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Walt Disney World Resort and Arnold Palmer Golf Management have signed a 20-year strategic alliance to create even more magic for Disney golfers. Beginning Sept. 25, Arnold Palmer Golf Management will operate, manage, maintain and help promote all five Disney courses including Disney’s Palm and Magnolia, Lake Buena Vista, Osprey Ridge and Oak Trail golf courses.

As part of this long-term alliance agreement, golf legend Arnold Palmer and his golf course design team will be actively engaged in implementing strategic and innovative design features to several of the golf courses. Future enhancements include plans for a full renovation of Disney’s Palm under his direction to become an Arnold Palmer designed course.

After 40 years as a golf course architect, I’m looking forward to this opportunity to contribute to Disney’s rich and storied golf legacy. I’ve enjoyed a lifetime of memories playing golf and it will be a great reward to pass that on to those who share a passion both for Disney and the game of golf.
Arnold Palmer

With an extensive following of serious golf enthusiasts, Arnold Palmer Golf Management is known for its excellent course conditions, pace of play, service standards and player development. In addition to course operation, the company also manages  “Palmer Advantage”, a reciprocal club and concierge service program, that provides members with unique travel benefits and access to more than 250 private clubs, resorts and golf courses around the world.

Drawing on Arnold Palmer Golf Management’s expertise and experience enables us to build on our mutual strengths and extend our appeal both among leisure players and avid golfers. We’re excited about this new collaboration, which will benefit Disney guests and Palmer Advantage club members wanting a destination golf experience.
Ken Potrock, Sr. VP of Disney Sports Enterprises

The agreement gives Arnold Palmer Golf Management an opportunity to add a uniquely Disney, family-friendly golf destination to its portfolio of more than 70 private clubs and championship golf courses. Disney Golf will be promoted within the Palmer Advantage network of golf devotees, through a dedicated website and featured within the exclusive publication, “Kingdom Magazine,” which celebrates Mr. Palmer’s contributions to the game of golf and extensive philanthropic ambassadorship.

With a reputation for service excellence and exceptional family entertainment, Walt Disney World is an ideal complement to our member offerings. This collaboration will give our members both a superior golf experience and a one-of-a-kind family golf vacation.
Jim Hinckley, president of Arnold Palmer Golf Management

Since Walt Disney World opened with two 18-hole courses in 1971, golf has been a key component of the resort. Over the past four decades, Disney World has hosted professional and amateur golf tournaments, including one of the longest-running events in PGA Tour history – the PGA Tour’s Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic. Disney has also hosted the LPGA Tour, NCAA golf championships and dozens of celebrity golf tournaments.

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It’s summer in Florida. Daytime temperatures are regularly pushing into the 90s. What’s a vacationer to do to cool off?

At Walt Disney World Resort, guests can choose between a mountain ski retreat and a tropical getaway to take the proverbial plunge into water fun at two of the most popular water parks in North America:

• Like a surfside playground left behind by a “great storm” for modern-day Swiss Family Robinsons, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon features breaking waves, saltwater snorkeling pool, water coaster thrill ride attraction with gushing water surges; and

• Disney’s Blizzard Beach offers all the spine-chilling thrills of a northern ski resort, whether it’s bobsledding down the “snowy” slopes of Mt. Gushmore or plunging straight down Summit Plummet at up to 55 mph.

During the spring, summer and fall vacation periods, both parks are open daily, offering a cool break from theme park fun. Admission tickets can be purchased at each park or folded into Disney’s Magic Your Way ticket with the Water Park Fun & More add-on option.

Located near Downtown Disney West Side, the 61-acre Typhoon Lagoon includes several major features, including Crush ‘n’ Gusher, the first-ever water coaster thrill ride attraction in Central Florida; a man-made watershed mountain with eight twisting-and-turning water slides and roaring streams; a two-and-one-half-acre wave-making lagoon with surfing-size waves, and a 362,000-gallon saltwater pool, Shark Reef, where snorkelers swim fin-to-fin with exotic marine life including butterfly fish, French angels, tangs, groupers and even nurse sharks.

The park also features a water playground for children, sunny beaches and lazy streams surrounding a 95-foot mountain, a shop that provides necessary underwater equipment for Shark Reef (including wet suits, masks and snorkels), changing areas, lockers, showers, a picnic area and two restaurants which serve up everything from specialty sandwiches and salads to cookies and ice cream in waffle cones.

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Meantime, while the 66-acre Blizzard Beach has all the look of a northern ski resort, it is in fact strictly tropical — and the ice is limited to the soft drinks. The most eye-catching attractions can be found on the slopes of Mt. Gushmore, the 90-foot snow-capped mountain that is home to Downhill Double Dipper, the only side-by-side racing water slides that stand 50 feet high and 200 feet long. Guests will travel up to 25 mph, twisting and turning before shooting out through a curtain of water.

Mt. Gushmore also features slalom courses, toboggan and water sled runs and the awesome, 120-foot-high Summit Plummet — one of the nation’s tallest, fastest free-fall speed slides, visible from almost anywhere in the park. From Summit Plummet’s “ski jump” tower, it’s a breathtaking high-speed 55 mph plunge straight down to a splash landing at the base of the mountain.

Next to Summit Plummet is the tall but less steep Slush Gusher, a speed slide that drops guests through a snow-banked mountain gully. Mt. Gushmore’s other attractions include Teamboat Springs, the world’s longest family white-water raft ride takes six-passenger rafts down a twisting 1,200-foot series of rushing water falls; Toboggan Racer, an 8-lane water slide that sends guests racing over exhilarating dips as they descend the “snowy” slope, and more.

The sandy beach below Mt. Gushmore offers a large wave pool, a lazy river, two snack bars, a polar pub lodge, and a pre-teen and children’s play area.

The Village at the Blizzard Beach entrance houses guest services such as a tube pick-up area, towel rentals, lockers, first aid, merchandise and a restaurant.

Available at Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon for day-long rental, Beachcomber Shacks and Polar Patios are premium spaces that put a roof or a large umbrella over guests’ heads, provide upscale Adirondack seating for relaxation, put beverages to quench a whole days’ thirsts at guests’ fingertips, and give them a service attendant who does the leg work if they want to purchase food from the a la carte menu.

For more information about Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water parks, guests may call 407/824-4321 or visit disneyworld.com.

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Celebrating National Robotics Week, nearly 10,000 middle school, high school and university participants from 16 countries around the world will compete in the action-packed 2011 VEX Robotics World Championship, to be held with free admission to the general public at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World^® Resort near Orlando, Florida on April 14-16, 2011. Giving the event mainstream recognition similar to that of an international sporting event, the Boy Scouts of America will be in attendance along with Congressman Ralph Hall. Talent from The Discovery Channel’s MYTHBUSTERS series and host of The Science Channel’s hit show HEAD RUSH, Kari Byron, will serve as master of ceremonies to guide teams and spectators through the final award ceremony on the last day of competition.

