Disney has filed permits for a large expansion to the indoor event space here.
Disney files plans for expansion to ESPN Wide World of Sports complex
Disney files plans for expansion to ESPN Wide World of Sports complex
The times I go it's hard to find a parking spot. The past two times i've been were for Spring Training games. After the game I wandered the complex. There was something going on on literally every field.I still don't understand why this complex exists.
It's practically abandoned most days.
I should also mention that this new multi-use structure is great for the parks. Currently there are many cheerleading events that are held at the Indiana Jones Amphitheater or the parking lot of Epcot or DHS. All of those events will be moved to this venue once it opens, meaning all cheerleading events will be kept out of the parks, making life better for everyone.
Spring Training is still at Champion Stadium at least through this season. It remains to be seen if the Braves will stay or leave (maybe that decision has already been made?).Spring training is gone now though.
I've always wondered why it doesn't have a resort attached. Keep the cheer squads and little league teams away from the other guests.
That's the entire goal of this project. It's why Disney is building it.Will it really though? The allure for those groups when booking seems to be that the event is in the parks.
You bring up some decent points.I guess I view this the way one would if Disney built a large multi-venue performing arts complex in WDW. Like "why? Why on earth is this part of WDW?"
To me it reeks of dilution of the brand and going after various pet projects of executives while neglecting the core business.
If I didn't think the core business was neglected I wouldn't be nearly so opppsed. Even something like Disney Springs serves a purpose for the resort for most guests - food, shopping, entertainment outside of a theme park. This? We can't even keep the marathoners within its borders so why does it exist?
Maybe.Ratio of these kids to coaches/parents makes it seem like a poor investment.
The kids are usually eating with vouchers and don't tend to have a lot of spending money otherwise. I don't recall ever seeing them at the end of the night with lots of Disney shopping bags.
The few parents they drag along really don't seem worth all the hassle.
Atlanta Braves Spring Training | Events | ESPN Wide World of SportsSpring training is gone now though.
That's what the value resorts (All Star and Pop Century) are. While they are not directly connected, they have shuttle service to and from ESPN since that's where all those kids stay when they compete.I've always wondered why it doesn't have a resort attached. Keep the cheer squads and little league teams away from the other guests.
Ratio of these kids to coaches/parents makes it seem like a poor investment.
The kids are usually eating with vouchers and don't tend to have a lot of spending money otherwise. I don't recall ever seeing them at the end of the night with lots of Disney shopping bags.
The few parents they drag along really don't seem worth all the hassle.
Maybe.
But if they start to host concerts at this venue as they have touted in the past, they are suddenly bringing in a completely different crowd set that IS spending money undoubtedly.
Also, the move of Night of Joy from MK/DHS to WWoS this past year was a great decision for overall guest satisfaction.
I said OVERALL guest satisfaction.Moving the Night of Joy event here really decreased my satisfaction with Disney. I have been going to Night of Joy annually since 1990, and this year was the first time I ever left the event early. The venues felt like seeing concerts at a junior high, not the most magical place on earth. And until just days before the event attendees had to buy theme park admission with the ticket even if like me you already had an annual pass.
Also concerning merchandise purchasing, while at the Night of Joy my brother wanted to get a new Jaguars hat and figured that the ESPN WWoS would be a good place to find one. In the primary shop there were absolutely no Jaguars merch or any other team from Florida that we could find. Needless to say there was no sale.
Tigers just put 40 million into the Lakeland stadium. They aren't going anywhere that I know of.The Braves will be moving to Sarasota for Spring Training in 2019, meaning next year will be the last year they play at WWoS.
The move is said to be made to cut down on travel time for the team, as they are currently one of the northernmost spring training teams in Florida along with the Astros (Kissimmee) and Tigers (Lakeland), who are both looking to move or have deals to move in the near future as well.