Disney News Blog

Disney’s Wide World of Sports, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2008 training camp on the Hess Sports Fields.

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? Disney’s Wide World of Sports, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers conducted their 2008 training camp on the Hess Sports Fields. This marked the seventh year in a row (2002-08) that the Buccaneers trained at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Head coach Jon Gruden and the Bucs, who have trained at Disney since 2002, hit the Hess Sports Fields during the month of August.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Sept. 24, 2008 – With the sports tourism industry expanding by $200 million last year, Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex today outlined plans to further grow its business and bring new visitors to Central Florida.

The strategy includes plans to expand facilities, enhance existing events, diversify the Complex’s events portfolio and create more one-of-a-kind, immersive sports experiences that only Disney can provide.

Expansion plans for the complex reflect a nationwide trend in which more youth are participating in sports and are willing to travel longer distances for competition. Last year in the United States, the sports tourism industry grew from $700 million to $900 million, with an overall economic impact of $6.1 billion.

“Our goal is to be recognized as the pre-eminent multi-sports venue for amateur and professional sports and create events that benefit guests, the community and business,” said Ken Potrock, senior vice president of Disney Sports Enterprises. “Each year, Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex draws more than a million spectators who might not otherwise visit Central Florida, resulting in a significant economic benefit to our region.”

At the center of the complex’s growth strategy are plans announced earlier this year to re-brand Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex as ESPN Wide World of Sports, aligning the world’s No. 1 family vacation destination with the worldwide leader in sports.

“Through the collaboration of two powerful brands we will be able to help make the ultimate sports dreams come true for young athletes and further establish the Wide World of Sports Complex as the place to compete and watch sports,” said Potrock. “Athletes will be able to compete and train on world-class fields and courts and be immersed in an experience that only Disney and ESPN can provide.’’

Creative teams are still in the early stages of working together to bring this experience to life. Initial concepts involve incorporating many signature elements of ESPN, such as sports programming, sports events, breaking news, on-air talent and sports celebrities to complement the event management and renowned hospitality already evident at the Sports Complex.

As part of this commitment to growth, Potrock today announced that Disney Sports and ESPN are creating a week-long, multi-sport event planned for July 2009 that will feature some of the top high school athletes in the country. The ESPN RISE Sports Festival, scheduled for July 18 to 25, will involve more than 2,000 young athletes, many of whom are among the most heavily recruited in the nation, competing in six sports - softball, baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse and track & field – at the Wide World of Sports Complex. The competition will be televised live on ESPNU and other ESPN Web outlets.

This growing demand in sports tourism has prompted expansion plans throughout the Sports Complex, including several announcements this year.

Earlier this summer, the sports complex opened Jostens Center, a new state-of-the-art field house that will enable Disney to accommodate twice as many indoor sports events each year such as basketball, volleyball, wrestling, cheerleading as well as other competitions.

In June, the complex announced plans to partner with Osceola County and the Central Florida Sports Commission to bring 13 United States Bowling Congress tournaments to Osceola County – each of which could bring 70,000 to 85,000 athletes and spectators to Central Florida. As part of this agreement, Disney will make land available for a new 100-lane bowling center that is large enough to accommodate the tournaments.

In December 2007, the sports complex debuted additional outdoor playing fields for football, soccer, lacrosse and field hockey competitions.

Each year, the Disney sports complex stages more than 180 events. Since its inception, the complex has hosted athletes from more than 70 countries involved in more than 50 different sports. “A majority of the athletes and spectators who compete in a Disney sports event are first-time visitors to Disney,” said Potrock. “In fact, roughly 85 percent of these guests would not have come to Disney if it weren’t for an event at our sports complex, and many of them, particularly coaches, are repeat visitors.”

For example, one of the largest events is the Walt Disney World Marathon, which draws nearly 80,000 runners and spectators to Central Florida annually, making the event the largest sports event in Central Florida and on-par with some of the area’s largest conventions. In addition, an overwhelming majority -- nearly 90 percent of Marathon and Half-Marathon participants – travel from outside of Central Florida, which has an economic ripple on area hotels, restaurants, retailers and more.