We are excited to welcome our distinguished guests and premier event partners including Autodesk, NASA and EMC Corporation into Disney’s impressive global arena as we join together in celebrating the accomplishments of these powerful young minds. The magnitude of attendees at this year’s event speaks to the strength of the VEX Robotics Competition as a perfect model for educational robotics and workforce development. There are now over 100,000 students using VEX Robotics worldwide, showing the empowering effect it is having on participating schools, students and the international community.
Jason Morrella, president of the REC Foundation

The VEX Robotics program is in support of The White House’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) initiative to get kids engaged in higher learning, and recently received attention from President Obama who visited a Miami Central High School classroom where he interacted with students excelling in STEM education through VEX Robotics. To show his support at the World Championship, Congressman Ralph Hall, senior member of the US House of Representatives and chair of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology – which funds NASA and the National Science Foundation – will cheer teams on, alongside other keynote attendees including Mele Williams, staff director of the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education; executives from Boy Scouts of America; and, of course, Mickey Mouse and friends.

As the fastest growing robotics program in the world, the VEX Robotics Competition is organized by the REC Foundation, and the 2011 VEX Robotics World Championship serves as the final event of the 2010-2011 competition season. This year, almost 600 out of the nearly 4,000 VEX Robotics Competition teams have earned the right to bring their robotic masterpieces to the “Happiest Place on Earth” where they will form strategic alliances with other teams and challenge their toughest competitors playing the game Round Up. All attending teams qualified for the tournament after dedicating countless hours to honing their building, programming and strategy skill sets to outperform others in order to reach the international stage.

In addition to the middle and high school VEX Robotics Competitions, the 2011 VEX Robotics World Championship will put 35 university teams in the spotlight as they strive for the VEX Robotics College Challenge World Champion title. The BEST Robotics Competition National Championship will take place in the Jostens Center, and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy AROW water robotics competition will be held at Champion Stadium. Boy Scouts of America will host a booth on Saturday, April 16, to showcase the new Robotics Merit Badge, and more than 20 scouts will be in attendance, aiming to be some of the first to complete the robotics merit badge requirements and receive the newly debuted badge from scout executives during the final award ceremony Saturday afternoon.

Partners and sponsors of the 2011 VEX Robotics Competition World Championship include Autodesk, NASA, EMC Corporation, Intelitek, Innovation First International, iD Tech Camps, the REC Foundation, Automation Direct, Northrop Grumman, Microchip, the United States Coast Guard Academy, and the Robotics Academy at Carnegie Mellon University.

Round Up, the 2010-2011 VEX Robotics Competition Game, is played on a 12’x12’ square field where two alliances composed of two teams each compete against one another. Each match consists of a twenty-second autonomous period where robots are controlled by onboard software, followed by two minutes of human-operated play. Fans can follow the competition and sign up for real-time competition news and results via live streamcasts, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube updates. For more information visit RobotEvents.com/championship.

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Recognizing the expanding role of sports within the entertainment industry, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and Full Sail University have finalized a unique partnership that enables the school to promote Full Sail’s sports curriculum to a global audience of sports enthusiasts, while offering youth athletes more possibilities to envision their sports dreams.

As part of this collaboration, Full Sail will be represented throughout ESPN Wide World of Sports including the complex’s Welcome Center, digital signs and promotional video packages. In addition, guests who are interested in learning more will be able to arrange a tour of Full Sail’s Winter Park campus from the sport complex.

The sports industry is evolving incredibly rapidly, and it requires professionals who understand the dynamics of the new media landscape for all applications in business, both now and in the future. One area in which we can attract prospective students who will serve the industry is by focusing our efforts on those who have an inherent enthusiasm for sports. In that way, we can fuel their passion by exposing them to possible careers within the sports realm that they might not even know exists.
Josh Mora, program director of Sports Marketing and Media for Full Sail

This agreement follows the university’s recent launch of its new Sports Marketing and Media Bachelor of Science Degree Program. The 32-month curriculum, offered both on-campus and online, is designed to help students develop a balanced skill set of technical expertise and content creation. Students will also learn core business and marketing concepts as they apply to sports media, business models, sports marketing and research, public relations, sports law and contracts, and licensing and intellectual property.

Sports dreams now come in all shapes and sizes. We hope that by exposing young athletes to Full Sail’s innovative curriculum, they will be able to realize their aspirations whether they’re on the ball field, in the classroom or behind a TV camera.
Faron Kelley, director of marketing and communication for Disney Sports Enterprises

Full Sail has recently collaborated with ESPN in launching a sportsbroadcast research lab at the university, complementing the current ESPN Innovation Lab located at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World. That lab has been critical in the development of ESPN 3D, Ball Track, NBA Player Card and Ultimate Uplink.

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The PGA TOUR returns to Walt Disney World Resort for the 40th consecutive year Nov. 11-14 for the 2010 Children’s Miracle Network Classic. The Fall Series event, held at Disney’s Palm and Magnolia golf courses, features some of the world’s top golfers playing in one of the resort’s longest-running traditions.

Initially held as the Walt Disney World Open Invitational, Jack Nicklaus claimed the first three titles, including the inaugural event in December 1971 less than three months after the resort opened. More recently, Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Davis Love III have held aloft the Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck-themed trophy.

In its fourth year with current title sponsor Children’s Miracle Network, the Classic has enjoyed three straight thrilling finishes, with one stroke providing the winning difference for Stephen Ames (2007 and 2009) and Davis Love III (2008). The recent nail-biters, which included a three-man playoff in 2009, mark a continuation of the Classic “norm”: 21 of the last 28 events have been decided by one stroke or in sudden-death playoffs.

This year, guests can check out the Wine & Dine Walk – themed after the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival – during all four days of the tournament. Spread across the Magnolia golf course, the food, beer and wine stations are positioned along key holes and offer culinary treats from some of Disney’s newest and most popular restaurants.

A popular destination for golfers and their families, the Classic serves as the season finale for the PGA TOUR and the final opportunity for golfers on the threshold to play their way into the Top 125 on the money list. More info: childrensmiraclenetworkclassic.com.

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On the heels of the FIFA World Cup, nearly 200 elite youth soccer teams from around the world, including the Haitian National Women’s Under 17 team, will compete in the Disney Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort, July 12-17.

Clubs featuring boys and girls (ages 9-17) from countries such as Brazil, Great Britain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Malaysia, the United States and others will be joining the Haitian team in creating the largest field in the tournament’s 12-year history.

More than half of this year’s field comes from outside of the continental United States with Puerto Rico leading the international team count with 18 registered clubs. Canada is next (16), followed by Brazil (11). In all, 18 countries are represented.

This year’s field is one of the most diverse and largest we’ve had in our tournament’s history. The Disney Cup continues to be a great opportunity for teams from around the world to compete against other top young athletes while also getting to relax and enjoy a vacation at Disney.
Mark Luster event’s tournament director

Each team will play at least four games before advancing to a single-elimination tournament format. Championship games in various age divisions from under-9 through under-18 take place July 17.

