United Airlines and Disney Advertising are collaborating to host a unique 2026 ESPN Fantasy Football Draft event, featuring a live pick made from 35,000 feet aboard a United flight equipped with Starlink Wi-Fi. This first-of-its-kind broadcast will highlight the airline's high-speed inflight connectivity.
ESPN host and fantasy expert Tyler Fulghum will make his draft selections from the United flight, while NFL Insider Field Yates, Writer/Analyst Mike Clay, and Fantasy/Betting Writer Liz Loza will participate from ESPN's Bristol, Connecticut studio. The 2026 ESPN Fantasy Football Draft is scheduled for August 25, airing from 9 to 11 p.m. ET on ESPN and co-streamed on the NFL on ESPN YouTube channel. Social correspondent Omar Raja will capture and share behind-the-scenes content across social channels.
Maggie Schmerin, United's Chief Advertising Officer, said, "Sports fans don't want to miss the moments they care about – especially when they're traveling. Fantasy Football draft day is a can't-miss event for millions of fans, and until now, being in the air could mean handing over your picks to auto-draft. Starlink Wi-Fi on United flights is changing that." She added that this live draft "shows how Starlink on United is opening up a new era of possibilities on board, where moments that matter don't stop when you take off."
In addition to the live draft, Fulghum will film a new broadcast commercial onboard, produced by Disney Advertising, ESPN, and United, which will air during ESPN's coverage of the 2026 ESPN Fantasy Football Marathon. United began equipping its fleet with Starlink Wi-Fi in 2024, and the service is now active on over 500 mainline and United Express aircraft, offered free for MileagePlus® members.