ESPN Club - Will it reopen?

[TreAntDeu]

Either a captain cooks tier themed(match hotel theme) quick service and dining area OR a bar/lounge with music.

 

[Kona Kouple]

Either a captain cooks tier themed(match hotel theme) quick service and dining area OR a bar/lounge with music.

Agreed. It needs a quick service upgrade, to me the bakery needs a little work.

 

[minster22]

My son and I watched the last 4 games of the 2004 ALCS at ESPN after leaving Boston with the Red Sox down 3 games. It was one of the most fun, exciting things we ever have done at Disney, the atmosphere was electric! And lots of Patriots games. I will miss it very much even though the food was terrible!

 

[mrsap]

Looked pretty dreary a couple nights ago

 

[Kona Kouple]

Looked pretty dreary a couple nights ago

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That’s so sad. It used to be wild at night!

 

[TreAntDeu]

Agreed. It needs a quick service upgrade, to me the bakery needs a little work.

The whole area is lacking quick service tbh. Something with that size could really help.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

ESPN Zone will not return.
There are 2 "sports bars" on property now.
Rix at CSR and City Works at DS.
We've watched "our" teams at both several times. At least they don't charge you for the privilege of being assured of seeing your team (like ESPN Zone did)

Food wise it's a wash with Big River, they both had a very similar menu footprint. There's a loss of tables but not food options in the area.

Expanding on the Bakery is the smartest plan. Could even combine both the bakery and pizza in the space. Put something else in the smaller spots.

 

[mattpeto]

ESPN Zone will not return.
There are 2 "sports bars" on property now.
Rix at CSR and City Works at DS.
We've watched "our" teams at both several times. At least they don't charge you for the privilege of being assured of seeing your team (like ESPN Zone did)

Food wise it's a wash with Big River, they both had a very similar menu footprint. There's a loss of tables but not food options in the area.

Expanding on the Bakery is the smartest plan. Could even combine both the bakery and pizza in the space. Put something else in the smaller spots.

I don’t think that’s confirmed at all yet.

 

[Jerseybrew]

Bring back the adventurers club. Good space. Old timey themed. Just need to add a drink minimum or some entry fee. Adv club had too many people sitting watching shows drinking water. Can't sustain without revenue

 

[angelsil]

I know City Works shows games (I've watched them there!) but man was ESPN a nice way to duck in from the heat and catch a game closer to Epcot during the various festivals. Much easier than trying to get to DS during the day for sure.

I would totally be down for an Adventurers Club reboot, but most of all that space just needs to be used. A lot of empty real estate and not enough open on the Boardwalk last time we were there. Hopefully it'll be better in 2 weeks when we're at BWI.

 

[WEDWDW]

ESPN Zone will not return.
There are 2 "sports bars" on property now.
Rix at CSR and City Works at DS.
We've watched "our" teams at both several times. At least they don't charge you for the privilege of being assured of seeing your team (like ESPN Zone did)

Food wise it's a wash with Big River, they both had a very similar menu footprint. There's a loss of tables but not food options in the area.

Expanding on the Bakery is the smartest plan. Could even combine both the bakery and pizza in the space. Put something else in the smaller spots.

But I can't watch a Game at City Works or Rix and then walk into Epcot for the Fireworks,etc.

ESPN Club had LOCATION,LOCATION,LOCATION!!!!

Not giving up on some sort of Sports Bar in that location until I see a permanent decision announced by Disney.

One of the best times I ever had at WDW was when we spent the Morning at Epcot,walked out the IG and on over to ESPN Club to see our Game and were super excited and surprised to be seated in these 2 beauties!

GREAT times!

 

[Mrs.AMC]

The closure, permanent, is confirmed with ESPN. They won’t reopen their restaurant. They’ve closed all of them

I’d never say never but with Abracadra there I’d be shocked to see another bar type environment like adventures club

 

[mattpeto]

The closure, permanent, is confirmed with ESPN. They won’t reopen their restaurant. They’ve closed all of them

I’d never say never but with Abracadra there I’d be shocked to see another bar type environment like adventures club

This is incorrect...

They have permanently closed ESPN Zone restaurants. ESPN Club at the Boardwalk is a different restaurant all together.

EDIT: the last ESPN Zone to close was June 2018. We know ESPN Club was alive and well in March of 2020.

 

[gharter]

My sister owns at Boardwalk. When we were there in May, a manager told her that they were considering adding a food court in that space. I think they need to keep it as it is. We’ve had so many fun nights in there rooting for our teams.

We also own at BW. The only thing it is missing is some type of quick dining (not that we would use it frequently, but would be handy when needed). A food court or some type if counter service dining would be great!

 

[IndyToThere]

My son and I watched the last 4 games of the 2004 ALCS at ESPN after leaving Boston with the Red Sox down 3 games. It was one of the most fun, exciting things we ever have done at Disney, the atmosphere was electric! And lots of Patriots games. I will miss it very much even though the food was terrible!

I'm not a Boston guy, but seeing the last half of that series there must have been awesome. As a baseball fan in general, that was one of the most memorable series I can recall.

My memory of that place was catching a Colts game on an NFL Sunday with my father-in-law while the rest of the family was in the parks (during our 10 day trip). The atmosphere there was really cool on NFL Sundays... they had some 'radio announcers' doing a pre-game trivia show that was neat. Great venue... sad to see it close.

 

[michelleiada]

The closure, permanent, is confirmed with ESPN. They won’t reopen their restaurant. They’ve closed all of them

I’d never say never but with Abracadra there I’d be shocked to see another bar type environment like adventures club

This is so disappointing. So many great memories made in there.

 

[keishashadow]

We also own at BW. The only thing it is missing is some type of quick dining (not that we would use it frequently, but would be handy when needed). A food court or some type if counter service dining would be great!

One of our homes too. Not sure I’d want to see a food court unless it veered from standard value resort offerings into those a bit more inventive (as in other deluxe resorts). A seafood-chicken themed one wound be a good fit.

 

[mattpeto]

This is so disappointing. So many great memories made in there.

I have no inside info but please refer to the info above. This is not a done deal yet, it still could still return.

 

[stoudt6]

This is sad to hear. Espn club was always full and a must (sometimes multiple times ) when I was there. I know year or 2 pre-pandemic that they changed the management and there was a lot of departures of staff ( know Matt the bartender left for Raglan road becuase of it , hope hes still there), and while it was still a must do (for me) noticed things had changed (not for the good in my opinion. Maybe it will be out- sourced with Disney being the landlord like Disney springs has basically become. Too good of a spot not to be used.

 

[Brett Wyman]

The space should be used for a proper QS restaurant. One of that matches the quality of Gasparilla Island and Primo Piatto.

ESPN Zone is a better fit for Disney Springs.