ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex facts for kids
 |
|
.jpg)
Aerial view of the Wide World of Sports Complex, 2008
|
|
| Former names | Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex (1997–2010) |
|---|---|
| Location | Walt Disney World |
| Coordinates | 28°20′13.5″N 81°33′21.6″W / 28.337083°N 81.556000°W |
| Owner | Disney Experiences |
| Operator | Disney Sports Enterprises |
| Opened | March 28, 1997 |
| Tenants | |
| ESPN Events Invitational (NCAA Basketball) (2006–present) Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic (MLS) (2010–14) Gulf Coast League Braves (Gulf Coast League) (1997–2019) Atlanta Braves (Grapefruit League) (1997–2019) MLS is Back Tournament (MLS) (2020) 2020 NBA Bubble Playoffs (NBA) (2020) 2020–21 NBA G League season (2021) Tampa Bay Rays (Grapefruit League) (2023) |
|
The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is a huge sports area at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. It covers about 220 acres, which is like 166 football fields! This amazing place lets families enjoy sports tournaments and competitions while also visiting fun vacation spots nearby.
The complex has nine different sports venues. It hosts many professional and amateur sports events all year long. From 1997 to 2010, it was called Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. Then, it changed its name to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. This happened because Disney owns ESPN.
This complex is a big part of "sports tourism." This means people travel to a place specifically for sports events. It's often used for AAU tournaments for young athletes. But it has also hosted many famous professional events. These include the 2020 NBA Bubble and the MLS is Back Tournament. The 2016 Invictus Games and the Special Olympics USA Games in 2022 also took place here.
The Tampa Bay Rays baseball team even used the complex for their spring training in 2023. Their usual field was damaged by Hurricane Ian.
History of the Sports Complex
Disney built this amazing sports facility for $100 million. Construction began in July 1995. The goal was to make Walt Disney World a top sports destination. It also aimed to fill hotel rooms and attract sponsors.
Early Years: Disney's Wide World of Sports
The complex first opened on March 28, 1997. The very first event was a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds. A grand opening celebration happened on May 15, 1997.
The complex started with nine venues. It quickly became a popular spot for many sports. It hosted the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships for tennis. It also became the spring training home for the Atlanta Braves baseball team. Many youth sports groups, like the Amateur Athletic Union, also started holding events here.
In 2000, Disney bought the All Star Café at the complex. It later became the ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill in 2010. In 2004, 20 acres of new fields were added. These included four baseball diamonds and other multi-use fields.
Becoming ESPN Wide World of Sports
On February 25, 2010, the complex got a big upgrade and a new name. It became the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. It added HD video scoreboards and a new sound system. A special broadcast facility was also built. This allowed ESPN to easily show events happening at the complex.
From 2006 to 2008, the Disney Channel Games were held here. In 2014, the Orlando City Soccer Club played its home games at the complex. This happened while their main stadium was being repaired.
In July 2015, it was announced that the 2016 Invictus Games would be held at the complex. These games are for injured or sick military service members. Prince Harry and Michelle Obama spoke at the opening and closing ceremonies. Many important people attended, including former President George W. Bush.
In January 2018, a new indoor arena called The Arena opened. Since 2017, the complex has hosted activities for the Pro Bowl. This is the all-star game for the NFL. Fans can watch open practices and see players compete in fun skill challenges.
Sports During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the complex became a safe place for professional sports. Both Major League Soccer (MLS) and the NBA used it.
The MLS is Back Tournament took place from July 8 to August 11, 2020. All 26 MLS teams played games here. The Portland Timbers won the tournament.
The 2019–20 NBA season also finished at the complex. 22 NBA teams came to play games in a "bubble" environment. This helped keep players safe from the virus. The 2020 NBA Playoffs and Finals were all held here. The Los Angeles Lakers won the championship on October 11, 2020.
In 2021, the NBA G League also held its entire season at the complex. The Lakeland Magic won the championship that year.
Amazing Sports Venues
The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex has many different places to play.
The Stadium at the ESPN Wide World of Sports
.jpg)
This baseball stadium has 7,500 seats, plus room for 2,000 more fans on the lawn. It opened in 1997. It was the spring training home for the Atlanta Braves baseball team from 1997 to 2019. The stadium has also hosted two regular season Major League Baseball games.
State Farm Field House
This is a large indoor arena with 5,000 seats. It has 50,000 square feet of space. It hosts the ESPN Events Invitational college basketball tournament every year. It also has a smaller gym behind the main arena. Since 2018, it has hosted the Jr. NBA Global Championship. This is a big tournament for young basketball players from around the world.
Visa Athletic Center
The Visa Athletic Center opened in 2008. It is a 70,000 square-foot indoor arena. It can hold six college-size basketball courts or twelve volleyball courts. It can seat 1,200 people.
AdventHealth Arena
The AdventHealth Arena opened in January 2018. It is the third indoor arena at the complex. It was designed especially for cheer and dance events. It has 8,000 seats. This arena hosted the Eastern and Western Conference Finals of the 2020 NBA Playoffs, along with the 2020 NBA Finals.
Marathon Sports Fields
These fields are presented by Marathon Petroleum. They include twelve outdoor fields. There's a Baseball Quadraplex, a Softball Quadraplex, and four multi-purpose fields.
One of the fields has 500 permanent seats, and another has 1,000 seats. These can be expanded to 3,000 seats for bigger events. Field 17 hosts the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic. This is an annual soccer tournament for Major League Soccer teams.
Specialized Sports Areas
- Baseball Quadraplex: This area has four professional baseball fields and one practice infield. It also has batting tunnels and pitching mounds. All fields can be used at night.
- Softball Diamondplex: This was the first part of the complex to be finished. It has six fields used for softball and youth baseball.
- Tennis Complex: This complex has 10 clay courts, including a center court stadium. It can seat up to 8,500 people.
- Track and Field Complex: This facility has 500 seats for spectators. It is designed for track and field events. It has a nine-lane track, areas for shot put, discus, javelin, high jump, long jump, and pole vault. It also has a 0.7-mile cross-country course.
Fun Programs and Events
Disney creates many of its own events. It also partners with groups like the Amateur Athletic Union. The AAU hosts 30 to 35 tournaments here each year. More than 180 events in over 30 sports have taken place at the complex.
- Disney Spring Training (1997–present): High school and college teams come here from mid-February to mid-April. They practice during their spring break.
- Pop Warner Super Bowl (1997–present): This event happens in December. The best youth football teams from around the world compete for championships. ESPN even broadcasts some of these games live!
- Disney Soccer Showcase (2000–present): This is a top youth soccer tournament.
- Sunshine Showdown: A women's baseball tournament.