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Since 1999, the tournament has attracted teams from more than 20 countries giving participants a unique opportunity to compete on the same fields as teams from the English Premier League and Major League Soccer. For instance, Celtic Football Club, Blackburn Football Club, the MLS Chicago Fire, Houston Dynamo, New York Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake have all competed or trained at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

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Soccer fans in Central Florida can get swept up in the fever of 2010 FIFA World Cup through unique viewing opportunities at Walt Disney World Resort.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill at Disney has been designated as an official viewing location for the month-long global soccer tournament.  Soccer fans can watch live World Cup matches televised on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 from South Africa involving their favorite soccer national teams on the ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill’s many large high-definition screens.

In addition, the ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill will offer special viewing parties running for the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and third-place match (June 26-July 10), which will include guaranteed seating to view the matches and an all-you-care-to-eat buffet featuring Buffalo wings, hot dogs, seasonal fruit, build-your-own salads, a nacho bar, desserts and non-alcoholic drinks – all for $19.99/per person, per game (plus tax).

The beautiful game kicks off on the world stage June 11, with open seating for breakfast and lunch available at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill for the group stage of play running through June 25.  A special viewing area will be available for the championship match July 11.
Reservations can be made starting May 27 by calling 407/WDW-DINE or by visiting espnwwos.com.

The official FIFA World Cup viewing location designation builds on the long-standing soccer tradition at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.  The 220-acre complex, the leading multi-sports venue in the nation, hosts nearly 300 sports events each year, including the Disney Cup International Youth Soccer tournament (July) and the coveted Disney Soccer Showcase (December), which features the most decorated youth soccer players in the nation.

For more information on soccer events at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, please visit espnwwos.com.

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What launched with a single cable network on Sept. 7, 1979, is now ESPN, Inc., the leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring the broadest portfolio of multimedia sports assets, including six domestic networks, 46 international networks and more than 50 business entities. Today, ESPN delivers sports programming to more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents across a variety of platforms – television, wireless, interactive, print, radio, broadband, event management and consumer products – all with the hopes of fulfilling its original mission of serving sports fans.

In 1996, The Walt Disney Company, under CEO Michael Eisner, acquired Capital Cities/ABC, Inc., which included 80 percent of ESPN.  In 2005, Robert Iger was named CEO of The Walt Disney Co. – after serving as president and COO since 2000 – and continues to oversee ESPN today. In one momentous deal, Disney and ESPN changed the entire landscape of sports and entertainment, combining the sport expertise of ESPN with the creativity and the guest-experience capabilities of Disney.

A Field of Dreams Fully Realized

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Today, the newly renamed ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort represents the perfect intersection of sports and entertainment – Disney’s sports complex as the leading multi-sport venue in the nation combining with ESPN’s stature as the preeminent sports entertainment media outlet in the world.

The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex marks the latest collaboration between the two powerful brands. The two companies have worked together successfully in the past on such events as the X Games Trials, the Old Spice Classic NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and ESPN RISE Games. Most notably, ESPN and Walt Disney World Resort together stage ESPN The Weekend, the sports-themed special event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios that has been a virtual “Who’s Who” of celebrity athletes and personalities. In all, ESPN televises dozens of events from Walt Disney World Resort each year.

ESPN Designates ESPN WWoS Complex Official 3D Development Center

Recognizing the need for a real-world testing ground to continue the development of ESPN 3D, ESPN has designated the ESPN Innovation Lab at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex as the hub for developing 3D technology. ESPN will invite various technology companies to utilize the site for emerging technology enhancements focused on 3D television. In addition to the resources at the Innovation Lab, ESPN will bring online a new production center that can be used for producing live sporting events for multiple ESPN platforms.

The Innovation Lab and the new Production Center based at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex gives ESPN a designated testing ground to continue creating a robust ESPN 3D network. This complex provides ESPN access to more than 300 sporting events which means 3D production testing can occur throughout the year.  The research ESPN gathers through these facilities will set the pace for innovation and provide fans the best 3D on-air coverage of sporting events.
Chuck Pagano, executive vice president, technology, ESPN

The new Production Center will also serve as a training facility for production personnel to gain experience in telecasting 3D events. This facility houses eight edit rooms which will feed highlights into the main server system based in Bristol, Conn. Also, the Production Center controls 42 robotic cameras scattered throughout the complex which will capture highlights from the various playing venues. The facility also has 10 ENG cameras and four EFP cameras. The production control room has 16 channels of bi-directional video along with audio ingest, play-out capabilities, graphics building and more.

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ESPN’s Innovation Lab opened in October 2009. It has produced two innovative production elements, Ball Track and ESPN Snap Zoom. Ball Track is a Doppler radar hit-tracking system that has the ability to track home runs showing the distance and height of the ball in-flight, updating continuously during the ball’s flight. It debuted on the 2009 MLB Home Run Derby telecast on July 13. ESPN Snap Zoom debuted on Monday Night Football on Sept. 28 and is a freeze-frame technology that brings the fan closer to the play by zooming in an area of interest and providing insight to a current action on the field thus giving the viewer a different view on a particular focus of play.

ESPN 3D, the industry’s first 3D television network, will showcase a minimum of 85 live sporting events during its first year, beginning with the first 2010 FIFA World Cup match on June 11 featuring South Africa vs. Mexico. Other events to be produced in 3D include up to 25 2010 FIFA World Cup matches, NBA, X Games 16, college basketball and college football, which will include the BCS National Championship game in Glendale, Ariz., Jan. 10, 2011. Additional events will be announced at a later date.

About ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, which hosts more than 300 events a year, is the leading multi-sport venue for amateur and professional sports in the United States, accommodating 60 different sports and athletes from more than 70 countries.  Designed to take youth sports to the next level, the 220-acre facility features: The Fieldhouse, a 165,000-square-foot field house which seats 5,500 for basketball; Champion Stadium ballpark (cap. 11,500); Hess Sports Fields, which include multiple baseball, softball and soccer fields; Jostens Center, an 80,000-square-foot multi-sport fieldhouse; and Innovation Lab, a real-world testing ground for the ESPN Emerging Technology group to develop ground-breaking on-air products like Ball Track and ESPN Snap Zoom.  In addition, the complex features 56 high-definition cameras (42 robotic, 10 handheld and four studio) and 40 high-definition video screens, including three jumbo screens, that can capture and display footage from any event taking place at the complex.  The camera and video screens, as well as a 20-zone audio system, are controlled through a state-of-the-art Production Center that features eight edit bays and links to ESPN facilities in Bristol, Conn., New York and Los Angeles. Follow Disney Sports on Twitter at @DisneySports.

ESPN WWoS Complex Expands Diversity of Events in 2010

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Already distinguished for its unparalleled diversity of sport, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex has added an even wider variety of events in 2010 and beyond, highlighted by the debut of its first-ever Major League Gaming Pro Circuit tournament and the expansion of events that are part of the ESPN RISE Games.  New and expanded events range from traditional sports (baseball, softball and soccer) to up-and-coming sports (lacrosse and rugby) to non-traditional sports (Major League Gaming and VEX Robotics).