Since Disney opened the sports complex in 1997, nearly 2 million athletes and enthusiasts have competed at the venue including many of the biggest names in amateur and professional sports, such as Tiger Woods, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Mia Hamm, Derek Jeter, Chipper Jones, Serena Williams, Shaquille O’Neal and Pete Sampras, among others. In one year alone, Disney’s competition schedule includes more than:

3,000 basketball games
2,400 softball games
1,800 baseball games
3,900 soccer matches

The Wide World of Sports also hosts the Atlanta Braves spring training season, a Tampa Bay Rays regular-season series, the Major League Baseball Draft, the NBA Pre-Draft Camp, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp, Chelsea Football Club-sponsored events, the Pop Warner Super Bowl, Amateur Athletic Union National Championships, Varsity All-Star Cheerleading competitions and USSSA events. ESPN televised 20 sporting events from the complex in the last year. Walt Disney World Resort and ESPN also annually work together to host the popular ESPN The Weekend event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Changes to benefit guests, the community and business

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – With the sports tourism industry expanding by $200 million last year, Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex outlined plans to further grow its business and bring new visitors to Central Florida.

The strategy includes plans to expand facilities, enhance existing events, diversify the Complex’s events portfolio and create more one-of-a-kind, immersive sports experiences that only Disney can provide.

Expansion plans for the complex reflect a nationwide trend in which more youth are participating in sports and are willing to travel longer distances for competition. Last year in the United States, the sports tourism industry grew from $700 million to $900 million, with an overall economic impact of $6.1 billion.

“Our goal is to be recognized as the pre-eminent multi-sports venue for amateur and professional sports and create events that benefit guests, the community and business,” said Ken Potrock, senior vice president of Disney Sports Enterprises. “Each year, Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex draws more than a million spectators who might not otherwise visit Central Florida, resulting in a significant economic benefit to our region.”

At the center of the complex’s growth strategy are plans announced earlier this year to re-brand Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex as ESPN Wide World of Sports, aligning the world’s No. 1 family vacation destination with the worldwide leader in sports.

“Through the collaboration of two powerful brands we will be able to help make the ultimate sports dreams come true for young athletes and further establish the Wide World of Sports Complex as the place to compete and watch sports,” said Potrock. “Athletes will be able to compete and train on world-class fields and courts and be immersed in an experience that only Disney and ESPN can provide.’

Creative teams are still in the early stages of working together to bring this experience to life. Initial concepts involve incorporating many signature elements of ESPN, such as sports programming, sports events, breaking news, on-air talent and sports celebrities to complement the event management and renowned hospitality already evident at the Sports Complex.

As part of this commitment to growth, Potrock announced that Disney Sports and ESPNare creating a week-long, multi-sport event planned for July 2009 that will feature some of the top high school athletes in the country. The ESPN RISE Sports Festival, scheduled for July 18 to 25, will involve more than 2,000 young athletes, many of whom are among the most heavily recruited in the nation, competing in six sports – softball, baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse and track & field – at the Wide World of Sports Complex. The competition will be televised live on ESPNU and other ESPN Web outlets.

This growing demand in sports tourism has prompted expansion plans throughout the Sports Complex, including several announcements this year.

-- Earlier this summer, the sports complex opened Jostens Center, a new state-of-the-art field house that will enable Disney to accommodate twice as many indoor sports events each year such as basketball, volleyball, wrestling, cheerleading as well as other competitions.

-- In June, the complex announced plans to partner with Osceola County and the Central Florida Sports Commission to bring 13 United States Bowling Congress tournaments to Osceola County – each of which could bring 70,000 to 85,000 athletes and spectators to Central Florida. As part of this agreement, Disney will make land available for a new 100-lane bowling center that is large enough to accommodate the tournaments.

-- In December 2007, the sports complex debuted additional outdoor playing fields for football, soccer, lacrosse and field hockey competitions.

Each year, the Disney sports complex stages more than 180 events. Since its inception, the complex has hosted athletes from more than 70 countries involved in more than 50 different sports. “A majority of the athletes and spectators who compete in a Disney sports event are first-time visitors to Disney,” said Potrock. “In fact, roughly 85 percent of these guests would not have come to Disney if it weren’t for an event at our sports complex, and many of them, particularly coaches, are repeat visitors.”

For example, one of the largest events is the Walt Disney World Marathon, which draws nearly 80,000 runners and spectators to Central Florida annually, making the event the largest sports event in Central Florida and on-par with some of the area’s largest conventions. In addition, an overwhelming majority – nearly 90 percent of Marathon and Half-Marathon participants – travel from outside of CentralFlorida, which has an economic ripple on area hotels, restaurants, retailers and more.

