ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex facts for kids
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Aerial view of the Wide World of Sports Complex, 2008
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| Former names | Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex (1997–2010) |
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| Location | Walt Disney World Resort, Bay Lake, Florida, United States |
| Coordinates | 28°20′13.5″N 81°33′21.6″W / 28.337083°N 81.556000°W |
| Owner | Disney Parks, Experiences and Products (The Walt Disney Company) |
| Operator | Disney Sports Enterprises |
| Opened | March 28, 1997 |
| Tenants | |
| Orlando 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) NBA Bubble Playoffs (NBA) (2020) 2020–21 NBA G League season (2021) |
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The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is a huge sports area covering about 220 acres. It's located inside the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, near Orlando. This amazing complex has nine different places to play sports. It hosts many professional and amateur sports events all year long.
This complex was first called Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex from 1997 to 2010. It was named after the famous ABC Sports TV show, Wide World of Sports. Later, in 2010, it was renamed to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex because Disney also owns ESPN.
The complex is a big part of "sports tourism." This means people travel to visit it for sports events. It's mostly used for AAU tournaments, which are for amateur athletes. But many big professional sports events have also happened here. These include the 2020 NBA Bubble, the MLS is Back Tournament, and the 2016 Invictus Games. It also hosted the Pro Bowl skills competition from 2017 to 2020. The Atlanta Braves baseball team used it for spring training from 1997 to 2019. In 2022, it will host the Special Olympics USA Games.
Contents
History of the Sports Complex
Disney built this huge sports facility for about $100 million. Construction began in July 1995. The main goals were to make Walt Disney World more famous for sports, fill up hotel rooms, and get more sponsors.
Early Years: Disney's Wide World of Sports
The complex officially 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 was held on May 15, 1997.
At first, the complex had nine main sports areas. Some of the first teams and events to use it were the Atlanta Braves, the Harlem Globetrotters, the NFL Experience, and the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships. The Amateur Athletic Union also became a big partner.
In 1999, the complex started hosting the Florida state high school volleyball championships. The USA Trampoline and Tumbling Championships also took place here in 1997.
A small legal issue happened when two men claimed Disney used their ideas for the complex. Disney said the idea of a sports park was common. The two men sued Disney, and they later settled the case outside of court in 2002.
In 2000, Disney took over the All Star Café restaurant at the complex. It was later renamed What's Next? Cafe in 2007, and then became ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill in 2010.
In 2004, 20 acres of new fields were added. These included four baseball fields and other multi-use fields. They were called Hess Sports Fields.
Becoming ESPN Wide World of Sports
On February 25, 2010, the complex was officially renamed the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. It got a big upgrade with new HD video scoreboards and a new sound system. It also got a special building for broadcasting live sports. New areas like the PlayStation Pavilion were added too.
From 2008 to 2009, the Disney Channel Games were held at the complex. In 2014, a WNBA pre-season basketball tournament took place here. The Orlando City Soccer Club also played their home games here in 2014 while their usual stadium was being fixed.
In 2015, it was announced that the 2016 Invictus Games would be held at the complex. These games are for injured military service members. They took place from May 8 to 12, 2016. Important people like Prince Harry and Michelle Obama spoke at the opening and closing events.
In January 2018, a new indoor arena called The Arena opened. Since 2017, the complex has hosted activities for the Pro Bowl, which is the NFL's all-star game. Fans can watch practices, and ESPN broadcasts fun skills competitions between the players.
Hosting Sports During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In May 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, both Major League Soccer (MLS) and the NBA decided to finish their seasons at the complex. This created a "bubble" to keep players safe from the virus.
The MLS is Back Tournament was held from July 8 to August 11, 2020. Teams played regular season games and a special tournament.
The 2019–20 NBA season also finished here. 22 NBA teams came to play games at the AdventHealth Arena, HP Field House, and Visa Athletic Center. This included regular season games and the entire NBA Playoffs and Finals. The season ended successfully with the Los Angeles Lakers winning.
In 2021, the NBA G League also played its entire 2020–21 season at the complex.
Sports Venues at the Complex
The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex has many different venues for various sports.
Champion Stadium: Baseball Fun
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This baseball stadium has 7,500 seats, plus room for 2,000 more people on the lawn. It opened in 1997 and was once called Cracker Jack Stadium. The Atlanta Braves used it for their spring training games from 1997 to 2019. The stadium has also hosted two regular season Major League Baseball series. It is now sponsored by the Champion brand.
HP Field House: Basketball and More
This is a 5,000-seat indoor arena. It used to be called the Milk House. It hosts the annual Orlando Invitational college basketball tournament. The HP Field House has 50,000 square feet of space. It also has a smaller gym behind the main arena. Since 2018, it hosts the Jr. NBA Global Championship, a big tournament for young basketball players. It also hosted the first-ever NBA play-in game during the 2020 NBA Bubble.
Visa Athletic Center: Versatile Indoor Sports
Opened in 2008, this 70,000-square-foot arena is sponsored by Visa. It has six college-size basketball courts, twelve volleyball courts, or two roller hockey rinks. It can seat up to 1,200 people.
AdventHealth Arena: Cheer and Dance Hub
The AdventHealth Arena opened in January 2018. It is the third indoor arena at the complex. It was specially designed for cheer and dance events. It has 8,000 seats and can be set up for six basketball or volleyball courts. This arena hosted the Eastern and Western Conference Finals of the 2020 NBA Playoffs, as well as the 2020 NBA Finals.
Marathon Sports Fields: Outdoor Action
These fields are sponsored by Marathon Petroleum. They include twelve different fields: 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. The field with more seats, Field 17, hosts the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic. This is an annual soccer tournament for Major League Soccer teams.
Baseball Quadraplex: Diamond Dreams
This area has four professional baseball fields and one practice infield. It also has batting tunnels, pitching mounds, and bullpens. All the fields can be used for night games.
Softball Diamondplex: Fastpitch Fun
This was the first part of the facility to be finished. It has six fields used for softball and youth baseball. Four fields are arranged in a circle, with two more nearby.
Tennis Complex: Serve and Volley
This complex has 10 clay courts, including a main court with stadium seating for up to 8,500 fans. It was one of the original nine venues.
Track and Field Complex: Run, Jump, Throw
This facility has 500 seats and is designed for track and field events. It meets international standards.
- nine lane track
- three shot put rings
- two discus/hammer rings
- a javelin runway
- two high jump areas
- two horizontal jump runways
- two pole vault runways
- a 0.7-mile cross-country course through the woods
Programs and Events for Young Athletes
Disney creates many of its own events and also partners with organizations like the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). The AAU hosts 30 to 35 tournaments here each year.
- Disney Spring Training (1997–present): From mid-February to mid-April, high school and college teams come here to practice during their spring break. Teams for track and field, lacrosse, and softball also use the facility.
- Disney Soccer Showcase (2000–present): This is a top youth soccer tournament.
- Pop Warner Super Bowl (1997–present): This event takes place in December. The best youth football teams from across the nation and even internationally come here for their championships. Thousands of players and families attend, and ESPN even broadcasts some of the games live on TV.
| Events and Tenants | ||
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| Preceded by Citrus Bowl |
Home of Orlando City Soccer Club 2014 |
Succeeded by Citrus Bowl |