The ESPN RISE Games in July is expected to expand considerably, with more than triple the number of athletes from last year.  In its second year, the event includes seven sports, with new events involving AAU basketball, U.S. Lacrosse and USSSA softball.

This year, the complex will serve as a 2010 tournament stop on the Major League Gaming Pro Circuit, bringing together the nation’s top professional and amateur video gamers for a three-day competition at the complex.  In all, the tournament plans to attract more than 250 teams, comprised of nearly 2,500 gamers, with competitors facing off in a variety of popular games.  Major League Gaming is the largest professional video game league in the world, targeting the approximately 40 million North American consumers who have a passion for playing video games as a competitive social activity.

The famed Harlem Globetrotters returned to the facility for a special performance on Feb. 25 as part of the official re-launch of ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.  The clown princes of basketball played the Washington Generals in a special performance featuring sports celebrities, ESPN personalities and Disney characters, in a game that aired on ESPN2 on Feb. 26.  The Globetrotters have entertained fans around the world for more than 84 seasons and have won more than 23,000 games.

Capitalizing on the excitement of the upcoming FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Walt Disney World Resort will host viewing parties across the resort, including at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, for guests looking to follow the action of their favorite countries while on vacation.

There are also a number of other traditional, up-and-coming and non-traditional sports events taking place at the complex:

TRADITIONAL:

Varsity Brands has extended its relationship with Walt Disney World Resort through 2014 and will look to add to its list of national cheerleading championships and events that currently includesthe College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship, theNational High School Cheerleading Championship, the National All Star Cheerleading Championship, the National Dance Team Championships and the Cheerleading and Dance Worlds Championship.  These championships are broadcast on ESPN and ESPN2 to more than 90 million homes each year.  More than 40,000 cheerleaders and 80,000 fans attend these events annually.

Those events join several other recently announced events such as the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend, Oct. 1-2, which culminates with a 13.1-mile nighttime race and after-hours party inside the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.  And the inaugural Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic (Feb. 25 and 27), a four-team exhibition event featuring two-time MLS Cup Champion Houston Dynamo, the New York Red Bulls, who reached 2008 MLS Cup Final, FC Dallasand Toronto FC.

USSSA, a longstanding partner of the complex, has expanded its event offerings to include a new 64-team elite baseball national championship, and two additional girls fast pitch softball national championships.  Additionally, the USSSA Pride, a pro women’s softball team, will be playing two four-game homestands at the complex in the summer of 2010.

Another new event is the Rawlings Gold Glove baseball tournament, an invitational tournament with players (ages 10-18) from around the country, scheduled for fall 2010.

Pop Warner Little Scholars, the parent organization of the Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheerleader Championships, has expanded its event lineup to include Pop Warner-branded flag football tournaments.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will be hosting the NIKE Football Combines, providing SPARQ testing to thousands of high school athletes wanting to measure and track their athletic capabilities.

UP-AND-COMING:

The national governing bodies (NGB) for USA wrestling, judo, gymnastics, fencing and lacrosse have extended their relationships with ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and will host several new and expanded events between 2010 and 2013.

The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) has extended its involvement through 2014, with the complex hosting the 2011 MAAC Men’s Soccer Championships, the 2012 MAAC Cross Country Championships, the 2013 MAAC Women’s Soccer Championships and the 2014 MAAC Volleyball Championships.  The MAAC has hosted conference championships at Walt Disney World Resort since 1998.

In September, the complex will host the Touch Rugby USA Nationals, an international rugby tournament with limited physical contact.  The event features some of the best adult touch rugby athletes from around the world.

Disney’s Soccer Showcase, which features the top youth soccer players in the nation, will add a fourth college showcase tournament to its popular lineup of events in the summer of 2010.

AAU is expanding its national championship events at the complex with the addition of three more girls’ basketball championships and showcase tournaments, and the addition of a boys and girls national cross country championship in December.

The high school and college spring training program, presented by Champion, at the sports complex, which involves baseball, softball, lacrosse and track & field teams from around the country training at the sports complex, will expand to include golf this year.

A volleyball summer camp in June, hosted by Kaylee Scholarship Association, will become the first-ever high school team camp offering.

NON-TRADITIONAL:

In November, the VEX Robotics competition returns for the annual VEX Robotics All-Star Challenge Tournament.  The Vex Robotics Competition, the largest secondary school robotics program in the world with more than 2,500 teams in 20 countries, features middle school and high school teams competing against each other with their student-built robots in a game that tests their science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills.

The Iron Kids Triathlon has been added to the Iron Man 70.3 Florida Triathlon Weekend, held at Walt Disney World Resort.  Similar to the Iron Man event, the Iron Kids Triathlon involves swimming, biking and running.

New and Expanded Events for 2010 and Beyond

• ESPN RISE Games
• Major League Gaming
• Harlem Globetrotters
• Major League Soccer
• FIFA World Cup Viewing
• Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend
• Rawlings Gold Glove Baseball Tournament
• Pop Warner Flag Football
• Varsity Brands
• AAU Girls Basketball Championships and Showcase
• Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships
• USSSA Baseball and Softball
• VEX Robotics
• Touch Rugby USA Nationals
• Kaylee Scholarship Association Volleyball Summer Camp
• Iron Kids Triathlon
• New Events Tied to National Governing Bodies for Wrestling, Judo, Gymnastics, Fencing and Lacrosse
• Disney Soccer Showcase
• Disney High School Spring Training Program

ESPN WWoS Complex Key Annual Sporting Events

The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is home to more than 300 events each year, accommodating 60 different sports, and drawing athletes from more than 70 countries. Competitors range from the young to the old, from the amateur and highly skilled to the Special Olympian and the weekend warrior. Below are a handful of signature events:

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Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by CIGNA (January)

The Walt Disney World Marathon began in 1994 and takes runners along a magical 26.2-mile journey through all four Disney theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom).  Known as one of the top family-destination races, marathon weekend attracts more than 55,000 runners and their families (more than 100,000 people total) to enjoy the weekend’s activities – Kids Races, a Family 5K, half marathon, marathon and Health & Fitness Expo.

Tom Shaw Performance Camp (February)

Since 2006, renowned speed and conditioning coach Tom Shaw has trained some of the top NFL players at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Notable athletes include Deion Sanders, Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes (Pittsburgh Steelers), 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison (Pittsburgh Steelers), Calvin Johnson (Detroit Lions), Glenn Dorsey (Kansas City Chiefs), Chris Johnson (Tennessee Titans) and Devin Hester (Chicago Bears).

Atlanta Braves Spring Training (February-March)

On March 27, 1997, the Atlanta Braves exhibition game versus the Cincinnati Reds marked the grand opening of the sports complex. Led by manager Bobby Cox and perennial all-star Chipper Jones, the Braves enjoyed a string of nine straight division titles while at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, and now feature one of the most promising young teams in baseball.

