ESPN CLUB

[uofmfan2]

Heard a rumor that ESPN Club was going to close for good! Anyone else hear this? TIA

 

[WeLuvWDWx5]

Yes, I heard this as well from several cast members who seem reliable. I am still hoping they were wrong, but I don't have a good feel about it For our family, the Boardwalk won't be the same without the option to drop in and watch sporting events.

 

[MMSM]

There was rumor of big grille too and look they are open! I hope they open soon. We love ESPN.

 

[DreamsCrusher]

Big River Grille is 3rd party owned and I think had filed for bankruptcy and were subsequently bought out by someone else. (I could be wrong about the bankruptcy but not about it being not owned by Disney). ESPN is a Disney owned property and the last rumor I heard was that it will not reopen (which I hope is not true).

 

[Marthasor]

Oh no. I hope that isn't true. My DS13 absolutely loves going there and we have great memories of watching some really great games there. Ugh. I think it adds a lot to the BW area.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Big River Grille is 3rd party owned and I think had filed for bankruptcy and were subsequently bought out by someone else. (I could be wrong about the bankruptcy but not about it being not owned by Disney). ESPN is a Disney owned property and the last rumor I heard was that it will not reopen (which I hope is not true).

You are correct - Big River is a chain that was owned/operated by CraftWorks Holdings, which also owned various other restaurant brands such as Logan’s Roadhouse, Gordon Biersch, etc. CraftWorks filed Chapter 11 on 3/3/20 - which if I’m not mistaken was part of a restructuring plan in the works pre-COVID, and of course COVID decimated things shortly thereafter and they closed all of their restaurants nationally.

SPB Hospitality bought CraftWorks out of bankruptcy in June 2020 and they’ve been reopening their restaurants that didn’t permanently close, as able.

 

[WEDWDW]

That would be a business boom for City Works at Disney Springs if ESPN Club doesn't reopen.

Certainly they would put something in that space?

 

[MsAmerica]

As others have stated, I was also told by reliable sources that ESPN was not coming back. The same sources said Big River was done also but they have reopened so who knows??