Longtime television host and sportswriter Dave McCann detailed the behind-the-scenes pressures, technical failures, and unexpected script changes encountered while hosting the annual Stadium of Fire event at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
McCann, a play-by-play announcer for BYUtv and ESPN+, described experiencing severe pre-show anxiety inside his backstage trailer on July 1, 2017, prior to addressing a crowd of 45,000 fans and global military personnel.
The host recalled seeking divine intervention to manage his panic regarding the distance of the teleprompter, precise timing for a military flyover, and personal performance anxiety before being called to the stage by production staff.
Unexpected Delays and Fill-In Moments
During the 2017 production, veteran Hollywood producer Wayne Baruch instructed McCann to return to the stage to fill an unexpected five-minute delay before the country band Little Big Town could begin their performance.
"Go back out there and kill five minutes," Baruch said. McCann asked the producer for a specific topic to cover during the live delay.
"Talk about BYU football. They seem to like that around here," Baruch replied.
McCann filled the time discussing local football, noting that the crowd contained numerous opposing Utah fans who reacted as good sports before the band took the stage.
The annual patriotic event regularly presents unscripted challenges, including severe weather disruptions during the July 4, 2019, show featuring country star Keith Urban.
"Dave, Hill Air Force Base just canceled the flyover," producers Baruch and Chuck Gayton said.
McCann stated that the producers instructed him to relay the cancellation to the crowd, though the high winds stopped immediately after the national anthem concluded.
The event structure changed significantly on July 3, 2020, due to global health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted traditional stadium gatherings.
McCann and Utah Governor Gary Herbert sat socially distanced at the empty midfield of LaVell Edwards Stadium to record a broadcast interview for KSL-TV instead of entertaining a live audience.
Technical complications occurred again during the July 3, 2023, production when the teleprompter failed immediately before a segment honoring Freedom Award recipients.
"We can do this," McCann said.
McCann assisted co-host Steve Shallenberger, the past chairman of America’s Freedom Festival, by utilizing physical note cards handed over by a field producer to deliver the segment and introduce the rock band Journey live.