Cheerleading Worlds Championship (April)

Considered the Super Bowl of cheerleading events, the Cheerleading Worlds Championship features the globe’s best cheerleading squads. Participation in the event has grown dramatically from three international teams representing two countries to more than 100 teams (8,500 cheerleaders) from 40 countries.

AAU Boys Basketball National Championships (July)

The tournament features some of the top high school-age players from across the country. Known as a breeding ground for future NBA stars (Lebron James, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade), the event attracts NCAA coaches from the top basketball programs, making it the premier collegiate recruiting event in the nation.

ESPN RISE Games presented by Target (July)

The multi-sport festival anchored by several elite high school sports events including the AAU 17-under Boys Basketball Super Showcase, the Under Armour High School Softball All-American game and the Gridiron Kings, an elite 7-on-7 football event. The event also includes an open division for baseball, basketball, field hockey, lacrosse and track & field competitions.

Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend (debuts October 2010)

The Disney Wine & Dine Fall Half Marathon Weekend will make its debut Oct. 1-2, 2010. The nighttime race will take participants through multiple theme parks and will culminate at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival for an exclusive after-hours party. The weekend will include Mickey’s Halloween Family Fun Run 5K, Kids Races and the event’s first-ever half marathon two-person relay.

Children’s Miracle Network Classic (November)

Since 1971, the PGA TOUR’s most magical stop has taken place at Walt Disney World Resort. The Palm and Magnolia golf courses play host to the final tournament of the PGA TOUR Fall Series. Notable winners of the event include Jack Nicklaus, who won the first three Classics (’71-’73), Payne Stewart (’83), Tiger Woods (’96, ’99), Vijay Singh (’04), Davis Love III (’08) and Stephen Ames (’07,’09).

Old Spice Classic (November)

The premier pre-season Division I event is an eight-team, 12-game men’s basketball tournament that takes place over Thanksgiving weekend and features some of the top collegiate teams in America. Past winners include Arkansas (2006), North Carolina State (2007), Gonzaga (2008) and Florida State (2009).  Competing this year will be Notre Dame, Temple, Boston College, California, Georgia, Manhattan College, Texas A&M and Wisconsin.

The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards/Disney Spirit Award (December)

The star-studded awards show features the live presentation of nine of college football’s most prestigious awards, along with Disney’s Spirit Award. The event takes place at Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney’s BoardWalk. Disney’s Spirit Award has been presented annually to college football’s most inspirational figure since 1996, including Tim Tebow in 2008 and Mark Herzlich in 2009.

Pop Warner Super Bowl (December)

Sixty-four of the top youth football teams in the nation compete in this week-long Super Bowl after advancing through regional competitions. National crowns will be won in four divisions based on size and age – Jr. Pee Wee (ages 8-11 yrs.), Pee Wee (9-12 yrs.), Jr. Midget (10-13 yrs.) and Midget (11-15 yrs.). The Pop Warner National Cheer & Dance Championships also takes place, bringing together thousands of cheerleaders from across the country.

Disney’s Soccer Showcase presented by Chelsea Football Club (December)

Widely regarded as the leading elite youth soccer tournament in the nation, this event annually attracts the top high school-aged boys and girls soccer players from across the country. The tournament features more than 500 teams (roughly 9,500 athletes). More than 800 college coaches attend, making it the place where top college prospects are recruited.

ESPN WWoS Complex Breakdown

ARCHITECTURE (Overall Facility)

Architect: David Schwarz (Washington, D.C.). Schwarz also designed The Ballpark at Arlington, home of Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers.

Design: “Florida Picturesque” style embodies a Florida- or Mediterranean-flavor design with Spanish-style roofing, blue and green accent tiling, vibrant yellow colors and symmetrical tower-like structures.

Venues: Champion Stadium, The Fieldhouse, Jostens Center , Hess Sports Fields, Baseball Quadraplex, Softball Complex, Tennis Complex, Track & Field Complex, including cross country, covered training facility, Production Center and Welcome Center. A state-of-the-art bowling center is coming in 2012.

Other amenities: Expanded retail pop-ups (four locations), ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill, PlayStation Pavilion, a welcome center and a parking lot with more than 5,000 spaces.

CHAMPION STADIUM

The centerpiece of the sports complex, Champion Stadium is a retro-style Major League Baseball ballpark that annually hosts MLB spring training (Atlanta Braves) and numerous amateur tournaments. With permanent seating and existing infrastructure, the facility can also host concerts, corporate hospitality functions, event opening ceremonies and other large gatherings.

Maximum capacity for 11,500 guests, including 9,500 permanent upper and lower deck seats (80 percent are located between first and third base), plus a grass berm in left field that offers seating for an additional 2,000+ guests.

Four luxury suites (all include indoor and outdoor seating areas), plus an additional suite that features a large conference room; two upper-level outdoor suites; and two mezzanine-level outdoor terraces.

Display booth equipped with state-of-the-art production equipment for managing in-stadium entertainment, including a 33’ 7” wide by 21’7” high jumbo screen which can display ESPN programming, customized videos, daily highlight reels and interviews from the sports complex.

PRODUCTION CENTER

2,500 square foot state-of-the-art facility with eight edit bays and uplinks to ESPN in Bristol, Conn., Los Angeles and New York.

56 high-definition cameras (42 robotic, 10 handheld and four studio) and 40 high-definition video screens, including 3 jumbo screens that can capture and display footage, event highlights and interviews that will broadcast throughout the complex and on various Disney and ESPN platforms.

THE FIELDHOUSE

Versatile indoor arena includes high arches and trusses and other architectural and design elements reminiscent of a classic 1950s style fieldhouse (capacity: 5,500). This multi-purpose facility can accommodate virtually any indoor sport that does not require ice, including basketball, wrestling, gymnastics, volleyball, martial arts, team handball, roller hockey, cheerleading and dance, trampoline and tumbling, indoor tennis, etc., in addition to concerts and conventions.

Room for six full-size collegiate basketball courts (four on main level and two upstairs on auxiliary court).

JOSTENS CENTER

A state-of-the-art multi-sport fieldhouse, Jostens Center includes space for six college-size basketball courts, or 12 regulation-size volleyball courts, or two roller hockey rinks, and four locker rooms, two conference rooms and two officials’ rooms.

HESS SPORTS FIELDS

The Sports Fields venue, sponsored by Amerada Hess Corporation, are large enough to accommodate a variety of outdoor sports — soccer, football, lacrosse, baseball, field hockey, rugby, softball, cricket, etc.  The seven grass playing surfaces and four fields may be used collectively for one large event or multiple events may take place simultaneously on various fields.

Permanent bleacher seating is available at each field and additional bleachers may be added for larger events (capacity: 10,000).

