ESPN might look with the new Los Angeles facility.

"Really all I can think of is getting this first 'SportsCenter' launched," she said. "What will things look like in the future? We'll think about that after we get through" the opening.

Everyone on the Left Coast thinks ESPN has a pretty prominent East Coast Bias, and while the network has always denied such a thing, this new building will certainly give the network more access to USC....er, ummm....the West Coast. Stan Verrett and Neil Everett will be your hosts tonight, and you can expect multiple cameos from Stu Scott.

Oh and one more thing. The first featured interview for the LA studio will be Magic Johnson sitting down with Larry Bird to talk about the 30th anniversary of their NCAA title clash.

ESPN's studio in L.A. debuts (LA Times)