Since Disney opened the sports complex in 1997, nearly 2 million athletes and enthusiasts have competed at the venue including many of the biggest names in amateur and professional sports, such as Tiger Woods, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Mia Hamm, Derek Jeter, Chipper Jones, Serena Williams, Shaquille O’Neal and Pete Sampras, among others. In one year alone, Disney’s competition schedule includes more than:

-- 3,000 basketball games
-- 2,400 softball games
-- 1,800 baseball games
-- 3,900 soccer matches

The Wide World of Sports also hosts the Atlanta Braves spring training season, a Tampa Bay Rays regular-season series, the Major League Baseball Draft, the NBA Pre-Draft Camp, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp, Chelsea Football Club-sponsored events, the Pop Warner Super Bowl, Amateur Athletic Union National Championships, Varsity All-Star Cheerleading competitions and USSSA events. ESPN televised 20 sporting events from the complex in the last year. Walt Disney World Resort and ESPN also annually work together to host the popular ESPN The Weekend event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

This year’s schedule to offer best lineup of games in 12-year history
at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Nov. 20, 2008) – The Atlanta Braves will host several marquee opponents in 2009, including visits from the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets and World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies, during the Major League Baseball Spring Training season at Champion Stadium at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex.

After two weeks of workouts, the Braves play an 18-game home schedule that includes a number of premier opportunities for fans in 2009, such as World Baseball Classic Exhibition games featuring Panama (March 3) and Venezuela (March 5), and a pair of contests against the Yankees and Mets at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex, the leading venue for amateur and professional sports in the country.

One of the highlights of the expanded schedule in 2009 is the Boston Red Sox, who will make just their second trip to Disney’s Wide World of Sports on March 30. Atlanta’s 18 games at Champion Stadium mark the highest number of single spring home contests for the Braves since the franchise moved to Disney in 1997.
The 26-time world champion New York Yankees return to Champion Stadium for a pair of dates, March 4 and 28, marking the first time the Yankees will play multiple dates at Disney.

Atlanta will host all four of its division rivals, including the pennant-winning Philadelphia Phillies on March 1 and 8, as well as the New York Mets, March 17 and 21, Florida Marlins, March 20 and Washington Nationals, March 12.

The Houston Astros are slated to visit Disney three times during the spring, including the home opener Feb. 26, as well as March 6 and 15.

The 2009 schedule features three night games, including a March 19 contest with Detroit, as well as the Pittsburgh Pirates game on March 24 (6 p.m.) and Houston’s visit on March 6.

Last season, the Detroit Tigers night game set an all-time record at Champion Stadium with an attendance of 11,606. The Tigers return for a second spring contest on March 27. The Toronto Blue Jays visit Disney’s Wide World of Sports March 26.

Each game has fun for the whole family including entertainment in a way that only Disney can, with appearances by Disney characters, live music, an all-new On-Field Spectator Experience and the opportunity for kids to run the bases after every game.

The Braves drew 138,811 during 16 games at Champion Stadium in 2008 – a total that ranked second only to the New York Yankees among the 18 Major League Baseball teams who trained in Florida as part of the Grapefruit League.

Braves pitchers and catchers report Feb. 14, marking the beginning of the 12th year the Braves have come to Walt Disney World Resort for spring training. Position players arrive Feb. 17, with the first full-squad workouts on Feb. 18.

Individual game tickets for the Braves’ home spring training season go on sale Saturday, Jan. 10, at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster (407/839-3900 and ticketmaster.com) and at the Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex box office. Prices range from $15 (general admission lawn seats) to $28 (lower reserved); please add $4 per ticket for Premium Games (Yankees, Mets and Red Sox).

Information on the Braves’ spring training season, group tickets and mini-packs is available by calling 407/939-GAME (4263) and online at disneysports.com. The popular mini-packs will include both three-game and five-game options in 2009 and are currently on sale, giving fans their first opportunity to purchase tickets to specific games on the Braves’ 2009 spring training schedule. Fans may also purchase Atlanta Braves Spring Training travel packages through Spring Training USA. Travel packages include Braves game tickets, accommodations at Walt Disney World Resort and other benefits. Information is available online at springtrainingtours.com.

About Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex

Opened in 1997 at Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex is a leading sports and entertainment venue for amateur and professional sports in the United States. The sprawling 220-acre state-of-the-art complex features The Milk House, a 165,000-square-foot field house which seats 5,500 for basketball; the 9,500-seat Champion Stadium ballpark; Hess Sports Fields, which include multiple baseball, softball and soccer fields; and Jostens Center, an 80,000-square-foot multi-sport field house. In addition, the complex has 11 tennis courts, including a stadium court, and a track & field complex. The complex is home to more than 180 amateur and professional sports and entertainment events each year, including the NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp, the Major League Baseball Atlanta Braves spring training, a Tampa Bay Rays regular-season series, the NBA Pre-Draft Camp, the Pop Warner Super Bowl, Chelsea Football Club events, the Special Olympics Florida Summer Games and the AAU National Championship events. Please visit disneysports.com for more information.