BASEBALL QUADRAPLEX/ SOFTBALL COMPLEX

The Baseball Quadraplex includes four professional baseball fields and a half field (used for infield drills). The quad annually hosts MLB players during spring training and minor league players during Rookie League (Gulf Coast League) and Fall Instructional League seasons, as well as camps, clinics and tournaments for amateur and youth players.

The Softball Complex includes six fields that can accommodate fastpitch and slowpitch softball, as well as youth baseball (12 and younger).

TENNIS COMPLEX

Tennis complex includes 10 “HAR TRU” green clay courts, including a stadium court, and can accommodate events ranging from youth clinics to major professional tournaments. Formerly hosted U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships on ATP Tour (1997-2000).

TRACK & FIELD COMPLEX

World-class 400-meter polyurethane Track & Field Complex meets IAAF world governing body standards and measurements, and is consistent with Olympic T&F venues throughout the world.

The Track & Field Complex features an adaptable Cross Country Course.

ESPN WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS GRILL

An enlarged and enhanced sports-themed fast casual restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating located across from Champion Stadium. The restaurant contains a full bar and menu items include burgers, pizza, signature sandwiches and salads, along with a variety of desserts and beverages.

Includes high-definition TV screens, live radio remote capabilities and a SportsCenter desk.

ESPN INNOVATION LAB

New home for the Emerging Technology group at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Facility develops various broadcast-related technologies that eventually may make their way to air on ESPN Networks.

ESPN has utilized the sports complex and its numerous sporting events to build and test future on-air applications, such as player and object tracking and player game simulation.

UNIQUE EXTRAS

Retail facilities: Three sports-themed merchandise locations reside at the sports complex, while customized merchandise vehicles are located throughout the other venues during individual events.

The Welcome Center provides assistance to sports complex guests during their visit to Walt Disney World Resort, including planning for theme park visits, dining and golf reservations.

The PlayStation Pavilion features 17 state-of-the-art PlayStation 3 systems, including a SingStar stage, and a collection of just-released game titles.

ESPN WWoS Complex Quick Facts

The complex incorporates the signature elements of ESPN for a one-of-a-kind experience that is designed to take youth sports to the next level and make athletes, coaches and fans feel as if they made it to the “big time” and on to ESPN.

The complex features a 20-zone audio system, 56 high-definition cameras (42 robotic, 10 handheld and four studio) and 40 high-definition video screens, including three jumbo screens, that can capture any competition at the complex and display live action, game highlights, player interviews and ESPN programming.

A new 2,500-square-foot state-of-the-art Production Center with eight edit bays and uplinks to ESPN facilities in Bristol, Conn., New York and Los Angeles provides competition footage to various ESPN media platforms such as ESPN, ESPNRISE.com and ESPN3.com.

The ESPN Innovation Lab, where new ground-breaking on-air products are developed and tested utilizing the athletes and events taking place at the complex.  Additionally, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex was recently designated as ESPN’s development hub for 3D telecast technology.

A redesigned and renamed ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill, a sports-themed eatery with high-definition TV screens, live radio remote capabilities and a SportsCenter desk.

The PlayStation Pavilion features 17 PlayStation 3 systems, including a SingStar stage, and a collection of just-released sports-themed games and other titles.

The Welcome Center is an information hub for sports complex guests looking for sports event information as well as theme park information, dining reservation, golf tee times, etc.

About ESPN, Inc.

ESPN, Inc. is the world’s leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring a portfolio of over 50 multimedia sports assets.  The company is comprised of six domestic television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPNU), ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS and ESPNU HD simulcast services, ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International (46 networks, syndication, radio, Web sites), ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Enterprises, ESPN PPV, ESPN Zones (sports-themed restaurants), and other growing new businesses including ESPN3.com (Broadband), ESPN Mobile Properties, ESPN on Demand and ESPN Interactive. Based in Bristol, Ct., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN.

About ESPN Technology:

ESPN Technology develops the ideas and applications that bring the fan closer to the game with new, innovative production enhancements.  ESPN’s technology team designed and supports two of the most technologically advanced production centers in the world, the Digital Center in Bristol, Conn., and the Los Angeles Production Center which is the first 1080p-capable production facility. In addition, the Emerging Technology Group has developed many on-air advancements over the past 30 years, including virtual graphics applications, Huck-O-Meter and the Emmy-winning EA Virtual Playbook.

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The widely acclaimed sports facility at Walt Disney World Resort was officially re-launched as ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on Thursday, Feb. 25, in an elaborate Hollywood-style “turf carpet” event that featured celebrities, Florida’s governor, ESPN on-air commentators and sports stars from the NFL, MLB, LPGA, Olympics and more.

Shawn Johnson (Olympic gold medal gymnast), Chad Ochocinco (Cincinnati Bengals), Jennie Finch (Olympic softball gold medalist), Santonio Holmes (Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl MVP) and Annika Sorenstam (LPGA) were among the star athletes who joined popular ESPN on-air personalities on the red carpet that was painted green with yard lines to resemble a football field.  Florida governor Charlie Crist and senior executives from Disney and ESPN officially re-launched the 220-acre sports complex as Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints kicker Garrett Hartley booted a football over the re-designed complex entrance amid fireworks and a sea of confetti.

Immediately afterwards, Mickey Mouse led a throng of youth and pro athletes – representing the 60-plus sports held at the complex – through a huge ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex banner draped over the entrance.

Afterwards, the celebrities, athletes and ESPN personalities attended a special reception at the complex’s re-themed ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill, followed by a special performance by the Harlem Globetrotters that featured Hartley, Sorenstam, Maurice Jones-Drew, Brandi Chastain and ESPN radio personalities Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic, who served as honorary assistant coaches.  The game, called by ESPN’s “SportsNation” co-hosts Colin Cowherd and Michelle Beadle, airs Friday on ESPN2.

At ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, we are giving America’s youth athletes a one-of-a-kind youth sports experience that leaves them feeling as if they have reached the big time and made it onto ESPN. Our goal is to ensure that the millions of athletes, coaches and fans who come through this sports complex at Walt Disney World Resort will walk in loving sports and walk out knowing that sports loves them back.
Ken Potrock, senior vice president of Disney Sports Enterprises

The re-imagined ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is taking youth sports to the next level by providing an immersive sports experience for the more than 2 million athletes, coaches and fans who come to the complex each year, while also connecting them to their favorite ESPN programs, personalities and elements.  It also provides advertisers a new platform to reach the youth sports market.

As part of the project, Disney and ESPN have added many technological and experiential enhancements designed to replicate the signature elements of ESPN throughout the complex, including 56 high-definition cameras (42 robotic, 10 handheld and four studio), 40 high-definition video screens at 17 locations (including three jumbo screens) and a 2,500-square-foot Production Center with links to ESPN facilities in Bristol, Conn., New York and Los Angeles.  Also, there is a 20-zone audio system, a welcome center, a huge complex marquee and the Innovation Lab where the ESPN Emerging Technology group is testing and developing innovative new on-air applications.

