If you’ve ever sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the I-10 or the 101, you know the vibe. The desert sun is beating down, and your radio is almost certainly locked into 98.7 Arizona Sports Radio. It’s the background noise of Phoenix. Honestly, it’s more than just a frequency; it’s basically the town square for anyone who has an opinion on why the Suns can’t find a backup point guard or whether the Cardinals are actually rebuilding or just perpetually stuck.
Radio is supposed to be dead, right? That’s what the tech bros say. But in Arizona, sports talk is thriving. KMVP-FM—that’s the official call sign if you’re nasty—has carved out a space where local fans feel like they’re actually part of the conversation. It isn't just about scores. It's about the collective trauma of being an Arizona sports fan. We’ve all been there.
The Evolution of the 98.7 Signal
Before it was the powerhouse we know today, the station went through a bit of an identity crisis. It wasn't always the "Arizona Sports" brand. For a long time, the sports talk lived over on 620 AM (KTAR), which is a legendary signal in its own right. But as FM became the standard for high-fidelity talk, Bonneville International made the smart move. They shifted the heavy-hitting sports content to 98.7 FM.
This move changed everything.
Suddenly, the signal was crisp. You could hear every sigh from Dan Bickley and every laugh from Vince Marotta without the AM static of a passing power line. The station became the flagship for the heavy hitters: the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Phoenix Suns, and the Arizona Coyotes (before the relocation drama shifted that landscape). Being the flagship station matters. It gives the hosts a level of access that a random podcaster just can’t touch. They aren't just reading Twitter; they're in the locker rooms.
Why the Personalities Actually Matter
Let’s be real. You don’t tune in for the stats. You can get stats on your phone in three seconds. You tune in for the people.
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Bickley & Marotta in the mornings provide that specific blend of "I’ve seen it all" cynicism and genuine fandom. Dan Bickley has been writing about this town for decades. He’s seen the highs of 2001 and the countless lows of the Cardinals' various iterations. When he’s annoyed, the Valley is annoyed. Then you have Wolf & Luke. Ron Wolfley is a literal force of nature. If you haven't heard him describe a "full-tilt, garnet-and-gold" football play, have you even lived in Arizona? His energy is basically a triple-shot of espresso delivered through your car speakers.
The midday and afternoon slots, featuring guys like Dave Burns and Gambo (John Gambadoro), are where the "insider" stuff happens. Gambo is a polarizing figure, sure, but the guy gets scoops. If there is a trade rumor involving the Suns, everyone waits to see what Gambo says. It’s a weirdly specific power dynamic that only exists in local radio.
The Digital Pivot: More Than Just a Dial
People think 98.7 Arizona Sports Radio is just that thing in your car. It's not.
They’ve been incredibly aggressive about the ArizonaSports.com website and their app. In a world where local newspapers are shrinking, the station’s digital wing has basically become a primary news source. They employ actual reporters. They break news. They have a massive social media presence that reacts in real-time to every Mat Ishbia move or Kyler Murray tweet.
- Podcasting: Almost every show is sliced into podcasts within an hour of airing.
- Video: They’ve leaned hard into YouTube, filming the shows so you can see the reactions.
- App Integration: The "Listen Live" feature is actually stable, which is a rarity for local media apps.
It’s about being everywhere. If you miss a segment because you had to actually go into work, you can find the clip on X (formerly Twitter) or their site before your lunch break. This ecosystem keeps the brand relevant even for younger fans who might not even know how to turn a physical radio dial.
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Facing the Modern Challenges of Local Media
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows. 98.7 faces the same headwinds as everyone else.
National platforms like ESPN (though they are affiliated with them) and Ringer-style podcasts compete for ears. But the "secret sauce" is the hyper-locality. A national guy doesn't care about the Suns' third-string center. 98.7 will spend forty-five minutes on it. That’s the moat. That’s the protection.
The station also has to navigate the changing landscape of team partnerships. When a team moves—like the Coyotes' saga—it creates a vacuum. But the station has proven resilient. They pivot. They lean harder into the "Big Three" of the Suns, Cardinals, and D-backs. They also cover ASU and UofA with a fervor that reflects the deep-seated collegiate divide in the state.
What You Should Do to Get the Most Out of It
If you're new to the Valley or just haven't dipped your toes into the local sports scene, here is the move.
First, stop listening to the national takes on Arizona teams. They usually don't know what they're talking about. They see a box score and make a judgment. Tune into 98.7 Arizona Sports Radio during the "drive time" slots—mornings from 6-10 AM or afternoons from 2-6 PM. That’s when the biggest topics are debated.
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Second, download the Arizona Sports app. It’s the easiest way to get push notifications for actual breaking news in the Valley. Most of the time, they beat the national "insiders" on local specifics because their sources are literally the people running the teams in downtown Phoenix or Tempe.
Finally, don't just listen. Interact. The station survives on "The Pulse." They take calls, they read texts, and they engage on social media. It’s a feedback loop. If you think a trade was a disaster, tell them. Half the fun of sports radio is the communal venting session that happens after a tough loss.
Go deep on the written content on their site, too. It’s often more nuanced than the "hot takes" you might hear on air. The balance between the loud, boisterous radio persona and the analytical digital reporting is what makes the brand work in 2026. It’s a hybrid model that actually functions.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Set your Preset: Program 98.7 FM as your first preset for the commute.
- Check the Schedule: Look at the daily lineup to find a host whose style matches your vibe—Wolfley for intensity, Gambo for scoops, or Bickley for veteran perspective.
- Follow the Insiders: Follow the individual handles of the hosts on social media; that’s where the "pre-show" rumors usually start leaking.
- Sync the App: Use the "Alarm" feature on their app if you want to wake up to local sports news instead of a generic buzzing sound.