Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex
Encyclopedia
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is a 220 acres (89 ha) athletic complex located in the Walt Disney World Resort
. The complex includes 9 venues and hosts numerous amateur and professional sporting events throughout the year.
It was known as Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex before it was re-branded with the Disney-owned ESPN
brand. The rebranding was unveiled on February 25, 2010.
Disney built the US$100 million facility on former wetlands that it owned near Interstate 4
. The venue opened on March 1997 with an exhibition baseball game between the Atlanta Braves
and the Cincinnati Reds
.
On May 13, 2008 The Walt Disney Company announced plans to rebrand Disney's Wide World of Sports using the ESPN brand.
On November 5, 2009, Disney announced that the complex would be renamed "ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex". The rebranding was officially unveiled during Disney's ESPN the Weekend festivities. The complex received a massive upgrade including the installation of HD video scoreboard
s at several of the venues, a new complex-wide audio system and an HD broadcast production facility.
home of the Atlanta Braves
and the recurring home for the Gulf Coast Braves. The stadium has hosted two regular season Major League Baseball
series in 2007 and 2008 featuring the Tampa Bay Rays
as the home team. It is sponsored by Hanes with their Champion
brand.
, formerly the Milk House, sponsored by Hewlett Packard. It hosts the Old Spice Classic
annually. The HP Field House has 70000 square feet (6,503.2 m²) with stadium style seating with the highest row 35 feet (10.7 m) off the floor. It also features a smaller gymnasium behind the main arena with retractable seating. It was formerly sponsored by the California Milk Processor Board
, progenitors of the famous Got Milk?
campaign.
is a 44800 square feet (4,162.1 m²) arena (36% smaller than the HP Field House without the stadium seating) that opened in the fall of 2008. Sponsored by the class-ring manufacturer
, the center will feature six college-size basketball courts, twelve volleyball courts or two roller hockey rinks. Its seating capacity
is 1,200. The Jostens Center is not intended to replace the HP Field House, which will remain open for major indoor events.
, these eight multi-purpose fields can host a number of different sports. Two fields are equipped for night play, and four are made to international soccer dimensions. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers
conducted training camp at the facility from 2002-2008.
One of the fields has 500 permanent seats, and another has 1,000 permanent seats, expandable to up to 3,000 with additional grandstands. Field 17, the field with the larger grandstands, hosts the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic
, an annual four-team preseason soccer tournament featuring Major League Soccer
teams.
fields and one practice infield
, the quadrapelex also includes batting tunnels, pitching mounds, hitting tunnels, masters pitching machines, and ten bullpen
s. Two fields are equipped for night play.
and youth baseball
. Organized with four fields in circle and two adjacent.
events, designed to International Association of Athletics Federations
specifications.
s are located by the box office at the main entrance, and in Champion Stadium and the HP Field House. Free Wi-Fi
internet access is available at several locations throughout the complex.
, the ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill is open during most events usually from 10am to 8pm, and is available for reservation for other functions during off-hours times. Its first special event was the 10th anniversary shows of the ESPN Radio
program Mike and Mike in the Morning
, with Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic
, on the mornings of February 24–26, 2010 as part of the complex's grand opening and ESPN the Weekend.
It was the last Official All Star Café to remain open, and was de-branded in 2007. It operated as a generic restaurant until it was re-opened under the ESPN brand in 2010.
Also located at the ESPN Grill is the PlayStation Pavilion, with several PlayStation 3
consoles with the latest sports games. Originally provided free of charge, it now charges $5 per 30 minutes.
Disney announced plans to construct a 160,000 square foot 100-lane bowling
stadium, which would be the largest in the country. It will offer stadium-style seating, a restaurant and would be completed in early 2014. The stadium would be used for events or open to guests. It would also be used as a venue to host the United States Bowling Congress
tournaments.
, sued Disney in Orange County
civil court. In August 2000, a jury returned a verdict for the plaintiffs with damages in the amount of $240 million, a fraction of the $1.5 billion sought. Disney appealed the judgment, and settled out of court in September 2002 for undisclosed terms.
Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort , is the world's most-visited entertaimental resort. Located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida ; approximately southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States, the resort covers an area of and includes four theme parks, two water parks, 23 on-site themed resort hotels Walt...
. The complex includes 9 venues and hosts numerous amateur and professional sporting events throughout the year.
It was known as Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex before it was re-branded with the Disney-owned ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
brand. The rebranding was unveiled on February 25, 2010.
History
Interstate 4
Interstate 4 is a intrastate Highway located entirely within the state of Florida, United States. It goes from Interstate 275 in Tampa, Florida to Interstate 95 at Daytona Beach, Florida . It also has the Florida Department of Transportation designation of State Road 400, but only a small...
. The venue opened on March 1997 with an exhibition baseball game between the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
and the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
.
On May 13, 2008 The Walt Disney Company announced plans to rebrand Disney's Wide World of Sports using the ESPN brand.