2009 Atlanta Braves Spring Training Home Schedule
at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex
Key Dates:
Saturday, Jan. 10 Single-game tickets on sale
Thursday, Feb. 14 Pitchers and catchers report
Friday, Feb. 15 Pitchers and catchers first workout
Tuesday, Feb. 17 Position players report
Wednesday, Feb. 18 First full-squad workout


Game Date Opponent Time
Thursday, Feb. 26 Houston Astros 1:05 p.m.
Sunday, March 1 Philadelphia Phillies 1:05 p.m.
Tuesday, March 3 World Baseball Classic Exb. (Panama) 1:05 p.m.
Wednesday, March 4 New York Yankees 1:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 5 World Baseball Classic Exb. (Venezuela) 2:05 p.m.
Friday, March 6 Houston Astros 7:05 p.m.
Sunday, March 8 Philadelphia Phillies 1:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 12 Washington Nationals 1:05 p.m.
Sunday, March 15 Houston Astros 1:05 p.m.
Tuesday, March 17 New York Mets 1:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 19 Detroit Tigers 7:05 p.m.
Friday, March 20 Florida Marlins 1:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 21 New York Mets 1:05 p.m.
Tuesday, March 24 Pittsburgh Pirates 6:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 26 Toronto Blue Jays 1:05 p.m.
Friday, March 27 Detroit Tigers 1:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 28 New York Yankees 1:05 p.m.
Monday, March 30 Boston Red Sox 1:05 p.m.

All times are Eastern and are subject to change.
All games to be played at Champion Stadium at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex.

Atlanta Braves Spring Training Ticket Prices:

Seat Location Season ndividual Game
Lower Level Reserved $425 $28
Upper Level Reserved (Rows A-L) $340 $24
Upper Level Reserved (Rows M-W) $323 $22
Bleacher Reserved (Sections 104-106) $340 $24
Bleacher Reserved (Sections 101-103) $323 $22
Grass Berm - General Admission $255 $15

(Add $4 per ticket for Premium Games: Yankees, Mets and Red Sox).

Five-Game Mini-Plan includes tickets to: Nationals (3/12), Astros (3/15), Mets (3/17), Marlins (3/20) and Yankees (3/28) games for $128(upper reserved, rows A-L, or bleacher reserved sections 104-106 – on sale now)

First Half Three-Game Mini-Packincludes tickets to: Phillies (3/1), Yankees (3/4) and Astros (3/6) games for $76 (upper reserved, rows A-L, or bleacher reserved sections 104-106 – on sale now)

Second Half Three-Game Mini Pack includes tickets to: Pirates (3/24), Tigers (3/27) and Red Sox (3/30) games for $76 (upper reserved, rows A-L, or bleacher reserved sections 104-106 – on sale now)

Single-Game Tickets: Ticketmaster – 407/839-3900, www.ticketmaster.com or DWWS box office

Season and Group Tickets/Suites/Mini-Packs: DWWS Sports Sales – 407/939-GAME (4263)

After two weeks of workouts, the Braves play an 18-game home schedule that includes a number of premier opportunities for fans in 2009, such as World Baseball Classic Exhibition games featuring Panama (March 3) and Venezuela (March 5), and a pair of contests against the Yankees and Mets at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex, the leading venue for amateur and professional sports in the country.

One of the highlights of the expanded schedule in 2009 is the Boston Red Sox, who will make just their second trip to Disney’s Wide World of Sports on March 30. Atlanta’s 18 games at Champion Stadium mark the highest number of single spring home contests for the Braves since the franchise moved to Disney in 1997.

The 26-time world champion New York Yankees return to Champion Stadium for a pair of dates, March 4 and 28, marking the first time the Yankees will play multiple dates at Disney.
Atlanta will host all four of its division rivals, including the pennant-winning Philadelphia Phillies on March 1 and 8, as well as the New York Mets, March 17 and 21, Florida Marlins,
March 20 and Washington Nationals, March 12.

The Houston Astros are slated to visit Disney three times during the spring, including the home opener Feb. 26, as well as March 6 and 15.

The 2009 schedule features three night games, including a March 19 contest with Detroit, as well as the Pittsburgh Pirates game on March 24 (6 p.m.) and Houston’s visit on March 6.