This complex embodies the ESPN and Disney commitment to excellence, ensuring that athletes and their families have the best possible experience. It is our hope that, win or lose, every athlete who competes at the complex will walk away with lifelong memories.
George Bodenheimer, president, ESPN, Inc. and ABC Sports and co-chairman, Disney Media Networks

The re-imagining of ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is the latest initiative in the growing sports business at Walt Disney World Resort.  In late 2007, the sports complex added additional outdoor playing fields for football, soccer, lacrosse and field hockey competitions.  And in 2008, the sports complex opened Jostens Center, a state-of-the-art fieldhouse that allows Disney to accommodate twice as many indoor sports events each year.  Additional expansion plans are in development, including a planned 100-lane bowling facility.

Disney Sports annually stages more than 300 events and has accommodated approximately 60 different sports involving athletes from more than 70 countries.  Among those events are Atlanta Braves spring training, Chelsea Football Club events, the Pop Warner Super Bowl, AAU National Championships, Varsity Cheer events, the World Cheerleading Championships, the ESPN RISE Games, USSSA events and the Walt Disney World Marathon, one of the top marathons in the nation.  ESPN televises dozens of sporting events from the complex, and Walt Disney World Resort and ESPN also annually work together to host the popular ESPN The Weekend presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the complex.

About ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, which hosts more than 300 events a year, is the leading multi-sport venue for amateur and professional sports in the United States, accommodating 60 different sports and athletes from more than 70 countries.  Designed to take youth sports to the next level, the 220-acre facility features: The Fieldhouse, a 165,000-square-foot field house which seats 5,500 for basketball; Champion Stadium ballpark (cap. 11,500); Hess Sports Fields, which include multiple baseball, softball and soccer fields; Jostens Center, an 80,000-square-foot multi-sport fieldhouse; and Innovation Lab, a real-world testing ground for the ESPN Emerging Technology group to develop ground-breaking on-air products like Ball Track and ESPN Snap Zoom.  In addition, the complex features 56 high-definition cameras (42 robotic, 10 handheld and four studio) and 40 high-definition video screens, including three jumbo screens, that can capture and display footage from any event taking place at the complex. The camera and video screens, as well as a 20-zone audio system, are controlled through the state-of-the-art Production Center that features eight edit bays and links to ESPN facilities in Bristol, Conn., New York and Los Angeles.  For more information, visit www.wdwnews.com for releases, photos and videos.  Follow us on Twitter at @DisneySports.

Variety of Sports/Competitions

Adventure, Racing, Archery, Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Bass Fishing, BMX Racing, Bowling, Boxing, Canine Agility, Cheerleading, Cricket, Cross Country, Dance, Dodge Ball, Dragon Boat, Fast Pitch Softball, Fencing, Field Hockey, Flag Football, Foot Bag, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, In Line Hockey, In Line Skating, Judo, Jump Rope, Karate, Lacrosse, Marathon, Martial Arts, Paintball, Powerlifting, Robotics, Rugby, Running, Soccer, Softball, Surfing, Table Tennis, Tae-Kwon-Do, Team Handball, Tennis, Track & Field, Trampoline & Tumbling, Triathlon, Twirl, Video Gaming, Volleyball, Wake Boarding, Walking, Water Skiing, Weightlifting, Wrestling

And more…

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ESPN and the Walt Disney World Resort are again offering fans the opportunity to see and hear many ESPN personalities, including “Mike & Mike in the Morning” co-hosts Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg, who are celebrating their 10years together next week.  In addition, current and legendary athletes on hand include Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia and former Heisman Trophy winner and current University of South Carolina football coachSteve Spurrier.  ESPN The Weekend presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods, Feb. 25-28, is a one-of-a-kind sports-themed special event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park and the newly re-imagined ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Additionally, ESPN personalities John Anderson, Tedy Bruschi, Colin Cowherd, Ron Jaworski, Karl Ravech, Sage Steele, Dick Vitale and Trey Wingo are scheduled to participate, along with more than 30 athletes, including running back Maurice Jones-Drew, tight end Jason Witten, kicker Adam Vinatieri and safety Brian Dawkins; New York Yankees CC Sabathia and Joba Chamberlain; MLB legends Curt Schilling, Bernie Williams and Hall of Famers Andre Dawson and Jim Palmer; NFL Hall of Famers Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas and Darrell Green; former LPGA golfer Annika Sorenstam; and U.S. Olympic gold medalists Shawn Johnson and Brandi Chastain, among many others.  The ESPN personalities and sports celebrities expected to attend the sixth annual event are listed at www.espntheweekend.com (Click on Who’s Coming).

ESPN The Weekend will feature on-site telecasts of popular ESPN programs (beginning Thursday, Feb. 25), including “Baseball Tonight,” “First Take,” “Mike & Mike in the Morning,” “NFL Live” and interview segments on “SportsCenter”; motorcades and Q&A sessions with athletes and ESPN personalities; Inside ESPN sports shows with commentators and athletes; live ESPN Radio broadcasts; and the ESPN Sports Zone interactive area. Dick’s Sporting Goods will serve as presenting sponsor of the event for the fourth consecutive year.

This year, the event branches out to the soon-to-be relaunched ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, formerly Disney’s Wide World of Sports, for a special performance by the Harlem Globetrotters (Feb 25) and two days of Major League soccer action, which help kick off the grand opening of the 220-acre multi-sport venue.

To find the latest updates on Twitter for ESPN The Weekend, go to @DisneySports and search #ESPNWKND.

Live On-Site ESPN Telecasts

ESPN will present live telecasts – including “First Take” and “NFL Live” from a set in front of Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat on Hollywood Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  Park guests will have a chance to appear on-air via crowd shots while watching the programming on video screens. Popular ESPN Radio shows “Mike & Mike in the Morning” and “The Herd”with Colin Cowherd will be broadcast live from the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Feb. 25-26. As Major League Baseball Spring Training games get underway in Florida, ESPN’s on-site program lineup will feature a special two-hour “Baseball Tonight” with host Karl Ravech and analysts John Kruk, Bobby Valentine and Chris Singleton from the theme park Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. ET as ESPN’s popular baseball news, information and highlights show kicks off its 21st season.

Mike & Mike Celebrate 10 Years Together

ESPN Radio’s “Mike & Mike in the Morning”will celebrate the show’s 10th anniversary at the newly re-imagined ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort on Wednesday, Feb. 24 (6-10 a.m. ET). ESPN Radio’s popular morning-drive show hosted by Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic launched in January 2000.  Today the show is heard (and seen on ESPN2) by more than 12 million listeners each week on more than 350 stations nationwide.

Inside ESPN

Live stage shows will bring fans and guests behind-the-scenes of some of the network’s most popular programs, including “SportsCenter,” “Baseball Tonight,” “First Take,” “NFL Live” and “Stump the Schwab.” The shows will provide an inside look at favorite athletes, teams and ESPN programs. Fans can get into the action themselves by asking questions directly to ESPN personalities and athletes.

