The Sports District
At the heart of any city are their professional sports teams, and the passionate fans that embrace them. Here in the Sports District, we celebrate the many ways we can come together as a community and actively participate in the events we love.
The ESPN Zone
(Facade of The ESPN Zone featuring Yankee Stadium Frieze, the Fenway Green Monster, Wrigley Field Ivy, and Daytona finish line at the entrance. Part of the Muppets Bowling exterior can be seen on the left in purple)
The ESPN Zone Blueprint
Overview:
The ESPN Zone is 3-story indoor interactive site home to a variety of activities for guests of all ages. With ESPN's new headquaters in Los Angeles, numerous special televised events (including the return of ESPN the Weekends) will now make their way to The ESPN Zone in Disneyland, California.
As you enter through the front gates you enter an atrium with elevators and stairs in the center going up the height of the facility. Noticeably, highlight music from ESPN shows such as SportsCenter, NFL Primetime, and NBA Live are playing the the background, adding to the feel that you are becoming the star of your favorite sports. As you walk further, you can explore and travel to one of the 11 event halls throughout the pavilion, as well as the ESPN Cafe or Concession Stands. Below are the activities listed based off the key given in the blueprint above:
(First Floor)
1 - NASCAR - Test Drive
Strap in and drive your very own race car in this simulated experience as you race against some of NASCAR's best drivers on your favorite track. This 5-min attraction allows anyone over 48 inches tall to drive their own racecar (anyone under 48 inches can sit shotgun in the racecar) as you drive 5 mins around any NASCAR track you like.
The objective is start from the back of the racing pack and work your way to a win before the timer runs out. The experience also allows you to adjust the difficulty from Rookie to Pro to Champion to Legend so you can customize your race. You'll also have the ESPN NASCAR broadcast anchors talking throughout the race and commenting on your quest for victory!
2 - PGA Tour Tryout
If you're an avid golf lover or just interested in trying something new, then check out PGA Tour Tryout. In this experience you get to challenge one of golf's best pros to a hole of your choice and hit the balls in front of a virtual screen that projects where your ball would go.
3 - Putting Green
To work on the simple yet seemingly most challenging part of golf, grab a putter and work on your game in this full length putting green equipped with a variety of dips, curves, and slants to practice your skills.
(Second Floor)
4 - NBA Street sponsored by the Los Angeles Lakers
A full length basketball court with walls and paint designed to look like you're playing at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. Lockers and Changing Rooms provided.
5 - Madden Showdown sponsored by Sony
A completely decked out computer gaming center featuring the latest Madden NFL game on Play Station 4, you can sit down and challenge your friends and family to a game of Madden on any of the 50 HDTV stations with surround sound audio.
6 - Ice Hockey Challenge sponsored by the Anaheim Ducks
In this quaint setting, see if you can score a goal on this simulated ice and get tips along the way from some of the stars of the Anaheim Ducks ice hockey team.
7 - ESPN Sport Science Lab
In each of the interactive areas, after you complete your round you receive a card that saves your performance from that event (You can use the same card for multiple events) You can take your results to the lab and get a full statistical analysis of your skills and event down the exact physics. As seen on ESPN, this interesting component will give you an inside look at the stats and show you the tools used to measure them.
(Third Floor)
8 - ESPN The History
A 30 minute film about the inception of sports TV coverage and the dawn of ESPN as we know it.
9 - Track and Field
See how fast your 40-yard dash time, throw a javelin, or toss a discus in this exciting track and field location.
10 - Batting Cages sponsored by the Los Angeles Angels
Grab a helmet and bat as you step up to the plate in this interactive event. Before you enter the cages, get some words of advice from MLB and LA Angels star Mike Trout as he gives some pointers on how to hit the baseball on a TV loop
11 - Multi-Purpose Room
Used for special events, birthday parties, etc
A - ESPN Cafe
Much like the ESPN Club in Disney's Boardwalk Resort, sit among a variety of TVs all tuned in to the latest sports events and broadcasts, with the possibility of having ESPN Live Broadcasts from the Cafe during special events.
B/C/D - Concession Stands
To add to the "ballpark" and "sport" feel, you can grab a quick snack or beverage at any of the concession stands located each floor of the 3-story pavilion
Additional Activities
Muppet Bowling
A Muppet-themed bowling alley with a bunch of gags and easter eggs! In this 20 lane bowling alley, you step up to roll your ball as small AA versions of Statler and Waldorf start to heckle you from above.
Statler: "Hey, do you think bowling is a real sport?"
Waldorf: "It's a bunch of amateurs! Look at that guy in the Goofy mask"
Statler: "That's not a mask"
Waldorf: "Oh...sorry lady!"
After bowling you can stop on over at an interactive Muppets gaming room where you can see all of the Muppets trying to replicate the sports available at the ESPN Zone. You see Kermit trying to play golf but he keeps blending in with the grass and nobody can see him, Fozzy trying to swing a baseball bat while Sam gives a speech discussing the American pastime of baseball - to which Statler and Waldorf make a joke about how boring baseball is.
Walking further you can also visit a combined a large Muppet/ESPN store with many unique items for sports and Muppet fans alike.
Tour de Bikes
Across from the ESPN Zone is a cycling shop featuring the latest brands and designs from the cycling manufactures. Featuring a customize station where you can design your own bike from scratch.
