The NBA announced this week it is in talks with Walt Disney World about restarting the 2019-2020 regular season at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex (WWoS), before the summer is over.
The season has been postponed since March 11, due to the COVID-10 pandemic.
The 2019 MLS All-Star Game will take place in Orlando July 31, and leading up to it, various locations around town will host MLS All-Star events.
If you love all things soccer, here is the schedule of events for the 2019 MLS All-Star Week:
One of the most popular events at Walt Disney World is the annual Night of Joy weekend, and the headliner talent has just been announced.
New this year, the concerts will take place at indoor and outdoor venues at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, instead of at Magic Kingdom. Guests will have ticket options allowing theme park entry, as well.
Britain’s Prince Harry announced from London that the Invictus Games will be held May 8-12, 2016, at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World.
The Invictus Games is the only international adaptive sporting event for injured active duty and veteran service members. It uses the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect of all those who serve their country as well as their families and caregivers.
Hosted by Sir Elton John and the legendary Billie Jean King, Mylan WTT Smash Hits presented by GEICO brings together tennis’s biggest stars for charity on Sunday, November 17, at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Headlining the star-studded evening are Andy Roddick and Venus Williams. Roddick will team up with Sir Elton John to challenge Williams and 2013 Wimbledon Champion Marion Bartoli for a “battle of the sexes” match. Also scheduled to participate are Vicky Duval, Robert kendrick, Taylor Townsend, and Jean-Julien Rojer.
Tickets for the event are $50-$125, and proceeds will go to support the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Hope and Help Center, as well as local AIDS charities. Save 10% on tickets by using code FB13.
Special VIP ticket packages, including VIP courtside seating and admission to the VIP Reception and Auction, are available for $500 and will directly benefit the Hope and Help Center. This VIP reception features an auction with Sir Elton John, Billie Jean King, and all players, and include an Elton John signed piano bench and King’s Wimbledon tickets among other items. To buy VIP ticket packages or for more information, call (407) 574-2599.
For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit WTTSmashHits.com.
Every spring, fifteen Major League Baseball teams head for Florida for Spring Training. This group of baseball teams is known as the Florida Grapefruit League, and this year marks the 125th anniversary of the FLG.
Of the teams that train in Florida, two call the Orlando area home: the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros.
The Atlanta Braves are calling Champion Stadium at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World home for their training. Their first game is a home game against the Detroit Tigers on February 22.
The Houston Astros will be based at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee for their spring training. Their first game is against the Phillies in Clearwater on February 23, but the following day, they’ll play their first home game against the Mets.
For a complete list of games and teams, visit FloridaGrapefruitLeague.com.
Walt Disney World has festivals and special events year-round geared towards different interests. This weekend, Disney’s Hollywood Studios has one just for the sports fan.
Stars from the NFL, MLB, NBA and NCAA, plus well-known ESPN on-air personalities, are headed back to Walt Disney World Resort for the eighth annual ESPN The Weekend.
This year’s lineup at Disney’s Hollywood Studios features more than 35 athletes and ESPN stars, including former University of Florida football coach and current ESPN college football analyst Urban Meyer, Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco, NBA Hall of Famer Julius “Dr. J” Erving and MLB Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr.
Other athletes expected to participate are Donald Driver and Greg Jennings (Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers), former NFL star Derrick Brooks, ex-NBA great Alonzo Mourning and Karl Malone, Mia Hamm (U.S. Women’s soccer legend), and current Orlando Magic players.
For the first time in the event’s history, several popular sports team mascots will participate in the event, including the Phillie Phanatic (Philadelphia Phillies), Albert E. Gator (University of Florida), the Penn State Nittany Lion, the Oregon Duck, Homer The Brave (Atlanta Braves), Captain Fear the Buccaneer (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Sebastian the Ibis (University of Miami).
In addition to athlete appearances, ESPN The Weekend will feature on-site telecasts of popular ESPN programs (beginning Thursday, March 3) at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney.
During the event, there will be Q&A sessions, motorcades, and autograph sessions. The ESPN Sports Zone will also give guests of all ages the opportunity to test their skills at a wide variety of sports. MLB-, NBA-, NFL- and BASS-themed interactive areas within the Zone will have fans swinging for the fences, shooting baskets and throwing passes, as well as Dick’s Sporting Goods’ Sports Caravan, a multi-sport interactive area.
All ESPN the Weekend event activities run March 4 through 6, and are included in regular admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. For a complete list of ESPN and sports attendees, visit the ESPN the Weekend website.
[Photos courtesy Walt Disney World]