Dream Job – The Experience

Guests who think they have what it takes to be on “SportsCenter”can experience what it’s like to audition for ESPN. Select contestants will go through a series of on-air tasks and the audience will select the best sportscaster during each show. ESPN personalities and sports celebrities will help mentor contestants as part of the experience.

Motorcades and Conversations

Periodically throughout each day, sports stars will motorcade up Hollywood Boulevard to the stage at the base of Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat and join ESPN commentators for conversations about their careers and Q&A sessions with park guests.

ESPN Sports Zone Interactive Area

The ESPN Sports Zone will give guests of all ages the opportunity to test their skills at a wide variety of sports. MLB-, NBA-, NFL- and BASS-themed interactive areas within the Zone will have fans swinging for the fences, shooting baskets and throwing passes, as well as Dick’s Sporting Goods’ Sports Caravan, a multi-sport interactive area.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Re-Launch Event

ESPN innovation and entertainment joins the magic and hospitality of Walt Disney World Resort when the gates open with a special grand opening event at the newly re-imagined ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on Feb. 25.  Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver ChadOchocinco, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall, and a number of other popular athletes and ESPN personalities are expected to be in attendance, along withGeorge Bodenheimer, president, ESPN, Inc. and ABC Sports and co-chairman Disney Media Networks, Meg Crofton, president, Walt Disney World Resort, and Ken Potrock, senior vice president, Disney Sports Enterprises. From a state-of-the-art digital center to professionally kept fields and courts, there will be no other sports facility like this on Earth.  Key festivities include a special grand opening ceremony, live ESPN Radio broadcasts and a variety of sports competitions. Opened originally as Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in 1997, the multi-sport complex annually hosts more than 300 events a year, including Atlanta Braves Spring Training at Champion Stadium. 

Harlem Globetrotters

The world-famous Harlem Globetrotters take center court to help tip off the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex relaunch Thursday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m.  The clown princes of basketball, including Globetrotter stars Special K Daley, Flight Time Lang and Big Easy Lofton, have entertained fans for more than 84 seasons and boast over 23,000 wins. This special performance will feature Greenberg and Golic as honorary coaches, along with a number of other popular athletes and ESPN personalities joining in on the fun at The Milk House. The game will air on ESPN2 the following day, Friday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m., and ESPN’s Emerging Technology Group will use the game as a test for the company’s planned ESPN 3D network launch this summer.

5K Road Race and Fun Run

The Champion 5K returns for its second year at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Saturday, Feb. 27, at 7 a.m., challenging runners along the course with ESPN and sports trivia and will feature athletes and ESPN personalities, including John Anderson, Dana Jacobson andTrey Wingo.  The 5K will benefit The V Foundation for Cancer Research, and all participants will receive a T-shirt and finisher’s medal.  There will also be a Fun Run for kids at 8 a.m.  To register, visit www.disneyenduranceseries.com.

Major League Soccer at ESPN Wide World of Sports

Helping kick off the relaunch at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, four Major League Soccer clubs, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC, will compete in the inaugural Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic Feb. 25 and 27.  On Thursday, Feb. 25, the Houston Dynamo faces the New York Red Bulls at 6 p.m., followed by FC Dallas versus Toronto FC at 8:30 p.m.  On Saturday, Feb. 27, the two losing teams will kick off at 6 p.m., with the two winners playing in the championship game at 8:30 p.m.

Ticketing and Admission

Event activities are included in regular admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Walt Disney World innovative ticket pricing system, Magic Your Way, provides guests with the opportunity to customize their vacations and Florida residents can save on tickets all year long. Separate tickets must be purchased for events at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

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On the calendar, summer doesn’t arrive until June 21. On the thermometer, however, it’s already summer-like by May in central Florida with average daytime highs in the upper 80s. In June, July and August, average highs are in the low 90s.

So what’s a guest to do to make vacation a splash?

Walt Disney World Resort features more than 50 themed pools – and sometimes sandy beaches – at more than 20 resort hotels. The pools are a perfect place to make a splash mid-day, taking a break from the theme parks during the historically busiest time at the parks. (Resort reservations are available at 407/W-DISNEY, online at Disneyworld.com or through a travel agent.)

But all the fun isn’t IN the water; there’s also plenty of recreation ON the water of the 850 acres of lake surface at Walt Disney World Resort. Eleven marinas across the property rent a navy’s worth of watercraft – more than 500 Sea Raycers, canopy boats, float boats, jet boats, sailboats, rowing boats, pedal boats and canoes.

There’s also water skiing, bass fishing excursions and surf lessons.

Surf lessons in central Florida? Right! Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park is home to a two-and-one-half-acre wave-making lagoon with surfing-size waves. By advance reservation (407/WDW-PLAY), guests can participate in a 2½-hour learn-to-surf program that takes place prior to Typhoon Lagoon opening on designated mornings.

Summer wouldn’t be summer without the splashy fun of Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon or Disney’s Blizzard Beach, two of the most popular water parks in the world. When the sun heats up, the fun begins at both water parks. From the speediest speed slide to the laziest stream perfect for inner-tubing, Disney’s water parks have it all.

Greeting guests this summer are new premium spaces aimed at letting guests luxuriate on their water parks day. Six “Polar Patios” at Blizzard Beach and six “Beachcomber Shacks” at Typhoon Lagoon can take relaxation to a new level.

Each space includes upgraded furniture, towels, waiter service, private locker, all-day drink mugs, a cooler with ice and bottled water. Pricing depends on date and time of visit. Callers to 407/WDW-PLAY can get pricing, reservations and more information.

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© Copyright Disney

ESPN has cooked up a Thanksgiving weekend basketball feast so big that even if a match-up or two turns out to be a proverbial “turkey” the event still will provide roundball junkies with a memorable holiday treat.

The fourth annual Old Spice Classic at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex will feature eight teams – six of which reached the postseason last spring – in 12 games over three days, Nov. 26-27 and Nov. 29. Alabama, Baylor, Creighton, Florida State, Iona, Marquette, Michigan and Xavier will compete, each playing a game per day through a bracket-tournament format at Walt Disney World Resort.

First-round games on Nov. 26 (all times are ET): Creighton vs. Michigan, 12 noon (ESPN2), Marquette vs. Xavier, 2 p.m. (ESPN2), Alabama vs. Baylor, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN2) and Florida State vs. Iona, 9 p.m. (ESPNU). The two teams that remain undefeated through the first two days of play will face off in a championship match on Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2).

Each of the three previous years, the Old Spice Classic has produced a champion from a different conference, including Gonzaga (West Coast Conference) last year with a championship game win over Tennessee (Southeastern Conference). Arkansas claimed the inaugural title in 2006 and North Carolina State won the Classic in 2007.

Tickets for the 2009 Old Spice Classic are on sale at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 407/839-3900. Fans also can purchase travel packages to the tournament. Information is available at AnthonyTravel.com or by calling 800/736-6377.

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