Interesting. I'm not fond of multiple locations at WDW - there's so much room for variation, seems like a waste. That said, I do enjoy Splitsville and I guess its one more family thing to do at the Boardwalk. I think people often visit the boardwalk area expecting there to be things to do, and there's really not.
ESPN Club was always popular during football season. We've enjoyed watching games there during our trip - it was the perfect spot on a Sunday with all the TVs and like-minded people around you. Splitsville shows games too, but their set-up isn't as good as ESPN Club was. Hoping they can still capture that somehow. I would bet something opens there around the time football season starts because otherwise its a big loss.