ESPN Zone is coming to Downtown Disney

ESPN Zone is coming to Downtown Disney

ESPN ZONE ANNOUNCES EXPANSION TO ANAHEIM

Downtown Disney Location to Open in 2001

BURBANK, October 13, 1999 -ESPN Zone, the premier sports dining and entertainment complex, is opening a site as part of Downtown Disney, the new 300,000-plus-square-foot retail, dining and entertainment district set to launch in early 2001, it was announced today by Art Levitt, president of Disney Regional Entertainment.

"ESPN Zone is very excited to be a part of the new Downtown Disney development," said Levitt. "We are looking forward to entertaining people from across Southern California and the country -- whether it's enjoying delicious food, cheering on your favorite team or competing against your friends, sports fans can experience it all at the Zone.

ESPN Zone launched at Baltimore's Inner Harbor in July of 1998 and opened in Chicago this past summer and in New York's Times Square in September. Additional sites will open in Atlanta in January of 2000 and Washington, D.C. in March of 2000.

ESPN Zone is made up of three individual, yet integrated components:

  • Studio Grill - The Studio Grill recreates the electric atmosphere of the ESPN studios. It features replicas of the SportsCenter, NBA 2Night, NFL Tonight and NFL Primetime sets. Patrons are treated to great American Grill food with a decided flair, including entrees like Cedar Plank Salmon, Grilled Chops or a New York Strip. Also, individuals will be able to view their favorite games on one of the many television monitors situated throughout the Studio Grill.
  • Screening Room - The Screening Room will be the ultimate place to watch an array of televised sporting events from around the world. This section offers state-of-the-art technology, multi-game viewing, direct audio control for all televised games, statistical updates by the minute and specialized sports features centered around a 16-foot screen and a dozen 36-inch video monitors with tiered seating. In addition, the Screening Room also features custom "Zone-Throne" viewing stations and remote broadcasting capabilities.
  • Sports Arena - Challenging fans with a variety of interactive and competitive attractions, the Sports Arena features several proprietary games developed exclusively for ESPN Zone, including a fully functional half-pipe that extends outside the facility. Over 200 fans can compete simultaneously in this high- energy area of the complex.

The 36,000-square-foot Anaheim ESPN Zone will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology such as satellite dishes, satellite receivers, video cameras, more than 165 video monitors (including more than a dozen in the bathrooms) and a fully-functional radio studio and live television broadcasting capabilities. Disney Regional Entertainment also operates DisneyQuest, an indoor interactive theme park, now open in Orlando and Chicago and currently under development in Philadelphia.

Located in the heart of The Disneyland Resort, Downtown Disney will be an entertainment mecca of themed shopping, dining, nightclubs and other entertainment venues, all within walking distance for guests, conventioneers and local residents. Downtown Disney will become a unique gathering place, connecting two theme parks - the all-new Disney's California Adventure and Disneyland -- aiong with The Disneyland Resort Hotels.