Last season, the Detroit Tigers night game set an all-time record at Champion Stadium with an attendance of 11,606. The Tigers return for a second spring contest on March 27. The Toronto Blue Jays visit Disney’s Wide World of Sports March 26.

Each game has fun for the whole family including entertainment in a way that only Disney can, with appearances by Disney characters, live music, an all-new On-Field Spectator Experience and the opportunity for kids to run the bases after every game.

The Braves drew 138,811 during 16 games at Champion Stadium in 2008 – a total that ranked second only to the New York Yankees among the 18 Major League Baseball teams who trained in Florida as part of the Grapefruit League.

Braves pitchers and catchers report Feb. 14, marking the beginning of the 12th year the Braves have come to Walt Disney World Resort for spring training. Position players arrive Feb. 17, with the first full-squad workouts on Feb. 18.

Individual game tickets for the Braves’ home spring training season go on sale Saturday, Jan. 10, at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster (407/839-3900 and ticketmaster.com) and at the Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex box office. Prices range from $15 (general admission lawn seats) to $28 (lower reserved); please add $4 per ticket for Premium Games (Yankees, Mets and Red Sox).

Information on the Braves’ spring training season, group tickets and mini-packs is available by calling 407/939-GAME (4263) and online at disneysports.com. The popular mini-packs will include both three-game and five-game options in 2009 and are currently on sale, giving fans their first opportunity to purchase tickets to specific games on the Braves’ 2009 spring training schedule. Fans may also purchase Atlanta Braves Spring Training travel packages through Spring Training USA. Travel packages include Braves game tickets, accommodations at Walt Disney World Resort and other benefits. Information is available online at springtrainingtours.com.


2009 Atlanta Braves Spring Training Home Schedule
At Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex
Key Dates:
Saturday, Jan. 10 Single-game tickets on sale
Thursday, Feb. 14 Pitchers and catchers report
Friday, Feb. 15 Pitchers and catchers first workout
Tuesday, Feb. 17 Position players report
Wednesday, Feb. 18 First full-squad workout


Game Date Opponent Time
Thursday, Feb. 26 Houston Astros 1:05 p.m.
Sunday, March 1 Philadelphia Phillies 1:05 p.m.
Tuesday, March 3 World Baseball Classic Exb. (Panama) 1:05 p.m.
Wednesday, March 4 New York Yankees 1:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 5 World Baseball Classic Exb. (Venezuela) 2:05 p.m.
Friday, March 6 Houston Astros 7:05 p.m.
Sunday, March 8 Philadelphia Phillies 1:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 12 Washington Nationals 1:05 p.m.
Sunday, March 15 Houston Astros 1:05 p.m.
Tuesday, March 17 New York Mets 1:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 19 Detroit Tigers 7:05 p.m.
Friday, March 20 Florida Marlins 1:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 21 New York Mets 1:05 p.m.
Tuesday, March 24 Pittsburgh Pirates 6:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 26 Toronto Blue Jays 1:05 p.m.
Friday, March 27 Detroit Tigers 1:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 28 New York Yankees 1:05 p.m.
Monday, March 30 Boston Red Sox 1:05 p.m.

All times are Eastern and are subject to change.
All games to be played at Champion Stadium at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex.

Atlanta Braves Spring Training Ticket Prices:

Seat Location Season ndividual Game
Lower Level Reserved $425 $28
Upper Level Reserved (Rows A-L) $340 $24
Upper Level Reserved (Rows M-W) $323 $22
Bleacher Reserved (Sections 104-106) $340 $24
Bleacher Reserved (Sections 101-103) $323 $22
Grass Berm - General Admission $255 $15

(Add $4 per ticket for Premium Games: Yankees, Mets and Red Sox).

Five-Game Mini-Plan includes tickets to: Nationals (3/12), Astros (3/15), Mets (3/17), Marlins (3/20) and Yankees (3/28) games for $128(upper reserved, rows A-L, or bleacher reserved sections 104-106 – on sale now)

First Half Three-Game Mini-Packincludes tickets to: Phillies (3/1), Yankees (3/4) and Astros (3/6) games for $76 (upper reserved, rows A-L, or bleacher reserved sections 104-106 – on sale now)

Second Half Three-Game Mini Pack includes tickets to: Pirates (3/24), Tigers (3/27) and Red Sox (3/30) games for $76 (upper reserved, rows A-L, or bleacher reserved sections 104-106 – on sale now)

Single-Game Tickets: Ticketmaster – 407/839-3900, www.ticketmaster.com or DWWS box office

Season and Group Tickets/Suites/Mini-Packs: DWWS Sports Sales – 407/939-GAME (4263)