On November 5, 2009, Disney announced that the complex would be renamed "ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex". The rebranding was officially unveiled during Disney's ESPN the Weekend festivities. The complex received a massive upgrade including the installation of HD video scoreboard
Scoreboard
A scoreboard is a large board for publicly displaying the score in a game or match. Most levels of sport from high school and above use at least one scoreboard for keeping score, measuring time, and displaying statistics. Scoreboards in the past used a mechanical clock and numeral cards to...
s at several of the venues, a new complex-wide audio system and an HD broadcast production facility.
Admission
The current admission price for ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is $14.50 for adults and $10.00 for children ages 3–9. Some events, particularly those at Champion Stadium, HP Field House and Jostens Center, may require higher ticket fees, but still permit entry to the complex as a whole. A ticket is required to eat at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill. The Clubhouse Gift Shop can be accessed without paying for entry to the complex.Champion Stadium
A 9,500 seat baseball stadium built in 1997. One of the original components of Wide World of Sports, it was formerly known as Cracker Jack Stadium and The Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports. It is the spring trainingSpring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
home of the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
and the recurring home for the Gulf Coast Braves. The stadium has hosted two regular season Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
series in 2007 and 2008 featuring the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
as the home team. It is sponsored by Hanes with their Champion
Champion (sportswear)
Champion is a manufacturer of clothing, specializing in sportswear. The brand is a subsidiary of HanesBrands Inc. , which was spun off by the Sara Lee Corporation....
brand.
HP Field House
A 5,000-seat multi-purpose arenaArena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
, formerly the Milk House, sponsored by Hewlett Packard. It hosts the Old Spice Classic
Old Spice Classic
The Old Spice Classic is an annual college basketball tournament played over Thanksgiving weekend. The inaugural tournament was held November, 23, 24, and 26, 2006. The tournament is played at the HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. In the current format, the...
annually. The HP Field House has 70000 square feet (6,503.2 m²) with stadium style seating with the highest row 35 feet (10.7 m) off the floor. It also features a smaller gymnasium behind the main arena with retractable seating. It was formerly sponsored by the California Milk Processor Board
California Milk Processor Board
The California Milk Processor Board is a nonprofit marketing board funded by California dairy processors, and administered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, most famous for its Got Milk? advertising campaign....
, progenitors of the famous Got Milk?
Got Milk?
Got Milk? is an American advertising campaign encouraging the consumption of cow's milk, which was created by the advertising agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners for the California Milk Processor Board in 1993 and later licensed for use by milk processors and dairy farmers. It has been running...
campaign.
Jostens Center
First announced in March 2007, the complex's 10th anniversary year, the Jostens CenterJostens Center
The Jostens Center is a multi-purpose arena in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA, located at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The center has 12 volleyball courts, two inline rinks, or three full size basketball courts...
is a 44800 square feet (4,162.1 m²) arena (36% smaller than the HP Field House without the stadium seating) that opened in the fall of 2008. Sponsored by the class-ring manufacturer
Jostens
Jostens is an American company providing yearbooks and class rings for various high schools and colleges as well as championship rings for sports, including the Super Bowl rings....
, the center will feature six college-size basketball courts, twelve volleyball courts or two roller hockey rinks. Its seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
is 1,200. The Jostens Center is not intended to replace the HP Field House, which will remain open for major indoor events.
Hess Sports Fields
Presented by Hess CorporationHess Corporation
The Hess Corporation is an integrated oil company based in New York City. The company explores, produces, transports, and refines crude oil and natural gas. Vertically completing the logistical chain, about 1,360 Hess branded filling stations market gasoline to consumers in 16 states along the...
, these eight multi-purpose fields can host a number of different sports. Two fields are equipped for night play, and four are made to international soccer dimensions. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
conducted training camp at the facility from 2002-2008.
One of the fields has 500 permanent seats, and another has 1,000 permanent seats, expandable to up to 3,000 with additional grandstands. Field 17, the field with the larger grandstands, hosts the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic
2010 Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic
The 2010 Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic was a preseason soccer tournament held at Walt Disney World's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The tournament, the inaugural edition of the Pro Soccer Classic, was held from February 25—27, 2011 and featured four Major League Soccer clubs.The...
, an annual four-team preseason soccer tournament featuring Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
teams.
Baseball Quadraplex
Consisting of four professional baseballProfessional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
fields and one practice infield
Infield
Infield is a widely used term in sports terminology, its meaning depends on the sport in which it is used.- In baseball :In baseball the baseball diamond plus a region beyond it , has both grass and dirt, in contrast to the more distant, usually grass-covered outfield...
, the quadrapelex also includes batting tunnels, pitching mounds, hitting tunnels, masters pitching machines, and ten bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
s. Two fields are equipped for night play.
Softball Diamondplex
The first venue to be completed at the facility, it consists of six fields used for softballSoftball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
and youth baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. Organized with four fields in circle and two adjacent.
