Sports Bar Question

[MickeyT]

WDW Vet here heading out to DL for the 1/2 marathon in a couple weeks. We were wanting to watch a college football game Saturday and ESPN seem to be totally booked up (which makes sense with the running crowd in town).

So are there any other onsite/close options with TV's? We are staying at Fairfield Inn and don't have a car but could taxi if we had to. We can sit in the room but was looking for a little more atmosphere.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[figment_jii]

I don't know what they show or how they decide what to have on the TVs, but you might look into the lounges at the hotels. Some of those have televisions (at least the photo of the Hearthstone Lounge at the GCH).

Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen has televisions (not sure how the bar works there). I've seen them showing NFL games (not sure about college).

You might also look into Anaheim Garden Walk, which is within walking distance of DLR.
http://www.anaheimgardenwalk.com/

With regards to EPSN Club, while the table ADRs may be booked up (I'd keep checking for cancellations), I believe that it does take walk-ups and it might even have a bar area where you don't need need a reservation.

 

[Ryan120420]

xxxxx

 

[kim3339]

Like Figment said, you can walk in for ESPN, but get there early. UCLA plays at 9am and the USC game starts at 4:30; it'll be completely full for that game around 3:30-3:45. So maybe b/w those games?

Tony Roma's is on Harbor across from the parks. They have a bar and some TV's. Not a lot, but some.

It's been a while since I've gone in there, but Tortilla Joe's used to have a couple TV's in there outside bar area and they should be showing games.

 

[MickeyT]

Thanks kim and figment. We get in on Thursday so we will have time to explore pre-game. Thanks for the lead in.

I didnt even know Anaheim Garden Walk existed so I've gained a lot here .

 

[Nole95]

I don't think ESPN is booked up. I just think they do not take reservations after a certain hour. Even when the 60 day window opened, ESPN was not showing any evening reservations. 5:30 was the only time that was available. We are planning on catching some of the FSU-Oklahoma State game which will start at 5pm on the weat coast. I just plan on heading to ESPN a little early. If it's packed I can always watch at the hotel.

 

[superlarz]

ESPN is really the only good option. House of Blues has TVs but they arent great. Go to ESPN early and youll be able to get in. If you go later in the day itll have a line out the door.

 

[MickeyT]

I don't think ESPN is booked up. I just think they do not take reservations after a certain hour. Even when the 60 day window opened, ESPN was not showing any evening reservations. 5:30 was the only time that was available. We are planning on catching some of the FSU-Oklahoma State game which will start at 5pm on the weat coast. I just plan on heading to ESPN a little early. If it's packed I can always watch at the hotel.

We'll make quite an East Coast gang then Nole. We're wanting to watch the Jaw-Ja-Clemson game at 2pm. (Yes I sat through the CU-FSU game right behind the FSU band till the clock show 00:00 last year. Long night for this Tiger!)

ESPN is really the only good option. House of Blues has TVs but they arent great. Go to ESPN early and youll be able to get in. If you go later in the day itll have a line out the door.

Great advice superlarz. The game starts at 2pm so maybe we can catch some of the lunch crowd leaving. Thanks.

 

[bcla]

I was thinking maybe one of the usual suspects (Buffalo Wild Wings, BJ's) might be in Anaheim, but there's frankly a lack of the big names.

Maybe Buffalo Wild Wings in Buena Park? Google Maps is estimating 5.9 miles and about 10 minutes (mostly freeway). Taxifarefinder.com is estimating about a $21 taxi fare.

http://goo.gl/maps/Am4Ku
http://www.taxifarefinder.com/main....359,-117.913749&toCoord=33.845513,-117.989172

Or Hooter's near Angel Stadium and the Honda Center:

http://goo.gl/maps/AJfCc

You could probably take the bus there. Not sure if anyone in your party would object though.

 

[bcla]

I'm pretty sure they'll have ESPN in your hotel room. If you can't figure out where to go, you should at least be able to watch there.

 

[bcla]

I checked again, and there's a Buffalo Wild Wings at the Outlets at Orange, which is closer than Buena Park. And if you have time, you can go outlet shopping. Estimated taxi fare is $13, and it's a little bit over 3 miles.

http://goo.gl/maps/y7ulG
http://www.taxifarefinder.com/main.....913749&toCoord=33.783584,-117.89347299999997

There's also a Dave & Busters there, so you might have options if you choose to go there.

 

[sweethannah]

ESPN never used to take reservations, instead you could do priority seating 3 days out with them if you signed up for the ESPN Zone MVP. We used this ourselves a couple of years back to watch a playoff game but I did a search of their site and I don't see this offered anymore.

 

[SMD]

In my experience ESPN Zone doesn't take reservations. I called once when I knew we'd be there for the Final Four, and was told no. There was a standby line outside, complete with wrap arounds. We ended up watching in the Lost Bar, which has since closed.

I'm pretty sure the. Oggi's in Garden Grove that's been recommended here for pizza shows games. I'd call ahead, because some places might have satellite instead of cable and not carry a game, or maybe they host unofficial watching parties for a specific team and won''the have your game.

 

[bcla]

In my experience ESPN Zone doesn't take reservations. I called once when I knew we'd be there for the Final Four, and was told no. There was a standby line outside, complete with wrap arounds. We ended up watching in the Lost Bar, which has since closed.

I'm pretty sure the. Oggi's in Garden Grove that's been recommended here for pizza shows games. I'd call ahead, because some places might have satellite instead of cable and not carry a game, or maybe they host unofficial watching parties for a specific team and won''the have your game.

OP wants the Clemson-Georgia game showing on ESPN, and any satellite system should have it. Now I do remember going to a Buffalo Wild Wings location hoping to catch a game, and they didn't have PAC-12 Networks available. They had DirecTV which still hasn't negotiated for Pac-12.

I don't think there's anything preventing a bar/restaurant from having multiple service providers, but DirecTV has a pretty strong position since they have NFL Sunday Ticket.

 

[mrkyyyle]

I would recommend Oggis Pizza and Brewing Company if you decide to go offsite. It is a few blocks south on Harbor @ main street.

Great food / beers and tons of TV's!

 

[mrkyyyle]

I was thinking maybe one of the usual suspects (Buffalo Wild Wings, BJ's) might be in Anaheim, but there's frankly a lack of the big names.

Yea, not a bunch of the normal names in Sports Bars - there is a BJ's in that same Outlets at Orange that has Dave & Busters/ BWW