ESPN Club - Will it reopen?

[Imamom2]

BW definitely needs a QS with more options and a refillable mug station inside the resort. We love the Epcot resorts and will be there in August but refilling at the bakery is silly and there should be more options at a deluxe/dvc resort. They should add a seafood QS with crab cakes and lobster rolls, footlong chili dogs, corn dogs, and disco fries... true Jersey shore eats we have on the boardwalk every summer.

 

[mattpeto]

With Flying Fish reopening, I've heard more "chat" that ESPN Club could be finished for good.

That rumor goes back to Spring 2020. I tend to think it's done for good, but fortunately we don't have confirmation on that front.

 

[PCFriar80]

We just got back and ran in to a cast member at the Rose & Crown kiosk who used to work at the ESPN Club. Like everyone else he doesn't think it's coming back, however he did mention the all of the sports memorabilia that was in the club is still intact. There is some valuable collectibles in there. Not sure that means anything and could just be the best place to warehouse it until they decide to repurpose the space.

 

[ajones9219]

I'm here now and the place looks like it never closed. You can see in the doors and there are cast member walking around doing....something. the sports stuff and tvs are still in tact and even the bar taps appear to be hooked up and the tables and bar appear freshly dusted. Not saying it's coming back but kind of weird they would keep it perfectly in tact for 2 years just to shutter it.

 

[CarolynFH]

I'm here now and the place looks like it never closed. You can see in the doors and there are cast member walking around doing....something. the sports stuff and tvs are still in tact and even the bar taps appear to be hooked up and the tables and bar appear freshly dusted. Not saying it's coming back but kind of weird they would keep it perfectly in tact for 2 years just to shutter it.

ESPN Club reopening would be great! Hopefully they’re not just priming it for some private event, you know, for that game next week.

 

[ajones9219]

ESPN Club reopening would be great! Hopefully they’re not just priming it for some private event, you know, for that game next week.

100% could be for a private event but I still thini its weird they kept it so prestine for 2 years if they planned to close it. It's one of the most prime locations on property. You would think they would want it used asap

 

[Mrs.AMC]

100% could be for a private event but I still thini its weird they kept it so prestine for 2 years if they planned to close it. It's one of the most prime locations on property. You would think they would want it used asap

I'm sure they will eventually reuse the space for something. It's too big to leave empty permanently. Maybe instead of an ESPN themed venue they'll make it ABC themed (like Universal has the NBC restaurant)

 

[Laura's Dad]

I'm a big sports fan, but I have never been a fan of the ESPN Club. We used to have an ESPN Zone in Atlanta and it is long gone. I prefer local sports bars to the mass-produced ESPN logo with OK food for high prices.

 

[OKW Lover]

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

But they also have the brewery on the BW which didn't stop them from opening Abracadabra. In fact ESPN was operating when Abracadabra was opened.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

But they also have the brewery on the BW which didn't stop them from opening Abracadabra. In fact ESPN was operating when Abracadabra was opened.

That makes no sense. Big River is nothing like Abracadbra. One is a bar with specialty cocktails. One is a brew pub. Rarely the same clientele. However Adventure’s Club is the same general client bad as Abracadra

 

[OKW Lover]

That makes no sense. Big River is nothing like Abracadbra. One is a bar with specialty cocktails. One is a brew pub. Rarely the same clientele. However Adventure’s Club is the same general client bad as Abracadra

I wasn't trying to compare BRG to Abracadabra. I was pointing out that the logic of not reopening ESPN because it would compete with Abracadabra doesn't add up.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

I wasn't trying to compare BRG to Abracadabra. I was pointing out that the logic of not reopening ESPN because it would compete with Abracadabra doesn't add up.

No one said that anything about ESPN competing with Abracadbra. Try reading the post. I said that I didn’t think it would convert to the Adventures Club because it was too similar to Abradabra.

 

[Nabas]

100% could be for a private event but I still think it's weird they kept it so pristine for 2 years if they planned to close it. It's one of the most prime locations on property. You would think they would want it used asap

I stayed at BWV for WDW's 50th anniversary and saw several senior Disney executives (including Bob Iger) going into the Flying Fish. The Flying Fish was well-staffed and serving meals. This was many weeks before it reopened.

As you suggest, maybe Disney is preparing ESPN Club for a private (Super Bowl?) event?

 

[OKW Lover]

No one said that anything about ESPN competing with Abracadbra. Try reading the post. I said that I didn’t think it would convert to the Adventures Club because it was too similar to Abradabra.

Apparently I did not understand what was intended in the post

 

[WillJenDisney]

Glad to hear it’s still ready to open inside. I’ve had some good memories there over the past 15 years and hope I can add some more.

 

[MMSM]

I just read they used it for people to eat there and watch the Super Bowl? If that is right, then it must be operational inside.

edit: you could only bring food in and watch the game. There was no food sold in there.

 

[TreAntDeu]

1 door was randomly open today. Got a quick pic inside!

 

[ajones9219]

It feels like every time I see inside there are people doing.....something. And all the tables/tv's and everything are still up. That would be weird if it's destined to be shuttered forever.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

seems too small for a Splitsville addition, but I think ESPN will not come back. No confirmation, just a feeling, they'd already closed all of the other ESPN locations.

Abracadabar is VERY small. why would they care about competition? If Disney owns whatever goes into ESPN space then competition and similarity to already established Disney venues isn't relevant.

 

[ajones9219]

They closed the other espn locations years before and kept the boardwalk location open. Also they have another espn club on property at wide world of sports but boardwalk was their main location. It just feels like it was way too popular to close.

My other thing is why leave hundreds of thousands of dollars in memorabilia on the walls for 2 years if the plan is to close the location.