Cross Country Course
Consists of multi-purpose fields, the Track and Field Complex, and a 0.7 miles (1.1 km) wooded trail.Track and Field Complex
A 500-seat competition facility for track and fieldTrack and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
events, designed to International Association of Athletics Federations
International Association of Athletics Federations
The International Association of Athletics Federations is the international governing body for the sport of athletics. It was founded in 1912 at its first congress in Stockholm, Sweden by representatives from 17 national athletics federations as the International Amateur Athletics Federation...
specifications.
- nine lane track
- three shot putShot putThe shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
rings - two discusDiscusDiscus, "disk" in Latin, may refer to:* Discus , a progressive rock band from Indonesia* Discus , a fictional character from the Marvel Comics Universe and enemy of Luke Cage* Discus , a freshwater fish popular with aquarium keepers...
/hammerHammerA hammer is a tool meant to deliver an impact to an object. The most common uses are for driving nails, fitting parts, forging metal and breaking up objects. Hammers are often designed for a specific purpose, and vary widely in their shape and structure. The usual features are a handle and a head,...
rings - a javelinJavelinA Javelin is a light spear intended for throwing. It is commonly known from the modern athletic discipline, the Javelin throw.Javelin may also refer to:-Aviation:* ATG Javelin, an American-Israeli civil jet aircraft, under development...
runway - two high jumpHigh jumpThe high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
areas - two horizontal jump runways
- two pole vaultPole vaultPole vaulting is a track and field event in which a person uses a long, flexible pole as an aid to leap over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, as well as the Cretans and Celts...
runways
Other facilities
Water fountains are available throughout the complex. ATMAutomated teller machine
An automated teller machine or automatic teller machine, also known as a Cashpoint , cash machine or sometimes a hole in the wall in British English, is a computerised telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public...
s are located by the box office at the main entrance, and in Champion Stadium and the HP Field House. Free Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
internet access is available at several locations throughout the complex.
ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill
Originally an Official All Star CaféOfficial All Star Café
The Official All Star Café was a chain of sports themed restaurants developed by Planet Hollywood. Planet Hollywood recruited Wayne Gretzky, Joe Montana, Shaquille O'Neal, Ken Griffey, Jr., Andre Agassi and Monica Seles to invest in the concept...
, the ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill is open during most events usually from 10am to 8pm, and is available for reservation for other functions during off-hours times. Its first special event was the 10th anniversary shows of the ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
program Mike and Mike in the Morning
Mike and Mike in the Morning
Mike and Mike in the Morning is an American sports-talk radio show hosted by Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg on ESPN Radio and simulcast on television, normally on ESPN2. If ESPN is broadcasting a live sporting event during the show's timeslot, Sportscenter will air on ESPN2, and the show's...
, with Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic
Mike Golic
Michael Louis "Mike" Golic is a co-host of ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike in the Morning and a former defensive lineman at Notre Dame and in the NFL. The NFL website lists him as and ....
, on the mornings of February 24–26, 2010 as part of the complex's grand opening and ESPN the Weekend.
It was the last Official All Star Café to remain open, and was de-branded in 2007. It operated as a generic restaurant until it was re-opened under the ESPN brand in 2010.
Also located at the ESPN Grill is the PlayStation Pavilion, with several PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
consoles with the latest sports games. Originally provided free of charge, it now charges $5 per 30 minutes.
Gift Shop
In addition to gift shops in Champion Stadium and the HP Field House, there is a permanent gift shop open daily beside the box office in the same building as Champion Stadium. Admission is not required to shop in the main gift shop.ESPN Innovation Lab
The ESPN Innovation Lab, a facility dedicated to advancing sports television technology, opened on October 15, 2009, as part of the ESPN rebranding and renovation process.Expansion
Bowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
stadium, which would be the largest in the country. It will offer stadium-style seating, a restaurant and would be completed in early 2014. The stadium would be used for events or open to guests. It would also be used as a venue to host the United States Bowling Congress
United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress is a sports membership organization dedicated to ten-pin bowling in the United States. It was formed in 2005 by a merger of the American Bowling Congress, Women's International Bowling Congress, Young American Bowling Alliance, and USA Bowling...
tournaments.
Controversy
A former baseball umpire and an architect alleged that they approached the Walt Disney Company in 1987 with plans for a sports complex, and that Wide World of Sports, which opened 10 years later, was heavily based on their designs. Disney claimed that, while the designs had some similarities, the complex was also similar to numerous other sporting facilities, and the concept of a sports park was too generic for any one group to claim ownership. The two men, represented in part by noted attorney Johnnie CochranJohnnie Cochran
Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. was an American lawyer best known for his leadership role in the defense and criminal acquittal of O. J...
, sued Disney in Orange County
Orange County, Florida
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 1,145,956....
civil court. In August 2000, a jury returned a verdict for the plaintiffs with damages in the amount of $240 million, a fraction of the $1.5 billion sought. Disney appealed the judgment, and settled out of court in September 2002 for undisclosed terms.